I’m Charlie! I graduated from Bard College with two majors, one in Classics and the other in Creative Writing. I then earned my MFA in Literary Arts from Brown University, where I taught two creative writing seminars to undergraduate students.
My primary focus is language, i.e. reading and writing. One of the greatest lessons I learned in my years of teaching and studying is that learning is a creative act made possible by an engaged student and an engaged teacher. Therefore, in my...
I’m Charlie! I graduated from Bard College with two majors, one in Classics and the other in Creative Writing. I then earned my MFA in Literary Arts from Brown University, where I taught two creative writing seminars to undergraduate students.
My primary focus is language, i.e. reading and writing. One of the greatest lessons I learned in my years of teaching and studying is that learning is a creative act made possible by an engaged student and an engaged teacher. Therefore, in my pedagogy, I try to open up pathways for students to personalize the material, and in so doing to take on an active role in their education. All writing is creative writing, and clarity of writing follows clarity of thought. Clarity of thought comes from a sense of independence, self-assurance, and command. I introduce techniques to encourage my students to take possession of the material, both what they read and what they write, so that they can have the confidence to reflect on it for themselves. Everything else comes easily after that.
In addition to teaching two undergraduate seminars at Brown, I taught for a year at Prestige Prep, a tutoring organization which helps middle schoolers in New York City study for standardized tests for placement into specialized high schools. As with writing, test-taking requires confidence and familiarity with the material. With STEM subjects as with humanities, my method involves a humane and personalized approach. Through dialogue, we take an attentive look at where the student’s strengths are, and think about how those can be put into action to remedy the weak areas. I make sure my students understand the material at a granular level by using examples, in-session practice assignments, and homework, with time allotted to review the work done on each.
I focus on giving students the confidence they need to succeed, and am a firm believer in dialogue as the key to a successful education. I am very easy to reach, and am open to speaking with parents and custodians as well.
