James P.
San Francisco, CA
Writing Teacher, Linguist, and History of World Thought
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Classical StudiesSan Francisco State University
Master'sCalifornia Teaching Credentials (5)
OtherAbout James
With the 2010-2011 school year, Mr. P celebrated his twentieth year as a teacher with the Alameda Unified School District and twenty-two years in the profession, having taught in both high school and middle school. A former Teacher of the Year, now retired from the Alameda Unified School District, he is so glad to be able to continue working with
Policies
Cancellation
3 hours notice requiredI have returned by hourly rate to $60 in the interest of extending my services to more students in need. Group rates are negotiable.
Travel Radius
Travels within 4 miles of San Francisco, CA 94109James offers online lessons
James is approved to conduct lessons through Wyzant Online. Wyzant Online allows students and tutors to work remotely via video, audio, and collaborative whiteboard tools. For more information about how online tutoring works, check out Wyzant Online.
If you’re interested in online lessons, message James to get started.
"Efficient, enthusiastic tutor"
- Eileen, San Francisco, CA on 10/7/13My son, a high school senior, needed work on his writing skills, primarily for the SAT but also in general. I wanted to prepare him for college level writing and a private tutor is very helpful to develop these skills. Jim was great working with him and his vast experience as an English teacher really shows. Jim began the first lesson with a solid assessment of my son's skills. Jim's lessons were quick paced (high school boys can be easily bored) and he gave solid techniques to my son for thinking his way through writing prompts to come up with appropriate content for the essay. He had a very organized, step by step approach for improving writing style as well. I highly recommend Jim to anyone who wants an experienced, engaging and perceptive writing tutor!
"Inspiring & helpful..."
- Stephanie, San Francisco, CA on 10/27/16James taught me how to map out & organize my thoughts in order to create an informational & well written essay. He also taught about sentence structures & the rules that apply to them in just one session!
"Excellent tutor!"
- Uzma, San Francisco, CA on 8/22/16Jim did a great job in teaching writing strategies. He set-up a framework that my son could use in structuring his thoughts and ideas. We also worked on writing five-paragraph essays. Jim was an excellent fit for our son - he kept him engaged and motivated through the many sessions that we had with him. I would highly recommend Jim.
"Great Tutor!"
- Alex, San Leandro, CA on 7/15/16At first, my writing skill wasn't that good. As a result, I scheduled a few tutoring sessions with James, and he was able to break down the basic structure of writing; also, he provided helpful examples and formulas that made it easy for me to understand. I totally recommend James to anyone!
"Professional"
- Mizuho, San Francisco, CA on 5/19/16High quality tutoring. My son always enjoyed lessons with James and has developed his writing skills. I was surprised when I saw his writing after lessons.
"Clear, actionable guidelines that support writing, math and test-taking"
- Michael, San Francisco, CA on 12/11/15James is absolutely terrific. He is always on time and gets right down to business. He sets clear, daily or weekly goals that are achievable but challenging. He also works with students to develop guidelines for essay writing or test taking that can carry them beyond the test. My son loved working with him in advance of his SSAT and now feels much more confident.
"Great Tutor"
- Tanya, San Francisco, CA on 11/11/15James comes highly recommended. My son needed an SSAT tutor after taking the initial SSAT in June and doing poorly. We hired James in the fall and he came once a week to work on the verbal sections of the SSAT. He was on time, flexible and engaging with our son. My sons scores greatly improved thanks to James.
"Amazing teacher who is very patient."
- Won Young, Alameda, CA on 10/25/15I got so much help from today and cannot be anymore grateful. Hopefully I can get more help and get good essay. Thanks for the help Mr. P!
"Very encouraging and resourceful teacher"
- Misako, San Francisco, CA on 8/18/15James was great with my son. We chose him since he was a former middle school teacher and our choice was just right.
He provided proper materials for my son to prepare SSAT tests taking which my son found very useful not only for the SSAT preparation but also for the regular school assignments.
James was really encouraging teacher, my son enjoyed sharing and discussing his thoughts and idea throughout the writing projects.
I truly recommend this very professional, friendly and encouraging teacher.
"Excellent beginner course in Latin for my son"
- Daniel, San Francisco, CA on 6/4/15James has done a fantastic job introducing my 15 year old son to Latin this past semester. He is now better prepared to take on Spanish or other Latin languages because James has introduced him to the Mother tongue of this family of languages.
James has been patient, interesting and creative in getting my son onboard a potential lifelong gift of a deeper appreciation for Western culture through an appreciation of Latin.
"Opening Minds"
- Kijun, San Francisco, CA on 4/6/15For over a year James taught me creative writing, poetry, and philosophy. He is an amazing teacher who not only improved the technical aspects of my writing, but also reignited my passion for learning.
As a non-native speaker of English, I reached out to him with an ambiguous goal, which at the time was “to write better.” I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but over the months James kept me focused with his challenging and thought-provoking assignments. For the first few weeks, we dissected my short story about losing a camera. We walked through multiple revisions of this story, discussing its grammar, narrative structure, tone, and meaning. I was learning so much every lesson that I started spending tens of hours every week reading and writing.
In his lessons, James often integrated insights he drew from his command over the humanities. He got me excited enough to dive into philosophy on top of my writing assignments. Over the year we discussed the history of Western philosophy, spiced with occasional digressions into religion and linguistics, books and poetry, paintings and music. On every lesson he would bring in new topics, or excerpts from primary sources that would inspire me to read the actual work.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend James as a tutor of subjects like English, philosophy, or history. But if you’re also looking for a wise, caring mentor who will spark the student’s passion for learning, James is a true teacher who has done just that.
"He is organized, very sensitive to his student's needs, and made the writing process more clear."
- Shelley, Burlingame, CA on 7/7/14I feel so fortunate that I found James to help my son's writing problems. My son, a high school freshman who has problems finishing any writing projects including essays, book/science/history reports within a reasonable time frame. I did not sit in their tutoring sessions. However I knew I have found the perfect tutor for my son based on James's preliminary comments, with which I totally agree.
"Great Tutor"
- Gail, San Francisco, CA on 6/26/14James is a wonderful tutor. He helped tutor my son in Latin and is very thorough in his lessons. He's friendly and always on-time. My son struggled with Latin for a while and averaged about 70 on tests. After some tutoring, he was able to get a 90 on his final. If you need help with Latin, which I hear is difficult, I would definitely recommend James.
"Thorough Knowledge of Latin and the Classics"
- Julie, Oakland, CA on 6/16/14James helped to bring my daughter’s Latin grade up significantly by holding her accountable for her studies through the development of a work plan at each session and review of work accomplished at the next tutoring session. Through his thorough knowledge of Latin and the classics, he brought relevancy to her Latin studies and served as her intellectual mentor when she was faltering. Based on her success resulting from these sessions, my daughter intends to continue working with James on her third year Latin studies and plans to add AP English to the list of subjects she will undertake with him in the fall.
"Excellent teacher."
- Colette, San Francisco, CA on 2/7/13I feel so lucky that we found James. He is a true gem in every way. He has years of experience as a teacher and comes prepared to tackle just about any subject. My daughter is on a temporary leave from school, and I asked James to work with her to keep her on pace with her class in English and Philosophy. He came the first day and launched right away into a discussion about Macbeth, Sigmund Freud, and the notion of free will, thereby integrating her two classes. Before the next lesson, he emailed her two articles to read and incorporated them into their conversation. He conducts the session with the mastery of a seasoned teacher who commands the full attention of his student. He leads the discussion to places that are challenging and interesting. He is very kind, purposeful, and engaging. My daughter loves working with him and I love the sound of the two of them in a lively discussion at the kitchen table over a cup of tea. I have hired several tutors over the years and I can honestly say that James is of the highest caliber.
"Amazing!!"
- Michelle, San Francisco, CA on 1/7/13James is the most amazing, prompt, reliable tutor. My son is 10 years old and James makes learning fun for him. My son is excited when he comes to tutor him!! James doesn't waste ANY Time!! Makes you feel good, it is money well spent and great for you child's future. Thank you James!!
"An Amazing Tutor"
- Maisy, San Francisco, CA on 11/29/12James is a very patient tutor who slowly guides me through my homework. He encourages me to read the context out loud, which help me understand what I'm reading. He has a lot of knowledge of history, English writing, many things. He once summarized the entire chapter of Islam without even reading the text book, so I understood the context easily. He also spent an hour and a half just on improving my outline of my English essay such as making better word choices, thesis, topic sentence, citations, specific evidences, and analysis. I think James is an amazing tutor for any student. I feel much more confident about my writing skill now.
"James was a great tutor"
- Margie, San Francisco, CA on 10/12/12My son has learning differences and struggles on writing projects. In just one session James got him started on a paper which gave him the confidence to proceed on his own. This in turn kept me his parent out of the loop and made everyone's lives a lot happier. This was just the first time I worked with James but I intend to use him throughout the year. My son is a junior in high school.
"Excellent, caring, highly qualified teacher"
- Marcie, Alameda, CA on 9/18/12James is a very good teacher. He is well prepared, passionate about the subject, early for lessons, knows his material well, prepares for our lessons and is very caring. I would highly recommend studying with him.
Approved subjects are in bold.
Approved subjects
In most cases, tutors gain approval in a subject by passing a proficiency exam. For some subject areas, like music and art, tutors submit written requests to demonstrate their proficiency to potential students. If a tutor is interested but not yet approved in a subject, the subject will appear in non-bold font. Tutors need to be approved in a subject prior to beginning lessons.
ACT English
ACT English is about understanding the basics of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. It's about understanding how "particles" of language like adverbs and conjunctions help create transitions from one idea to another as we express ourselves in logical and subtle ways.
Art History
Holding a valid California single-subject credential in history I have taught European history and history of thought, linking the various art epochs from medieval times through the Industrial Revolution to and with historical events, with extensive knowledge of the history of photography
CBEST
I have just retired from teaching in California after 22 years, having passed the CBEST myself. In addition, I worked for several years as a Mentor teacher on various projects. As well, I served as a BTSA Mentor for first- and second-year teachers who were fulfilling their clear-credential requirements. I have also worked as an Alameda County Mentor for an intern teacher who was working and studying simultaneously. All this serves me well for CBEST-based knowledge and experience.
Classics
I have a BA in Classics with a major in Latin and a minor in Greek from the University of Michigan. I hold a valid California single-subject teaching credential in Latin. I have taught Roman art and history for many years.
Elementary (K-6th)
I hold a valid California multiple-subject credential which is required for elementary education. I have just retired after a 22-year career in the schools of Alameda, California. I am very knowledgeable about paragraph writing, as well as grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
English
English as a course of study involves both grammar, punctuation, and spelling, as well as techniques for thinking about and responding to literature in essays and other forms. Appreciation of our language as reader and writer and speaker makes up a complete English student.
ESL/ESOL
Learning a second language is part knowledge and part comfort level with taking risks--in making mistakes and yet just keeping going. My knowledge of world languages, my expertise at grammar, punctuation, and spelling in English make me someone who appreciates how hard English is to learn and to speak colloquially.
European History
Well versed in ancient and early modern European history well though the Industrial Revolution, also in history of ideas relevant to these times.
French
I am excellent with beginning students. I have a knack for getting good French pronunciation from beginners and have fun with those who are just exploring their knowledge of the language since I offer much information on French history, art and music.
GED
A GED is the ticket to many higher levels of success, including higher education or entrance to the world of work. Certain basic skills are necessary for success in either realm. GED prep relies on your whole education to fine tune those areas where you are weaker and to polish your strengths. No one needs to score 100% to pass this test. No one cares--only that you have received the certificate!
Geography
Knowledge of how weather, water, and land masses interact is the basis for understanding why and how much of history as taken place. Knowing the correct names for places is the basis for knowledgeable discussion. Political geography helps us to understand the effect of humans upon the planet. I have taught history and geography for over 20 years and have many tricks and games for learning what is necessary to be competent in this field.
Grammar
Grammar makes sentences "work." Without it, we cannot make our points, get our ideas across, or make a reader understand our meaning. This is really why grammar is so important. I have taught writing to high school and middle school students for over 20 years, using a variety of approaches for arriving at both understanding and correct usage.
ISEE
I have four valid California Single-Subject Credentials in English, history, French and Latin, as well as the Multiple-Subject Credential for elementary school. I have just retired as a 22-year veteran in middle school and high school. I have served on Writing Testing committees within my school district, both scoring tests and writing prompts for testing. I have administered Princeton-based tests in my younger days through UCLA.
Latin
Latin is a complex but rewarding language to learn. Like computer programming, it requires every word to be correctly in place for sentences to work, to make sense. My global linguistics approach teaches students how the language "works" before getting into the details.
Literature
Literature is a vast field and involves both knowledge of the text, its historical context, as well as techniques for approaching literary form. As a retired teacher with over 20 years' experience, I have led discussions, helped students create writing prompts, created ways of entering long works of literature without stress, and taught ways to write about works of world literature.
Microsoft PowerPoint
PowerPoint is fun way to make clear and precise presentations of information of whatever kind. I have used this application hundreds of times in 20 years of education and social work. This more complex presentations can include music and text animations. I can help you make them full of impact yet not overly elaborate.
Music History
A former classical music DJ and holding a valid California single-subject history credential, I have taught world history incorporating the musical arts for many years. My students have heard everything from Gregorian chant to the call to prayer from the minaret. Now retired, I continue to try to understand the links between music and the history of thought.
Philosophy
I am both a writer and teacher well-versed in 20th-century philosophy. I have taught the rise of science in the Renaissance and its concurrent thought revolution in the Reformation. I have used the work of Heidegger extensively in my own work available on the internet. I am much more knowledgeable about continental philosophy than analytic philosophy. I can help frame the history of philosophy as its main currents have changed over the decades.
Proofreading
No one can catch everything about grammar, punctuation, and spelling in a work of writing. But knowing Latin and having taught English grammar for years in high school and middle school, I can scan a page and spot errors pretty quickly. Having worked for newspapers and having to face print deadlines, I can work fairly fast as well. Outcome: coherent, grammatical prose!
Public Speaking
I have been a practicing poet in San Francisco over the decades; I have also been a classical music DJ and appeared on radio and television representing the Independent Living Movement where disabled folks learn to help themselves. I just retired from a 22-year teaching career and have planned an after-school program on debate and speech making, everything from annunciation to speech writing style.
Reading
Reading is the basis of so much, once elementary education is left behind! It becomes a matter of reading "for" content, the basis for acquisition of knowledge by means of vocabulary and speed of access to the text. But reading fiction and non-fiction requires two different sets of skills. These can be taught!
SAT Reading
Careful reading can take time: test reading requires certain skills to understand how to reach comprehension in the least amount of time. As a now-retired teacher of high school and middle school students, I have trained several generations in techniques to achieve both speed and accuracy in tests of reading.
SAT Writing
A twenty-year academic professional, I was Teacher of the Year in the Alameda Unified School District. My students excelled in writing after completing their year with me. If anything, I know how to prepare writers, being one myself!
SSAT
Having taught at both middle schools and high schools, I know what lies ahead for most students as the degree of difficulty increases. I have experience tutoring the ISEE and SSAT but also have worked with many students on the Writing and Vocabulary portions of the SAT tests over many years of service.
Study Skills
I currently hold four California single-subject credentials as well as a valid multiple-subject credential. I have just retired from teaching both high school and middle school. I can both plan a study skills program based on a first-meeting evaluation and also fill-in as necessary any deficits which appear in a student's profile--from grammar, punctuation and spelling to vocabulary.
World History
World history is knowledge of how the future and the present come out of the past. I have focused as a teacher for over 20 years on the period 500-1500 AD, all over the world: from the rise of Islam to the world of post-Han China, from the European Renaissance to the peoples of Meso-America. I have developed strategies to help students understand why events take place, beyond the mere facts and dates themselves.
Writing
Writing is 25% inspiration and 75% technique. I have taught writing in high school and middle school for more than 20 years. I can offer the how to as well as how to generate ideas for what to write about!
Other San Francisco, CA Tutors
James P.
San Francisco, CA
Writing Teacher, Linguist, and History of World Thought