Enjoyable lessons with experienced teacher!

Rachel M.

ADHD

Not only have I worked with ADHD students in a classroom setting and in individual tutoring, but I have personal experience as well: I, too, have a diagnosis of ADHD and have struggled with certain aspects of formal schooling my entire life. I intimately understand the side effects of different ADHD medications and also know what it is like to go through school unmedicated. However, I also know what it is like to succeed in spite of ADHD -- I graduated cum laude from Harvard University. In working with ADHD students, I use techniques that worked well for me and for past students, while also being sensitive to the fact that each student is different. It is therefore important to me that I get to know each student's strengths and weaknesses to tailor tutoring sessions accordingly.

Algebra 1

As a former middle school and high school math teacher, I have a great deal of experience teaching prealgebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus. I love math, and I delight in seeing some of that love rub off students who never before thought they would ever come to like math. No matter what a student's starting point is, I do not believe that there is anyone who cannot "do" math -- and I love the challenge of working with students (young or old) who fear they will never succeed!

Algebra 2

As a former middle school and high school math teacher, I have a great deal of experience teaching prealgebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus. I love math, and I delight in seeing some of that love rub off students who never before thought they would ever come to like math. No matter what a student's starting point is, I do not believe that there is anyone who cannot "do" math -- and I love the challenge of working with students (young or old) who fear they will never succeed!

Elementary (K-6th)

I enjoy working with children of all ages and abilities, and I am well regarded by kids as being a fun but firm teacher who stays away from busy-work and makes learning more interesting and relevant. I have worked with elementary school students in a number of settings over the past fifteen years, including: * as a camp counselor for 2nd and 3rd graders at an Audubon Society camp, * as program staff at an after-school program for low-income 1st through 5th graders, * as an English teacher for grades 1-6 in Japan, * as a 4th grade teaching assistant at the Rashi School in Massachusetts, * as a math instructor for remedial 5th and 6th grade students at the Punahou Summer School in Hawaii, and * as a literacy tutor for struggling 5th grade students at a bilingual school in Costa Rica. Most importantly, I respect the young people with whom I work, and I strive to build confidence and enthusiasm for learning rather than simply looking for improved test results.

ESL/ESOL

I have taught ESL/ESOL at every level, from "My name is ___" to advanced university English and business English; to students of nearly every age, from 6-year-olds to 65-year-olds; in many different locations, including Japan, China, Costa Rica, Mozambique, and the USA; and to linguistically gifted students and to those who struggle to learn languages. I am able to tailor the emphasis of my lessons to the needs of each student; for example, focusing primarily on oral communication for some and on grammar and composition for others. I prefer to teach ESL in an English immersion format, but when necessary I am also able to explain difficult concepts in Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew, and Japanese.

General Computer

I will be the first to admit that I am not a computer genius. If you need help creating flashy applications for the iPad or analyzing complex data in SPSS, you should look elsewhere for assistance. However, I excel in assisting people master the everyday uses of those scary machines on which society increasingly depends. I can patiently and successfully teach even the most computer-shy people how to... ...send and receive e-mail; ...attach photos or documents to e-mail (or retrieve incoming files); ...use Microsoft Word or other word-processing programs; ...use Microsoft Excel or other simple spreadsheet programs; ...use Microsoft PowerPoint or prezi.com to create simple presentations; ...use Google or other search engines to find obscure information; ...use GoogleDocs to share files or store information online; ...create a free, simple blog or webpage; ...use Skype or iChat to communicate with friends and family around the world; ...use Facebook to reconnect with friends and acquaintances; ...create a music library and play or burn CDs; ...connect and use a printer, scanner, or digital camera; ...play games on your computer or compete against others online; ...and much more! If you need testimonials, I can put you in touch with my 89-year-old grandmother by way of e-mail, Skype, iChat, or Facebook, all of which she now uses with ease after first being afraid to touch the computer mouse.

Geometry

As a former middle school and high school math teacher, I have a great deal of experience teaching prealgebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus. I love math, and I delight in seeing some of that love rub off students who never before thought they would ever come to like math. No matter what a student's starting point is, I do not believe that there is anyone who cannot "do" math -- and I love the challenge of working with students (young or old) who fear they will never succeed!

Hebrew

I am an experienced language teacher able to teach beginner and intermediate Hebrew to students of any age, including those who have tried to learn Hebrew before and gotten discouraged or frustrated. I enjoy (and have had great success) using simple songs and games to teach and reinforce grammar points and vocabulary, but more than anything I am flexible and can tailor lessons to the needs of individual students. I also have experience as a bar/bat mitzvah tutor and can teach people of any age how to chant from the torah or haftarah, including those who have no previous experience with Hebrew.

Phonics

I have experience working with both native and non-native English speakers to master English pronunciation for more fluent reading, writing, and speaking. Using primarily simple games and "just right" books tailored to the interests of each student, I make learning phonics both relevant and fun.

Prealgebra

As a former middle school and high school math teacher, I have a great deal of experience teaching prealgebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus. I love math, and I delight in seeing some of that love rub off students who never before thought they would ever come to like math. No matter what a student's starting point is, I do not believe that there is anyone who cannot "do" math -- and I love the challenge of working with students (young or old) who fear they will never succeed!

Precalculus

As a former middle school and high school math teacher, I have a great deal of experience teaching prealgebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus. I love math, and I delight in seeing some of that love rub off students who never before thought they would ever come to like math. No matter what a student's starting point is, I do not believe that there is anyone who cannot "do" math -- and I love the challenge of working with students (young or old) who fear they will never succeed!

Public Speaking

I have worked with people all over the world to become better speakers, from university students in China to professionals in an international peace building program in Vermont. Success in public speaking depends on two main elements: what you are saying and how you are saying it. I can help with both. Learning how to structure a convincing argument or powerful presentation takes practice, so I work with students to gradually improve the structure and content of their speeches and impart skills that can also be used in effective writing. However, even the most spectacular content will fall flat if delivered poorly. Thus I also help students with body language, volume, eye contact, flow, and other elements of strong public speaking. In very little time, even the most timid speakers will be able to address an audience with confidence and skill.

Spanish

Hola! Although I am not 100% fluent in Spanish, I spent over two years living and teaching in Costa Rica and have traveled extensively around other parts of Latin America as well. I have a strong understanding of both the language itself and also the struggles that a non-native speaker faces when trying to learn it. I have taught beginner Spanish classes and have tutored high school and college students in first, second, and third year Spanish. I also have a lot of experience teaching other languages, including Japanese, Hebrew, and English, so I am familiar with many different techniques for second language acquisition.

Special Needs

I have worked with students with mild special needs in a variety of settings, from 4th graders who cannot keep up with their classmates to adults pursuing a GED many years after dropping out of school because of undiagnosed learning disabilities. In my experience, I have found that building confidence and enthusiasm for learning is the first step to helping special needs students succeed in school, so I tailor my lessons to each student's particular needs and interests. Most of my tutoring experience with special needs students has been in math (all levels) and English (primarily literacy and writing), but I am open to working with students in other subjects as well. In addition to the results I have seen in the students I have tutored, I can also point to my own experiences as evidence that it is possible for special needs students to succeed: I have struggled with ADHD my entire life and my sister has a diagnosed learning disability, but we both graduated from ivy league schools!

Trigonometry

As a former middle school and high school math teacher, I have a great deal of experience teaching prealgebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus. I love math, and I delight in seeing some of that love rub off students who never before thought they would ever come to like math. No matter what a student's starting point is, I do not believe that there is anyone who cannot "do" math -- and I love the challenge of working with students (young or old) who fear they will never succeed!