Aspire English Tutoring

The first step of the process is asking questions and placing the student at the center of the learning experience. Students must have agency in setting their own goals and communicating the areas they are struggling. Older students are encouraged to be honest about measuring the skills they have and why they want to improve. I want students to feel confident in their abilities to read and understand literature as well as express their ideas through the spoken and written word. I encourage students to develop and appreciate how they learn best, and I tailor my tutoring to challenge and support each student's needs and goals.

I graduated from Princeton University as an English Literature major, then spent ten years as a classroom teacher in independent schools. I am currently earning my masters from Dartmouth College in Liberal Studies. I have taught at private high schools, both boarding and day, on the East Coast. Teaching to small groups of students allowed me to see and appreciate each student and their unique journey. The student-teacher relationship requires balance of student-driven motivation and curiosity with a teacher's deep skill base and constructive feedback. While I enjoy the collective experience of a classroom, tutoring individual students allows me to tailor my instruction to see where a student currently sits and work towards improvement as readers, writers, and thinkers.

As a classroom teacher, I encouraged my students to learn how to think critically, write clearly, and discuss passionately. I taught grades 9-12 and tutored students outside the classroom. I helped struggling students who needed extra time comprehending a difficult text or constructing an essay as well as strong students who wanted extra time discussing a text or proofreading an essay. Working in independent schools also gave me space to develop my own curriculum, specifically in 19th C British and American Literature and contemporary American Literature. In ten years I have taught everything from reading and analyzing Shakespeare, writing argumentative essays on Toni Morrison to performing original spoken word poetry.  

Lessons generally last 1 hour. Pricing ranges from $35-50 per lesson depending on how much feedback and prep work is needed for your specific lesson. 

I have always loved school. When I thought about a career that offered excitement, challenge, and joy each day, staying within school communities was the best fit for me. I found a teaching job after college and quickly knew that teaching was a thrilling adventure that allowed me to share my love of literature and remain a life-long learning myself.

I have worked with high school students from all over the world. Working at a boarding school, we saw students who came from many diverse backgrounds. I have worked with students with learning differences, students who love school, and students who are not passionate about the classroom experience. I beleive no matter who a student is or where they come from, each student has the ability to learn and grow with the right support. 

On a windy weekend, I took my 4 and 6 year old nieces to the beach. We built an impressive sandcastle fit for a queen. The kids noticed the tide rising, and rather than worry that their work would be destroyed, they became fixated on watching the waves slowly creep towards our moat. With nowhere else to be, we waited and watched. While my patience waned, their excitement reminded me that finding joy in the little things is important at any age. Finally, wave by wave, the water took our castle back to the sea. They cheered, and it was worth the wait. 

Tutoring is about creating a collobarative team to help you learn. Look at many tutor profiles, reach out, ask questions, and communicate your needs upfront. Especially with humanities tutoring, there are many different areas and each tutor brings their own skills and flair. Think carefully about the skills you want to improve and the style of learning that clicks with you. Communication is key to setting up a team that works well together.You have agency in this process. 

Think about your goals either in a specific class or in general skills. The essential questions are why are you seeking a tutor and how can that tutor help you reach your goals?

What skills do you feel confident in and want to keep improving? What areas do have less confidence?

Also think about school experiences that left you feeling like you 'got it'. How do you learn best (are you a visual learning, do you need to write things down or talk things out, do you like working alone or with a partner)?

What cirriculum are you using and how can your tutor help to support you moving forward through your course?