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English Teacher/Writing + Test Prep Specialist for MS and HS Students
Patrick M.

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Hourly Rate: $50
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About Patrick

Bio

Hello! I'm a high school English teacher with thirteen years of experience helping students become stronger readers, writers, and critical thinkers. I earned my B.A. in English from Boston College, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree from Notre Dame of Maryland University, and completed the College Board’s AP English Language teacher training course at Goucher College.

In my thirteen years teaching in independent schools, I have taught English 9, English 10 (World Literature), Honors...

Hello! I'm a high school English teacher with thirteen years of experience helping students become stronger readers, writers, and critical thinkers. I earned my B.A. in English from Boston College, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree from Notre Dame of Maryland University, and completed the College Board’s AP English Language teacher training course at Goucher College.

In my thirteen years teaching in independent schools, I have taught English 9, English 10 (World Literature), Honors English 10, and the following English 11 courses: African-American Voices in Literature, Humor and Satire in American Literature, and Modern American Drama. I also taught 12th grade English (British Literature) and created and taught a 12th grade elective called The Harlem Renaissance. In all of these classes, grammar and vocabulary work was a consistent part of the coursework, but the biggest focus was on reading challenging literature and working on writing of every type: literary analysis essays, research papers, creative writing, and personal essays for college applications.

The core of my teaching method has always been the individual writing conference. I have found that one-on-one work is by far the most effective way to provide instruction that helps a student improve their skills at every step of the writing process: brainstorming, outlining, drafting and rewriting, editing, and proofreading.

I enjoy working with students of all abilities and learning styles; although I have worked mainly with high school students in the past, I gladly welcome any middle school students who want to work together! Every lesson I teach is tailored to the individual student's goals, whether that's improving grades, writing stronger essays, mastering grammar, or building the reading and writing skills that support success on state assessments/standardized tests or college admissions tests.

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Education

Boston College
English
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Masters
None
Other
  • Licensed teacher

Policies

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Approved Subjects

ACT English

ACT English

I have 13 years of experience teaching high school English, with extensive instruction in grammar, usage, punctuation, sentence structure, reading comprehension, and effective writing. Throughout my teaching career, I have helped students identify grammatical errors, revise and edit their writing, and strengthen the reading and language skills tested on the ACT English section. My years of classroom and one-on-one instruction have prepared me to explain English conventions clearly and help students develop effective strategies for standardized-test questions.
ACT Reading

ACT Reading

I have 13 years of experience teaching high school English, with a major focus on helping students become stronger, more analytical readers. I have taught challenging literature and nonfiction across grades 9–12, helping students identify main ideas, analyze supporting evidence, make inferences, understand vocabulary in context, and interpret an author's purpose and perspective. I have extensive experience teaching students to read closely and efficiently while supporting their answers with evidence from the text. These skills align closely with the reading comprehension and analysis required on the ACT Reading section.
Creative Writing

Creative Writing

I was an English major at Boston College, where I first began to write creatively in a serious way. In my thirteen years of teaching high school English, I have had the opportunity to give feedback on many hundreds of pieces of creative work, especially short stories, personal narratives, and poetry. My approach emphasizes the writing process, from brainstorming and drafting through individual feedback, revision, and polishing. I especially enjoy helping students develop their own distinctive voices while strengthening their fundamental writing skills.
English

English

I earned my B.A. in English from Boston College and have taught in the high school classroom for 13 years. I completed The College Board’s AP English Language Teacher training and have taught English at every level (grades 9-12), including honors sections. I love helping students improve reading comprehension, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and critical thinking. My goal is not simply to help students complete assignments or prepare for a test, but to help them become more confident, capable learners.
ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

In addition to having a B.A. in English from Boston College and teaching high school English for thirteen years, I regularly volunteered to teach ESOL students at Centro de Ayuda, a community organization. My conversational-level Spanish skills helped me in this role (I took eight years of classroom Spanish as a student and lived in Spain for six months). I enjoy teaching English language learners of all ages. I focus on clear, patient instruction that helps students strengthen both their understanding of English and their ability to use it effectively.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

I have spent thirteen years teaching high school English and have helped hundreds of students become stronger, more confident writers. I specialize in guiding students through every stage of the writing process, from developing a clear thesis and organizing ideas to strengthening analysis, evidence, style, and grammar. I have taught every style of academic writing, including literary analysis, argumentative essays, research papers, personal statements, and creative writing pieces. I provide individualized feedback and practical strategies that help you become a more effective writer.
Grammar

Grammar

In thirteen years of teaching high school English, I have become a master of teaching grammar. I have used websites like IXL, EnglishGrammar101, and Grammar Bytes with students, and have relied heavily on The Great Grammar Book by Marsha Sramek (which I highly recommend). I have developed my own lessons as well, and I truly love teaching the essential grammar concepts (sentence structure; verbs and agreement; pronouns and modifiers; punctuation/style) that help students become polished writers (and do well on college admissions tests).
Literature

Literature

I was an English major at Boston College and I now have 13 years of experience teaching literature to students in grades 9–12, including American, British, and world literature. I have taught a vast range of novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, helping students develop their reading comprehension, literary analysis, and critical-thinking skills. I specialize in helping students closely read challenging texts, understand literary elements and themes, and develop thoughtful interpretations supported by textual evidence.
Proofreading

Proofreading

In my thirteen years of teaching high school English I have proofread many thousands of student papers. I enjoy giving feedback and collaborating on a Google Doc, especially within Google Classroom, and I have a large library of pre-loaded comments that I use to explain common errors. I enjoy teaching students how to proofread their own work, which always begins with them reading their work out loud, and then I illustrate the way we proofread, going line by line. This is an essential skill which students need to master for career and life long after graduation!
Reading

Reading

I have 13 years of experience teaching high school English, with a major focus on helping students become stronger, more confident readers. I have taught a wide range of challenging literature and nonfiction, helping students improve comprehension, identify main ideas and supporting details, make inferences, analyze an author’s purpose and perspective, and understand vocabulary in context. I specialize in close reading and helping students move beyond basic comprehension to interpret, analyze, and discuss complex texts. My individualized approach allows me to meet students at their current reading level and help them develop the skills and confidence to tackle increasingly challenging material.
SAT Writing

SAT Writing

I have 13 years of experience teaching high school English, with extensive instruction in grammar, usage, punctuation, sentence structure, and effective writing. I have helped students identify and correct grammatical errors, improve clarity and organization, and revise sentences and essays for precision, concision, and style. A central part of my teaching has been providing individualized feedback on student writing and helping students understand not just which corrections to make, but why. This experience directly supports the language, editing, and rhetorical skills tested on the SAT Writing and Language section.
Writing

Writing

I have spent thirteen years teaching high school English and have helped hundreds of students become stronger, more confident writers. I specialize in guiding students through every stage of the writing process, from developing a clear thesis and organizing ideas to strengthening analysis, evidence, style, and grammar. I have taught every style of academic writing, including literary analysis, argumentative essays, research papers, personal statements, and creative writing pieces. I provide individualized feedback and practical strategies that help you become a more effective writer.
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Hourly Rate: $50
Contact Patrick