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Experienced English Tutor|ISEE, SSAT, Reading & Writing (Grades 6-11)
Joanie M.

5.0 (1,385 ratings)

4,138 hours tutoring

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About Joanie

Bio

Your student may have taken a timed practice SSAT or ISEE and discovered that the score is either almost there or not yet where it needs to be. These exams reward a kind of reading, reasoning, vocabulary knowledge, and pacing that most students have not been taught directly. Once students learn those skills, they often begin to surprise themselves.

Lessons are built around each student’s needs and informed by released official materials. For SSAT and ISEE preparation, I often use Test...

Your student may have taken a timed practice SSAT or ISEE and discovered that the score is either almost there or not yet where it needs to be. These exams reward a kind of reading, reasoning, vocabulary knowledge, and pacing that most students have not been taught directly. Once students learn those skills, they often begin to surprise themselves.

Lessons are built around each student’s needs and informed by released official materials. For SSAT and ISEE preparation, I often use Test Innovators during lessons. Students may use my materials in class, but they will need their own subscription for independent practice. Writing is woven throughout, giving students regular opportunities to develop, refine, and express their ideas.

Many students meet once a week for steady growth and ongoing support. For students preparing for a specific test date or working toward more ambitious score goals, I often recommend two or more lessons each week. Additional practice gives students more chances to apply new reading and writing strategies while they are still fresh, helping those skills become more secure over time.

A typical lesson might include a challenging passage, a lively discussion, a vocabulary detour, and focused writing practice. Students engage more deeply with language and literature while building the skills and confidence they need for test day.

Parents receive an update after each session outlining progress, areas for growth, and recommended next steps tailored to the student’s goals and testing timeline.

I hold a B.S., a Juris Doctor (J.D.), a TEFL/TESOL certificate, and several years of classroom teaching and tutoring experience.

I work with a limited number of students, so that I can give each one careful, individualized attention. If your student is ready for focused, personalized help with reading, writing, analytical reasoning, or SSAT/ISEE preparation, please feel free to message me about availability.

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Education

University of Houston-Downtown
Interdisciplinary Studies
Northwestern California University School of Law
J.D.
International TEFL Academy - TEFL/TESOL Certification
Other
  • Licensed teacher

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $45
  • Rate details: Please get in touch with me if you'd like to schedule a time that is not visible on my calendar, and I'll try to accommodate you.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • No background check

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Common Core

Common Core

I help students in grades 5-9 master math and reading with Common Core standards. My lessons make learning clear and simple, so kids feel confident and ready for what’s next!
COOP/HSPT

COOP/HSPT

I provide personalized online COOP/HSPT tutoring to optimize scores in the Language Arts sections. With over five years of experience teaching exam-specific language skills, I focus on improving vocabulary, analogies, grammar, reading comprehension, punctuation, and spelling.
English

English

Engaging and effective online English lessons for ages 10 to adult. More than five years of experience and multiple certifications ensure rapid improvement. I use online games and personalized strategies to achieve student goals.
ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

I help ESL/ESOL students achieve rapid English improvement. As a certified TEFL/TESOL tutor with 4,000+ Wyzant lessons, I provide structured lessons and clear goals that lead to student success within two to three months.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

Since 2019, I’ve helped students improve their essay writing by teaching them how to break down prompts, organize their ideas, and write with clarity and purpose. Through structured practice and focused feedback, students learn to build stronger paragraphs, support their points with evidence, and express their ideas more confidently.
Homeschool

Homeschool

Since 2019, I have homeschooled students in grades 5-9 in reading, writing, and vocabulary. My personalized lessons and engaging methods have helped students excel in language arts.
ISEE

ISEE

Personalized online ISEE English tutoring for optimal scores. More than five years of experience in verbal, reading, and essay prep. I use guided practice and feedback to ensure academic success.
Literature

Literature

I help middle-school and early high-school students read literature with more confidence and understanding. Lessons may focus on plot, character, theme, setting, conflict, vocabulary, summaries, and using text evidence in written responses. My goal is to help students understand what they read and explain their ideas clearly.
Proofreading

Proofreading

Professional document proofreading services. 5+ years online, legal & teaching expertise. Get error-free documents, fast.
PSAT

PSAT

Build essential PSAT English skills for exam success. More than five years of experience and multiple certifications. Engaging lessons and personalized strategies lead to rapid improvement in key areas.
Reading

Reading

Rapid reading improvement through targeted skill building. Five years of online experience, engaging lessons, and personalized strategies for success.
SSAT

SSAT

Personalized online SSAT English tutoring for optimal scores. More than five years of experience in verbal, reading, and essay prep. I use guided practice and feedback to ensure academic success.
STAAR

STAAR

I help students feel ready and confident for the STAAR test. I identify their strengths and areas for improvement. My plan helps them perform at their best and feel confident on test day.
Study Skills

Study Skills

I help middle and high school students build the study habits they wish they’d learned earlier. Whether it's note-taking, time management, test preparation, or organizing assignments, I teach students how to study smarter, not just longer. My sessions are customized to each student’s learning style, with a focus on reducing stress, building confidence, and setting up systems that work in real life, not just on paper. Many of my students go from feeling overwhelmed to feeling in control after just a few sessions.
TOEFL

TOEFL

I'm a certified ESL instructor passionate about helping students excel in their TOEFL exams. With over five years of experience on Wyzant and 2,400+ tutoring hours, I boast a 5/5 star rating with over 950 reviews. My secret? Engaging, personalized lessons that combine the power of interactive videos, games, and structured test materials. I go beyond rote memorization, tailoring each lesson to your unique learning style and goals. This approach has helped numerous students raise their scores substantially, with many achieving scores in the 100+ range.
Writing

Writing

Versatile writing tutor with TEFL/TESOL certification and degrees in law and science. I tailor lessons to all ages and levels—helping native and non-native English speakers master essays, resumes, and a wide range of writing skills.
GED
Grammar
Microsoft Word
Spelling
Vocabulary

Examples of Expertise

Joanie has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 17 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Joanie ’s answers ›
Joanie M.'s Photo

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Response time: 36 minutes

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (1,385 ratings)
5 star
(1,362)
4 star
(12)
3 star
(5)
2 star
(1)
1 star
(5)

Reviews

Outstanding SSAT Tutor

Over the past 8 weeks * （2sessions/week） my daughter’s SSAT （upper）scores have jumped dramatically: +230 on V, +100 on R. Tutor Joanie is outstanding. Three things stand out: 1. Deep expertise and instant customization—she sized up my daughter’s level in the first session and keeps re-tuning the plan every week. 2. A magic toolbox: hand-picked books, websites, drills, all matched to the day’s needs. 3. Zoom classes that actually buzz: I hear my teenager reading aloud, asking questions, laughing—proof that rapport can travel through a screen. Sum up: Joanie is not only helping on the test skill improvement, but also guiding students how to handle a huge difficult task with necessary self-confidence.

Ning, 13 lessons with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Ning, for the thoughtful review. It’s been a pleasure working with your daughter, and I’m glad to see her hard work reflected in her SSAT scores. I appreciate your kind words and am especially glad she’s gaining confidence. Thank you for trusting me with her prep.

Knowledgeable and patient.

Joanie helped my daughter with English test, she showed her professional work in preparation with some questions to get to know more about our requirements for the lesson before it started. We are impressed with her decency and English skills, and will consider to learn with her again.

Peggy, 1 lesson with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Peggy! I appreciate your kind words and am glad the lesson was helpful. It was a pleasure working with your daughter, and I wish her all the best.

Patient tutor

Joanie is a great tutor. She has been very accommodating to my daughter's needs for the reading portion of the SSAT. Her patience and suggestions for practice workbooks appears to be yielding dividends. Even though we didn't ask for help on the writing portion of the SSAT, I think that she has also greatly helped. Unfortunately, my daughter has scheduling conflicts so she won't be able to work with Joanie again until the summer. Five stars!

Matt, 1 lesson with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you so much, Matt! It was a pleasure working with your daughter, and I'm thrilled the practice strategies are helping. I'd be happy to pick up where we left off this summer. Wishing her all the best!

Great teacher , very patient!

Ms Joanie is a very patient and professional teacher to work with. Each lesson she keeps my daughter engaged a lot !

Qing, 98 lessons with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you so much! Your daughter's curiosity and enthusiasm make every lesson a joy to teach!

A top-notch tutor!

Joanie has been a great tutor for my daughter! She explains things clearly, makes learning interesting, and teaches in a way that works well for her. My daughter is not only doing better in school but also feels more confident. Joanie is always kind, patient, and professional. We’re very thankful for her help and recommend her to anyone who needs a great tutor!

Hyeeun, 74 lessons with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you so much! Your daughter’s hard work and enthusiasm make tutoring a joy. It’s been wonderful seeing her confidence grow!

excellent!

Great and knowledgeable! My kid loves her so much! She is very patient and knowledgeable!Will continue to work with her!

Connie, 12 lessons with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you! I'm glad our sessions are enjoyable and making a positive impact. I'm looking forward to continuing to help them grow and succeed!

Great tutor

We love working with Joanie because she is extremely meticulous and detail-oriented, ensuring that her work is always precise and of the highest quality for my kiddo

Anjalee, 19 lessons with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad that my teaching approach positively impacts your child.

Great teacher , very patient!

Ms Joanie is an excellent teacher to work with for my daughter on the essay topic. She’s super patient and professional!

Qing, 98 lessons with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! It has truly brightened my day. I have enjoyed working with your daughter and am thrilled to see her making significant progress. I am excited to continue supporting her learning journey and watching her grow even more.

Very patient and experienced tutor

Joanie is teaching my son writing and comprehension for the past few months. She is doing an excellent job in instructing my son in areas he needs improvement and he really likes her class.

Revathi, 51 lessons with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you for your kind words! It is gratifying to hear that your son is making progress and enjoying our classes.

Very very knowledgeable tutor

My daugher has been enjoying her lessons while making good progress. She has lots of experience in tutoring and provides students with good examples. As long as students follow her direction and guidance, they would get to know that they already move up to the next level.

KI HOON, 34 lessons with Joanie
Tutor responded:

Thank you! I'm so glad your daughter enjoys the lessons, and I agree her progress is quite good! I'm excited to see her continue learning and growing!