Shawn R.
Worcester, MA
Shawn, the Holy Grail for Students of History & Lit
Northeastern University, Boston
Worcester State College
MEdAbout Shawn
As a history teacher, tutor and instructional aide, I have guided my students to learn course content, but also to become overall better students. I emphasize improving organizational and study skills to create a more permanent solution to academic challenges. I also focus my learning activities around concepts and skills to build understanding,
Policies
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8 hours notice requiredTravel Radius
Travels within 30 miles of Worcester, MA 01606Shawn offers online lessons
Shawn 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 Shawn to get started.
"A+++ !"
- Janet, Worcester, MA on 9/27/15Shawn is an engaging & perceptive tutor who covers a broad range of subjects, from History, English, Spanish to Algebra. He is flexible in his approach & schedule, adaptive to our teenage son's needs, and is prompt & reliable. Communication is always clear, with progress updates and recommendations on how to manage our son's academic life based on his particular learning style/ needs. A consummate professional, Shawn is supportive & nurturing in his motivational approach, and understands the teenage mind-set, gender & personality. We highly recommend Shawn!
"Excellent teaching skills"
- Sonia, Shrewsbury, MA on 10/21/16Shawn is teaching Spanish to my son.
Just after 2 lessons, my son is developing confidence and getting little more comfortable in his foreign language class
"Engaging and patient tutor"
- Mehdi, Fresh Meadows, NY on 8/1/16Shawn is an engaging and patient tutor, who seeks to help my kids to become better thinkers and writers.
"Great tutor!"
- Steve, West Boylston, MA on 4/25/16First session. My son was reluctant to engage, but Shawn eased him right into it and they had a solid hour of productive work.
"Good first session"
- Mike, Valparaiso, IN on 11/15/15I had my first meeting with Shawn and it went well. He helped me understand where I'm at and what I need to do.
"Shawn has really been fantastic with my 17 y/o son. He is very knowledgeable and is a patient tutor."
- Mary, Hudson, MA on 6/4/15Shawn helps my son stay on task and organized. This has been very helpful in regards to my son's success in school.
"Great tutor"
- Nelsy, Shrewsbury, MA on 2/14/15I enjoyed my first lesson with Shawn. He has a big knowledge in every area I need help with. His teaching is fun and he is very kind. He taught me some word pronunciations and origins. I can't wait for my next lesson. Thanks, Shawn.
"Patient and steady improvement"
- Mary, Sutton, MA on 11/21/13Mr. R has been working with my son for the past year and his grades have improved dramatically. My son began working with Mr. R in 8th grade with the goal to get his grades to a passing level so that he could have an opportunity to be accepted into Blackstone Valley Technical High School (BVT), a difficult school to get into. This was a tall order for Mr. R since there was only 3 months to accomplish this task. Prior to my son working with Mr. R, his English average was a 50 and his history average was C/D. My son was successful in bringing his English and History grades up to a C+ average by the end of the second term and was accepted into BVT. As a freshman in high school, my son's English average is B/C and his History average is A/B.
Mr. R continues to work with my son to help him improve his organizational skills as well as his understanding of reading, writing, and knowledge of history. We continue to see improvement in my son's grades using the skills that Mr. R has provided.
I would highly recommend Mr. R as a tutor. He continues to be very patient with my son especially on those days when my son does not have an interest in learning.
"Overall Success"
- Doug, Hopkinton, MA on 11/18/13Shawn has done a terrific job in not only getting my son's understanding and knowledge of AP US History to increase his grade from failing to a B but also has helped his overall study habits and focus in his other classes. Shawn is committed to the student and very flexible in scheduling!
"Great tutor - resourceful and works well with my 10 year old."
- Jacquie, Leominster, MA on 5/16/13My son has come a long way in a few months while working with Shawn. He just completed a strong essay that he would not have been able to write a few months ago. I highly recommend Shawn!
Shawn is an excellent tutor. He is flexible and develops meaningful strategies and lessons for my son to learn from and work with. I highly recommend him.
"Great tutor"
- Amy, Framingham, MA on 3/25/13Shawn is a great tutor. My daughter is learning so much about American History and he is kind to her and flexible about time.
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.
American History
I have taught US History at the middle and high school levels, focusing on the question of what makes one an "American". The issues of popular culture and identity are at the core of how US democracy had evolved over time; I look at the questions of who has rights and which rights they have as a reflection on who we say we are as Americans. Secondary foci include economic and diplomatic history.
Archaeology
Archaeology is not always like Indiana Jones running into a long-lost temple, chased by the locals or treasure-hunting Nazis. Since the 19th century, archaeology has evolved into a social science, and it has a painstaking methodology to objectively collect, interpret, synthesize and evaluate data to make and test theories about people and how they lived (and live now).
As a history teacher, I have integrated archaeological methodologies into my World and US History courses as well as an elective course called History Through Art. While a fan particularly of the Romans as far as Western classical antiquity is concerned, I also list as favorites ancient Greece (especially of the Iliad and Odyssey), and the maritime archaeology of the Americas in the period of European colonization (1500-1900). I especially like the archaeology of shipwrecks like the Spanish plate ships, such as the Atocha, and pirate ships, such as the Whydah.
Art History
As a history teacher, I have often brought art into my lessons and projects, as a means of understanding the spirit of a society and its times. I also have taught an elective course called History Through Art, a basic survey for middle and high school students that focused on the art of Western Civilization. My areas of concentration are in Renaissance, modern and contemporary art; my baccalaureate Honors thesis was written on the Bauhaus, a school of art and architecture in 1920s/30s Germany. I have also traveled to the centers of the Italian Renaissance in Florence, Sienna and Rome. I also have done extensive research in the art of Latin America and Haiti. My favorite artists are Michelangelo, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, and Franz Marc.
ASVAB
As a former Marine, I have taken the ASVAB myself, and like helping people interested in a military career take the ASVAB and get the scores they need to enter into the occupational specialties of their choice.
As a teacher and tutor, I have the background in study skills and prepping students for standardized tests like the ASVAB, AP exams and MCAS (the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System). I like helping people get where they want to go--let me help you jump-start your military career!
Classics
The Classics have been the core of my ancient history courses, as well as critical segments in my History Through Art course, standard college-preparation world history courses, and AP World History tutoring.
The ancient foundations of Western Civilization are the Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian traditions. Reading the literatures of these traditions can give us modern-day folks a view into why we think what we think and why we do what we do--even fifteen hundred years after the collapse of the western partition of the Roman Empire. What I love most about the classics (and Shakespeare in the Greco-Roman-influenced Renaissance) is that the classics are about how we live and how we relate to our world and to each other. From the epic poems of Homer and Virgil, Ovid's Metamorphoses, the Bible (Jewish and Christian segments) and surviving works of drama, the classics served as behavioral and how-to guides to the people of the time, and serve today as behavioral guides and a means of understanding how the West came to be. The Classics are a way to understand who we are as a society and as individuals living in an area of Western Civilization and at a time of global Westernization.
Elementary (K-6th)
I enjoy helping young students get better at the basic, foundational skills that they will need for later education. Focusing on the basics, I use manipulatives, hands-on activities and writing to teach the basics like phonics and spelling, basic math facts (adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing) and basic concepts in science and social studies. I like the energy and responsiveness of young students as they make connections between the curriculum, themselves and their world. I have a Master's degree in Education from Worcester State College.
English
Building literacy through basic reading, writing, speaking and listening skills has helped my students' learning across the curriculum more meaningful and successful. They have developed the basic building blocks for being more successful students, and being more in charge of their lives and professional and personal opportunities.
Furthermore, I enjoy very much delving into literature with students as they come to understand it in its historical context, but also through its more timeless and enduring themes as they address the essence of the human condition and experience. Literature is about how we live and interact--it is about relationships; it is relevant to every person, academically-oriented or not.
ESL/ESOL
Much of my ten years of teaching and tutoring has been with students not originally from the US and who do not speak English as their first language. This is also my circumstance at home, as my wife is from the Dominican Republic--her native language is Spanish.
I enjoy working with students to help them learn English and enjoy more personal and professional opportunities in the United States. I have helped students learn the basic sound-letter combinations in English, and patterns of vocabulary development and the basic structure of sentences.
European History
I have taught European History at the middle and high school levels, and have also tutored AP European History students. My specializations include the dialectic between economic and political change, as well as imperialism and the cross-fertilization of cultures. My favorite period is from 1870 to 1945 (the Modern Period), when people wrestled with new technologies, scientific possibilities, and the depths of the human mind as reflected in psychology, philosophy and the arts.
GED
I became a teacher to help people "get where they want to go". In other words, I like giving people a hand-up to improve their personal and professional life opportunities. A GED is a second chance in life.
By relating course content to students' lives, I have helped many students from age 12 to age 70 learn basic academic and job skills that have empowered them to get more from life.
Geography
I like helping students understand their world better, becoming more aware of how our world is a very interconnected "Global Village." Through the 5 Themes of Geography (Location, Place, Region, Movement and Human/Environment Interaction), my students have gained a better understanding of how people are impacted by the environment, how people impact the environment, and how these interactions affect history and society--from the prehistoric times of hunter-gatherer societies to the advanced civilizations of today.
Government & Politics
The age-old question of "Who's the boss?" is addressed periodically by all human societies. That question, as well as questions of how we determine who is boss, how they should rule, and are there limits for the boss are at the core of any study of government and politics. I can help your student understand government and politics thematically through these questions. (The answers to these questions are myriad,but one should know that democracy as we know it in the US is historically a relative new-comer on the scene.)
Grammar
Grammar is not merely a set of rules to follow--it is a means to expression. One of my favorite authors, William Faulkner, took this concept to its max. Good writers use grammar to efficiently and directly convey what they are saying. This is what I can help you do.
Literature
I enjoy delving into literature with students as they come to understand it in its historical context, but also through its more timeless and enduring themes as they address the essence of the human condition and experience. Literature is about how we live and interact--it is about relationships; it is relevant to every person, academically-oriented or not.
My favorite authors are Tim O'Brien, Mark Kurlansky and Michael Ondaatje. Favorite poets include Louise Gluck, Pablo Neruda, and William Butler Yeats.
Proofreading
I treat writing as a process, based on brainstorming and free-writing, organizing and planning, writing a draft, editing, and finally, publishing. Whether the writing is reflective, narrative, expository, persuasive or creative, treating it as a process is essential to success.
In my proofreading work, I evaluate writing on how well it meets content requirements, and communicates that content effectively to the intended audience.
My experience ranges broadly as a teacher having evaluated hundreds of student papers and as an advisory proofreader for manuals and academic work. My approach to evaluating writing alloys artful creativity with the science of organizing and mechanics.
Reading
My lessons to help students with reading are based around central concepts for content recall and interpretation. Students use graphic organizers, cartooning and role-playing to improve comprehension and interpretive skills. In addition to phonics and spelling rules, I also emphasize vocabulary development through root words, prefixes, and suffixes.
My teaching approach is about helping students become better students even as they learn content. That is the lifetime gift that I give to my students.
Religion
I am a Catholic who converted from Lutheranism (Protestant) a number of years ago. That being said, I am familiar with the Catholic Cathechism, but also have a perspective on how and why Protestants disagree on certain doctrinal issues. I am also very familiar with the Bible Study, which I have done as both Lutheran and Catholic. Church history is also a strong suit of mine, as it is interesting to see how the Church has evolved over time and why it made the decisions it has made and how it has helped keep people together, but also as a source of understanding the essence of Christianity--which is what binds the Catholic and Lutheran together, despite doctrinal differences.
Spanish
A history teacher specializing in cross-cultural interactions, I am also a husband of a native Spanish-speaker from the Dominican Republic. Although I am a norteamericano ("American"), I enjoy Spanish culture and history. I attend Catholic mass in Spanish and enjoy the expressiveness that pervades it. I would like to share my passion for opening connections and understanding between cultures and people.
!Llámeme!
Study Skills
As a teacher and tutor, I have helped my students become better learners--become better at apprehending, organizing, remembering and utilizing content. I use the Landmark Methodology developed by Joan Sedita to help students improve skills and focus on concepts and themes, rather than emphasizing rote knowledge. I can help students work to their strengths while developing their weaker areas in developing a system of learning strategies that works for them.
Vocabulary
Everyone can improve their vocabulary, to include mastering technical jargon. The key is to understand the structure of words and language.
I teach through a variety of means, but the core of what I do is to look at how words are built within a language through the devices of a prefix, suffix, root word, or allusion. I link words by theme and category, as in words related to occupations, types of behavior, or foods. I also link words by their function in language, such as prepositional words. I have never had a student who could not increase their vocabulary through understanding these connections between words.
World History
I have taught world history at the middle and high school levels and have also tutored AP students. My specializations include the dialectic between economic and political change, as well as imperialism and the cross-fertilization of cultures. My favorite period is 1870 to 1945 (the Modern Period), when people wrestled with new technologies, scientific possibilities, and the depths of the human mind as reflected in psychology, philosophy and the arts.
Writing
As a teacher, one of my specializations was improving student writing. I use the John Collins Writing and Empowering Writers programs to help students approach writing as an engaging and very personal process of expression. This process includes collecting thoughts through brainstorming and free-writing, organizing and planning, writing a draft, editing, and finally, publishing. I help students improve their reflective, narrative, expository, persuasive and creative writing.
Other Worcester, MA Tutors
Shawn R.
Worcester, MA
Shawn, the Holy Grail for Students of History & Lit
Social Studies
A history teacher, I have helped middle and high school students learn and enjoy Social Studies. Learning Social Studies is really learning about people, which is something in which we all have the potential to be experts. Why do people do what they do? How do people interact with each other in different situation and environments? Social Studies is really about our lives.
Furthermore, I have also taught Social Studies and Social Sciences courses, such as Psychology, Geography and History Through Art. Economics has also played a large part in my courses.