Experienced Math, English, and Writing Tutor

Kate H.

Hello! I’m Kate and I am an experienced tutor in group/individual critical reading at all levels, writing (academic and creative), and middle-school & high school math (algebra, precalculus and calculus). Currently, I am a senior at Columbia University earning my B.A. in English. Before studying English at Columbia, I earned my Bachelors of Music in cello performance while being a pre-med/aspiring engineering student. I am also a published writer.

I am highly committed to my students. When I first meet my students, I make sure I fully understand the student’s learning needs and goals. This often means that I will make an individualized plan with them going forward. It can also mean observing over multiple sessions and diagnosing areas the student is struggling in. For example, I have designed a writing curriculum for one of my advanced middle-school writing students to prepare her for both public writing, creative writing, and advanced literary analysis; while for other students, particularly math students, I often work on homework/exam problems with them in the lesson and observe emerging trends of where (and how) they struggle and excel.

As a teacher, I believe it is important to let students teach you how to teach them. Thus, for every student, I track progress by being attuned to the source(s) of their confidence and frustrations in order to maintain a balance of support and challenge. Coming from personal experience, the fear of the subject is 70% of the battle, and learning simply cannot happen without a supportive space and a calm headspace. Thus, to me the art of being a teacher is not only to have the expertise to help with the subject matter, but also to create a safe and collaborative space where students are engaged, ready to be challenged, and feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. Students need to know that they are capable of doing difficult things and overcome challenges, and they need to be supported in the process.