About
I've been teaching and tutoring since 2005, both children and adults. My students range from pre-K to university level. Fundamentally, my task as a tutor is to attune my teaching style to the student's particular learning style, and to build a working relationship. From there, we are able to tackle whatever obstacles the student is facing.
My speciality is in English, Language Arts, Literature, and Composition. My educational background and experience as a working writer give me a unique set of skills to bring to the table; I hold a bachelor's degree in English from UC Berkeley, where I wrote award-winning research. I am currently working on an MFA in creative writing at NYU. In addition to tutoring, I write full time in marketing. These experiences garner me the expertise and creativity that is necessary to engage students with the material, while meeting their educational needs.
I love genuinely connecting with students. It's such a privilege to be able to serve a meaningful role in my student's lives, however short or long we work together. When I see students click with the material, feel confident, and prepared to meet the challenges of the educational journey ahead of them, I feel joy for the successes ahead of them. Helping students turn difficult work into easy or engaging work is very fulfilling.
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Jason R.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Our first meeting is all about introducing ourselves, discusssing the student's goals and current situation, and creating a plan that works best and most conveniently for the student. When we first meet, we will do some exercises together, so that I can gauge the student's skill level. This is where we will identify the student's strengths and areas that we need to work on most. If the student already has work that they want to bring to our sessions, we tailor our visits around that work. Otherwise, we will come up with a general lesson plan that will meet the students needs.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I teach English and Literature at NYU (New York University), an opportunity granted to me by the fellowship I was awarded as a graduate student at NYU. While working on my Creative Writing MFA, I also tutor students ranging from pre-K to university level Language Arts, English, and Creative Writing. I hold a degree in English from University of California, Berkeley. Before accepting my teaching fellowship at NYU, I tutored students for the Los Angeles Community College District. Prior to my undergraduate degree, I privately tutored K-12 Language Arts and English.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $50 an hour, but I offer two hour sessions for $80. I also do sliding scale pricing for low-income students.
How did you get started teaching?
I really began teaching while I was a caretaker for young autistic children. I loved the feeling of connection that experience gave me, and it led me to tutoring English for my peers in high school, then my college peers after that. I've always been a little bit of a nerd, and teaching has been a wonderful way to put that quirky, loving side of my personality to work in a meaningful way.
What types of students have you worked with?
At the moment, the majority of my students are college prep, college, and non-traditional adult education (like GED prep).
I'm lucky to have worked with a very wide range of students, ranging from pre-k to college level students. I have extensive experience working with dyslexic students, non-tradtional college students, and ESL students. Having grown up with an autistic family member, I have experience and sensitivity to working with students on the autism spectrum.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
A (somewhat) recent event that I am very fond of is the Thanksgiving dinner I had with my friends and family. Because of the pandemic, most of my loved ones couldn't be with me in person, but we did the best we could with Zoom chats. It was different, but we had fun, and felt connected to one another. I was so proud of the way that we created a sense of community, regardless of the circumstances.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for someone that seems to genuinely love what they do.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Do you have any specific goals you would like to accomplish from working together (college entrance essays, improvement of grades, GED, etc)? If you aren't sure yet, that's ok!
What do you struggle with the most?
Are you willing to put in some extra hours of work in between our sessions?