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John D.

Tutor--all subjects, all grade levels

Tutor--all subjects, all grade levels

$50/hour

5.0 (53 ratings)

  • 217 hours tutoring

About John

Bio

I have honed my skills to the point of expertise as a teacher/tutor over the course of many years in classroom and 1:1 settings with students at schools like Miami Country Day School (Miami Shores), St. Stephen's (Coconut Grove), St. Agnes (Key Biscayne), and Ransom Everglades (Coconut Grove). I have extensive experience with students across the childhood spectrum from PK3 to high school. I bring my subject area knowledge, patience, and creativity to bear in all of my lessons; I will work...

I have honed my skills to the point of expertise as a teacher/tutor over the course of many years in classroom and 1:1 settings with students at schools like Miami Country Day School (Miami Shores), St. Stephen's (Coconut Grove), St. Agnes (Key Biscayne), and Ransom Everglades (Coconut Grove). I have extensive experience with students across the childhood spectrum from PK3 to high school. I bring my subject area knowledge, patience, and creativity to bear in all of my lessons; I will work tirelessly to help your child understand the work s/he is being asked to do in school, whether reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary, science, social studies or math---preferably math, my favorite, but I've taught/tutored it all for over 20 years---or test prep (SSAT, ISEE, SAT, ACT).

School is hard for A LOT of kids, for any of a number of reasons: the material is just plain old difficult or confusing; the foundation has never been laid for this year's expectations; the student learns differently than this year's teacher teaches. . . to name a few. For a student to learn, besides having a skilled teacher, s/he must develop the proper habits of mind, attention, and perseverance. If your child is struggling at all in school, I'm someone who can "unlock the box of learning" as one parent of a student of mine once told me.

On the other hand, you might have a child who is "doing well" in school, at least as far as her/his grades are concerned, but seems to be missing something (enthusiasm for learning you might call it). If so, I am available to offer a customized enrichment program that will ignite your child's imagination, and give her/him the chance to: learn something new, out of the box, geared to her/his interests, and definitely "unschool-like;" use a new tool; make something with her/his own hands; experience the sort of "failure, engineering style" that teaches children to come back to a problem over and over again with renewed interest and resolve. In short, I will show your child how to love learning, doing, and mak

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Education

Univ of Massachusetts
Psychology
Boston College Law
J.D.
Boston College Grad A & S
Masters

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $50
  • Rate details: My posted rate is for one hour of tutoring, in your home. This rate is negotiable for multiple consecutive hours and/or two or more students being tutored concurrently.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 10/30/2017

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Subjects

Business

GRE, Law, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Microsoft Word

Computer

Microsoft Word

Corporate Training

Portuguese,

Portuguese

For four years I lived in Brazil and taught 4th/5th grades at an American School in Sao Paulo. Since I returned to the US to teach, I've been back to Brazil as a tourist at least a dozen times. I speak (eles dizem) fluent Portuguese.
ESL/ESOL, Grammar, Law, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Microsoft Word, Proofreading, Spanish

Elementary Education

Elementary (K-6th),

Elementary (K-6th)

FL & MA state certified in grades K-6; FL state certified in science grades 5-9.
Elementary Math,

Elementary Math

I have a FL subject area endorsement in middle grades math, grades 5-9. I also have extensive experience in the classroom and as a tutor working with Everyday Math, Singapore math, and middle school math through Algebra. I want my students to "really get math" in the way that a serious student of a foreign language really needs to "get it" in order to be fluent. Just like learning to speak a foreign language fluently is not merely about memorizing vocabulary and learning to conjugate (I should know; I've studied several foreign languages but only one---Portuguese---to real fluency), learning math is not about memorizing algorithms and mnemonics ("Keep/Switch/Flip" is my "favorite") or moving numbers around on a page. Math is a language of symbols and patterns that can be understood and appreciated by even very young students. I achieve this lofty goal by clear explanations, hands on math, use of manipulatives, drawing pictures, playing games---whatever will work for this particular student on this particular day.
Elementary Science,

Elementary Science

I have a FL subject area endorsement in middle grades science grades 5-9. More important, I know that science is much more than facts and figures (How fast does light travel in a vacuum? How many electrons in the outermost shell of an atom of helium?). Science is all about developing a working model, a good understanding, of the world around us, from the quantum to the microscopic to the galactic and "beyond." I want my students' experiences with science to include: tapping into their inner "font of curiosity" about the world in which they live, asking questions, wondering, marveling, reacting with awe and excitement, and enjoying. Science should not deaden the senses (in the way that a purely textbook version of science surely will); it should awaken children to the incredible world in which they live. Also, every good scientist has to come to the realization that s/he is ignorant about more things than s/he knows and be excited by that ignorance. "Knowledge is a big subject," says Stuart Firestein of Columbia University, "but ignorance is a bigger one. And it is ignorance--not knowledge--that is the true engine of science." Finally, I want my science students to develop a healthy skepticism about, well, everything. If you really want to know something, you have to figure it out, investigate, experiment, read, question, form hypotheses, test them, find the similarities and differences, connect the dots, notice patterns, and then take your acquired knowledge with a grain of salt. Be humble, especially when you're sure you've discovered the truth!
Study Skills,

Study Skills

Over the past decade, I've worked with several dozen students as a private tutor, mentor, and learning coach. While much to most of the work I do with my students is substantive and academic (test prep, homework, re-teaching and clarifying concepts, academic content skill-building), at least some of the work I do with some of my private students is in the areas of organization, attention, and motivation. Come to think of it, I do all of this in my position as a classroom teacher. The two, obviously, go hand in hand.
Grammar, Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary

English

SAT Reading,

SAT Reading

I help students choose wisely between the ACT & SAT (by pre-testing typically). I help students set realistic goals for improvement of scores (based on baselines and schools of choice), including on the SAT Reading section. Then I tutor and guide students through the weeks- or months-long process of prepping (which is a lot more than merely "doing problem sets."
ACT English, ACT Reading, English, ESL/ESOL, Grammar, Literature, Proofreading, Reading, SAT Writing, Spelling, TOEFL, Vocabulary, Writing

History

Government & Politics,

Government & Politics

I have a Master's degree (M.A.) in political science and a law degree (J.D.) from Boston College Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and Boston College Law School.
American History, Geography, Philosophy, World History

Homeschool

Elementary (K-6th),

Elementary (K-6th)

FL & MA state certified in grades K-6; FL state certified in science grades 5-9.
Prealgebra,

Prealgebra

Plenty of experience teaching/tutoring math from elementary through high school level, including college prep ACT math.
SAT Math,

SAT Math

I've helped students in the past few years improve ACT scores from the high teens to the high twenties/mid thirties and SAT test-takers to improve 150+ pts.
SAT Reading,

SAT Reading

I help students choose wisely between the ACT & SAT (by pre-testing typically). I help students set realistic goals for improvement of scores (based on baselines and schools of choice), including on the SAT Reading section. Then I tutor and guide students through the weeks- or months-long process of prepping (which is a lot more than merely "doing problem sets."
Study Skills,

Study Skills

Over the past decade, I've worked with several dozen students as a private tutor, mentor, and learning coach. While much to most of the work I do with my students is substantive and academic (test prep, homework, re-teaching and clarifying concepts, academic content skill-building), at least some of the work I do with some of my private students is in the areas of organization, attention, and motivation. Come to think of it, I do all of this in my position as a classroom teacher. The two, obviously, go hand in hand.
Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Biology, English, ESL/ESOL, Geometry, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Precalculus, Reading, Spanish, Spelling, Writing

Language

Portuguese,

Portuguese

For four years I lived in Brazil and taught 4th/5th grades at an American School in Sao Paulo. Since I returned to the US to teach, I've been back to Brazil as a tourist at least a dozen times. I speak (eles dizem) fluent Portuguese.
ESL/ESOL, Spanish, TOEFL

Math

Prealgebra,

Prealgebra

Plenty of experience teaching/tutoring math from elementary through high school level, including college prep ACT math.
SAT Math,

SAT Math

I've helped students in the past few years improve ACT scores from the high teens to the high twenties/mid thirties and SAT test-takers to improve 150+ pts.
ACT Math, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Precalculus, Probability

Most Popular

Elementary (K-6th),

Elementary (K-6th)

FL & MA state certified in grades K-6; FL state certified in science grades 5-9.
Prealgebra,

Prealgebra

Plenty of experience teaching/tutoring math from elementary through high school level, including college prep ACT math.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

Over the past decade, I've worked with several dozen students as a private tutor, mentor, and learning coach. While much to most of the work I do with my students is substantive and academic (test prep, homework, re-teaching and clarifying concepts, academic content skill-building), at least some of the work I do with some of my private students is in the areas of organization, attention, and motivation. Come to think of it, I do all of this in my position as a classroom teacher. The two, obviously, go hand in hand.
Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Biology, English, ESL/ESOL, Geometry, Precalculus, Reading, Spanish, Writing

Other

Government & Politics,

Government & Politics

I have a Master's degree (M.A.) in political science and a law degree (J.D.) from Boston College Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and Boston College Law School.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

Over the past decade, I've worked with several dozen students as a private tutor, mentor, and learning coach. While much to most of the work I do with my students is substantive and academic (test prep, homework, re-teaching and clarifying concepts, academic content skill-building), at least some of the work I do with some of my private students is in the areas of organization, attention, and motivation. Come to think of it, I do all of this in my position as a classroom teacher. The two, obviously, go hand in hand.
ESL/ESOL, Geography, Law, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Philosophy

Science

ACT Science, Anatomy, Astronomy, Biology, Geology, Philosophy, Physical Science, Physiology, Psychology

Special Needs

Study Skills

Study Skills

Over the past decade, I've worked with several dozen students as a private tutor, mentor, and learning coach. While much to most of the work I do with my students is substantive and academic (test prep, homework, re-teaching and clarifying concepts, academic content skill-building), at least some of the work I do with some of my private students is in the areas of organization, attention, and motivation. Come to think of it, I do all of this in my position as a classroom teacher. The two, obviously, go hand in hand.

Summer

Elementary (K-6th),

Elementary (K-6th)

FL & MA state certified in grades K-6; FL state certified in science grades 5-9.
SAT Math,

SAT Math

I've helped students in the past few years improve ACT scores from the high teens to the high twenties/mid thirties and SAT test-takers to improve 150+ pts.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

Over the past decade, I've worked with several dozen students as a private tutor, mentor, and learning coach. While much to most of the work I do with my students is substantive and academic (test prep, homework, re-teaching and clarifying concepts, academic content skill-building), at least some of the work I do with some of my private students is in the areas of organization, attention, and motivation. Come to think of it, I do all of this in my position as a classroom teacher. The two, obviously, go hand in hand.
Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Biology, ESL/ESOL, GED, Geometry, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Reading, Spanish, Writing

Test Preparation

Bar Exam,

Bar Exam

I received my J.D. degree from Boston College Law School in 1990. I passed the Pennsylvania Bar Exam in 1991.
ISEE,

ISEE

I have tutored for the SSAT and ISEE for years.
SAT Math,

SAT Math

I've helped students in the past few years improve ACT scores from the high teens to the high twenties/mid thirties and SAT test-takers to improve 150+ pts.
SAT Reading,

SAT Reading

I help students choose wisely between the ACT & SAT (by pre-testing typically). I help students set realistic goals for improvement of scores (based on baselines and schools of choice), including on the SAT Reading section. Then I tutor and guide students through the weeks- or months-long process of prepping (which is a lot more than merely "doing problem sets."
SSAT,

SSAT

I have 20+ years experience as a private school classroom teacher and tutor where I prepped kids for end-of-year testing (Iowa Test of Basic Skills, ERB/CTP4) as well as for the SSAT, ISEE, SAT, and ACT. My students have been accepted to Ransom Everglades and Miami Country Day School, among other select private schools.
ACT English, ACT Math, ACT Reading, ACT Science, GED, GRE, PSAT, SAT Writing, TOEFL

Examples of Expertise

John has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 20 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of John ’s answers ›

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (53 ratings)
5 star
(53)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Show reviews that mention

All reviews success focused relaxed comes prepared enthusiasm

Patient, direct, and productive tutor

John was patient and direct with my 6th grader who was not feeling the love for having a tutor. It did not take long for him to cut through a bit of attitude, and they ended up working through a few math concept and math lessons in the hour he was here.

Sara, 1 lesson with John

He helped my daughter for her SSAT

He was excellent and patient, my daughter felt so confident to present her exam. She liked the classes so much and he was always on time. His tips where very useful for the exam.

Claudia, 2 lessons with John

Amazing and knowledgeable tutor

John tutors my son for the SSAT and he has provided him with incredibly valuable advice that helped my son get a great score on his first try at the exam after only four lessons. It is clear that John is seasoned and over the years has been able to customize his tutoring sessions to the individual needs of the child. He quickly identifies your child'S weak areas and focuses on strengthening them in an efficient manner, resulting in quick results and higher scores. I highly recommend John as a tutor.

Rochelle, 7 lessons with John

John is awesome!

I was immediately impressed with John’s ability to clearly explain principles and concepts with enthusiasm and patience. John reaches a child on their individual level enabling the child to trust and embrace the skills John teaches them. John's focus is not solely on increasing grade point average but strives for the child’s broadened success in all aspects of their lives. Perseverance, hard work, dedication and seeking assistance when necessary are life lessons which once learned and applied result in personal growth and success across the board!

Michelle, 15 lessons with John

Great tutor! Very friendly!

John has been helping my son since August 2012. He always comes well prepared to do something new with vocabulary, reading, and science. Brings his own books and materials, suggests strategies and proposals. My son is excited and as parents we see progress and motivation. John esta ayudando a mi hijo desde Agosto 2012. El siempre viene bien preparado para hacer cosa nuevas como vocabulario, reading, y ciencias. Trae sus propios libros y materiales, sugiere estrategias y propuestas. Mi hijo esta entusiasmado y como padres vemos progreso y motivacion.

Damian, 33 lessons with John

Amazing tutor!!!

John tutored my son for his ISEE test. He was incredibly patient with him, who tends to space off and was able to get him to concentrate on the material that was being explained. John was also very fair when it came to scheduling tutoring sessions. He was very truthful in the amount of hours that my child needed and did not try to "sell" me more hours. I would definitely seek John's services, should the need arise! Thank you, John. You were great!!! John ayudo a mi hijo a prepararse par el examen de ISEE. Fue increiblemente paciente con el, siendo mi hijo uno de esos ninos que se desconcentra muy rápido y logro ensenarle todas las materias necesarias. También me gusto mucho el hecho que no trato de venderme mas horas de las que mi hijo necesitaba. Si necesitásemos mas ayuda tutorial, definitivamente contactaría a John de nuevo. Mil gracias, John!

FADIA, 6 lessons with John

Great tutor

I hired John to tutor my 10 year old son for his upcoming standardized tests. From the first meeting, he was able to connect with my son and help him grasp concepts he didn't understand before. He does it in a manner that's relaxed but focused. After each session, my son feels he "learned a lot", comes out feeling upbeat and looks forward to the next session with him. I think we've found the right tutor. UPDATE: My son took his standardized test and did significantly better than in his practice tests in most areas. John was not just instrumental in getting him ready for it, but he went above and beyond by offering to write a letter of recommendation for one of the schools we are applying to, where he is an instructor. He also offered to introduce him to other kids that play chess at the school, this being one of my son’s interests. In addition, he was flexible in arranging times to meet with us and was a pleasure to work with. John really cares about his students. He will do whatever is in his power to make sure kids learn and succeed. He is a true teacher and I recommend him without reservation.

Maria, 6 lessons with John
Contact John

Response time: 4 hours

$50/hour

John D.'s Photo

John D.

$50/hour

  • No subscriptions or upfront payments

  • Only pay for the time you need

  • Find the right fit, or your first hour is free

Contact John

Response time: 4 hours