BLUE TEACHES
Academic Tutoring
Find the gap. Build the skill. Move forward with confidence.
Free consultation
Sometimes a student knows exactly what kind of help they need. Often, they do not.
A student may be struggling with an essay, a difficult reading, an upcoming exam, or an entire course without knowing where the difficulty begins. My greatest strength as a tutor is figuring out what is getting in the way—and finding an effective way to address it.
I provide individualized academic tutoring for students from middle school through college, with particular expertise in reading-, writing-, language-, and humanities-based courses.
Figuring out what you need
The problem a student first describes is not always the underlying problem. Difficulty writing an essay may begin with uncertainty about the prompt. Trouble answering reading questions may come from unfamiliar vocabulary, missed context, or difficulty identifying the most important information.
We will work together to identify the gap, understand why it is causing difficulty, and decide how to fill it as effectively as possible.
The goal is not simply to finish the assignment; it is to help the student develop skills and strategies they can use more independently in the future.
How I can help
Students can come to me for ongoing tutoring or help with a particular assignment, project, exam, or area of difficulty.
- Understanding complex or unfamiliar readings
- Interpreting assignment instructions and essay prompts
- Planning, drafting, and revising essays
- Developing a clear thesis or central argument
- Finding and using textual evidence
- Organizing ideas effectively
- Strengthening reading comprehension
- Building vocabulary
- Improving grammar, sentence structure, and style
- Conducting and organizing research
- Preparing for tests and exams
- Reviewing teacher feedback and applying it to revisions
- Building confidence and greater academic independence
Subjects and courses
My strongest areas are subjects that depend on careful reading, clear writing, analysis, interpretation, research, and argument. If you are unsure whether I can help with a particular class or assignment, contact me and we can determine whether I am the right tutor for your needs.
- English and language arts
- Literature
- Composition and academic writing
- History
- Government and politics
- Political science
- Social sciences
- Research-based humanities courses
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP history courses
- AP government and politics courses
- College-level writing and humanities courses
Support from middle school through college
Middle school students may need help building foundational reading and writing skills or understanding increasingly complex assignments.
High school and AP students may need support with challenging readings, analytical essays, research projects, exam preparation, or demanding coursework.
College students may need help interpreting difficult texts, developing sophisticated arguments, planning and revising papers, responding to professor feedback, or adjusting to college-level expectations.
An individual approach
Every student thinks and learns differently. I do not believe in forcing everyone through the same explanation or method. If one approach is not working, we will try another.
I will not complete a student’s work for them. I will help them understand what they are doing, make thoughtful decisions, and produce work they can genuinely claim as their own.
Experience across age groups
I am an experienced college professor with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in writing from Columbia University. I have taught undergraduate courses at Columbia. I also have extensive experience teaching teenagers and tutoring middle school students.
Because I have worked with students at every level from middle school through college, I understand both the skills students are developing now and the academic expectations they are preparing to meet later.
Sessions and scheduling
For students under 18, I will communicate directly with a parent or guardian before beginning. A parent or guardian must be aware of and involved in arranging the service.
- Online
- In person at a public library convenient for the student
- Regular ongoing meetings or one-time academic support
- Flexible scheduling when possible
Pricing
My standard rate is $35 per hour, with flexible pricing available based on individual circumstances.
The amount of tutoring a student needs will depend on their goals, course, assignment, and current areas of difficulty. We can discuss those needs during a free initial consultation and create a realistic plan together.
FOR MY FORMER STUDENTS
Former students from the Double Discovery Center, Columbia University, or Hampshire College are always welcome to pay what they can afford.
It pays to be my student!
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
Let’s figure out what would help
For students under 18, a parent or guardian should be involved in the initial contact and arrangement of services.