Morgan C. Tutoring
About
Hey! :) I graduated from the University of New York at Cortland a few years ago with a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology. I come to the tutoring scene with a background in tutoring and teaching both in scientific (specifically Anatomy, Physiology, Neuroscience, and Biology), social science (Psychology), and various forms of writing. For clarification and simplicity, I've split them below.
For those looking for SCIENCE:
In college I worked as a Supplemental Instruction Leader. (You may have heard of it? I believe the program is international!) My role was to facilitate group study sessions for historically difficult classes. These usually included intro Biology classes, Anatomy and Physiology, and Psychology. I was trained to support the specific learning preferences of my different students and create activities and discussion points that catered to those preferences. In doing so, I helped students facilitate their own relationship with the material and gain the confidence to tackle their tests.
When approaching science, I really think it's most helpful for me to find your preferred learning style and help you think about your material in a way that's easier for you to "get" and then apply. I love to make things interesting, fun, and relatable, with the ultimate goal being that you feel confident enough to teach someone else about the process, feature, system, theory, etc.
For those looking for WRITING:
My interdisciplinary background puts me in the perfect position to help you with some of the finer, more technical points of writing. I am an expert some of the "less enjoyable" types of writing, such as scientific writing, research papers, and creative nonfiction. These are actually my favorites!
My goal will be to not only edit your writing but also bring you to a place in which you can have the confidence to do that yourself. And, If you need and want to... I am ALWAYS happy to have you come back to me! Writing is often an emotive process that takes time, whether it's something that you enjoy or something that you struggle with. Therefore, my process is tailored to your needs. I'm here for editing, organization, or all the things. ;)
I will be going on to graduate school (hopefully soon!) so that I can become a professor, so it is totally my jam to work with fellow academics and create a fun learning environment. :) It is incredibly rewarding for me when the folks I'm helping start to feel confident and excited about the material and/or paper!
Highlights
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I am a big believer that there is no single process. :)
For SCIENCE:
I think the the obvious first step is to meet up (over Zoom) and discuss your class, your goals, and your current feelings about the material. At this stage it would also help me to learn about your learning preferences (if you're unsure, no worries- I can help you figure it out!). We can then go from there to determine how often to meet and such. Generally, I like to keep things engaging and interactive. So, I will never be just some extra lecture, but rather someone that helps you to think things through and gain confidence that way. :)
For WRITING:
My general recommendation for that would be that we should meet first to get an idea of what the piece of writing needs to do and what part of the process you feel you most need help with. (If you're totally lost, that's also TOTALLY okay, too. ;)) After that, it would help me to read what you have, if you have something already written (probably a Google Doc would be easiest) and I can make detailed comments/suggested edits to it. If you'd like to have a discussion about it and get feedback that way instead (or want to talk about the written feedback itself) then we certainly can do it that way. Either way, I would recommend a follow up Zoom call after I've given some feedback and you've had a chance to try it out. :)
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Well, as you've probably already read I have a Bachelor's degree in Professional Writing. My college is in the top 25 nationally ranked schools for teacher education, and a focus on teaching and pedagogy exists to some degree in all of the programs.
As a SuppIemental Instruction Leader and as a laboratory Teaching Assistant, I was trained specifically in teaching and facilitating hands on learning in the sciences. My very favorite was Anatomy!
The Professional Writing program is heavily collaborative; I spent a lot of time giving feedback to my peers in every single one of my writing classes. I have thus a lot of experience working with student writing.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I am negotiable and try to keep my prices appropriate for college students (and for the current state of things, economically). But generally, the following are my price points:
$20/hr
$15/hr if we meet 3x a week or more
How did you get started teaching?
I actually started "teaching" as a kid! I've ridden horses my entire life, and when I was in my early teens I started giving riding lessons to my neighbors and friends. The essence of the relationship between teacher and student is similar across all kinds of teaching (and species!).
What types of students have you worked with?
I've spent most of my time with students in:
Writing
English
Psychology*
Neuroscience
Anatomy
Physiology
Psychopharmacology
Intro Biology
Microbiology
* Intro Psych, Abnormal, Social, Research Methods
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Through the whole virus mess, I am deeply grateful that I am now back in touch with my old summer camp friends. Each morning we meet up virtually to share memories of camp and sing silly songs. <3
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find someone who is passionate, but not just about the topic. Find someone who is passionate about YOUR relationship with that topic.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
I think going into any meeting with an open mind is extrememly important, especially if that person is going to try to teach you something. It's also good to articulate when you are having trouble understanding the teacher.
So...
1) Am I prepared to learn right now? Do I have the energy to be all in and bring my 50% of the learning relationship to the table?
2) Am I prepared to be honest about what I do not understand, and ask for help when I don't? (Don't be shy!)