The Learning Lab
About
Hello! Welcome to The Learning Lab! My name is Gentry Shannon, and I'm currently a rising sophomore at a college in Virginia.
I've been formally tutoring since junior year of high school, when I helped start a tutoring program at my school for struggling middle school students. For the next two years, I tutored 6th-8th graders several days a week after school in math, english, history, and latin. The summer after my senior year, I worked as a math tutor for students of all ages (kindergarten through high school) at Mathnasium in Colorado Springs.
My passion for tutoring stems both from a deep love of the subjects I teach and from a desire to connect with my students on a personal level. For real progress to occur, I believe students need a tutor who will stand beside them and encourage them every step of the way, but will also challenge them and push them outside their comfort zone. I seek to do this for every one of my students, regardless of age or what subject they're working on. I want to inspire passion for learning, encourage hard work and grit, and equip students with tools so that eventually, they won't need me any more!
Now to the boring part: qualifications. I was my high school Valedectorian, graduating with a 4.85 GPA. I recieved a 1480 on my SAT, a 33 on my ACT, and a 109 on my CLT. In college, I've so far maintained a 3.95 GPA while taking 18 credit course loads and participating in extra curricular activities. I teach English, Math (up through 10th grade) History, Writing, Literature, and beginner French.
I'm here to serve your needs, grow your passion, and exponentially improve your skills. If you're willing to put in the time and effort, I guarentee that we'll make progress together. Come on in to The Learning Lab!
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Evaluating existing groundwork is essential whenever I begin working with a new student. Instead of jumping straight in to new material, I generally spend two sessions reviewing previous material. This helps give me a sense of the student's strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, learning proclivities, and also reveals any gaps in knowledge (some of which the student may not even know exists). Once the student's initial situation has been assessed, I work on setting goals with the student. Sometimes this is as simple as mastering a particular skill (e.g. exponents or crafting topic sentences for paragraphs), but often a student's goals are more nuanced. After the knowledge and skill base has been assesed and I've helped the student set goals, we're able to proceed. From there the steps vary widely from subject to subject - feel free to contact me if you would like details!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I recieved a classical liberal arts education in high school, which required that I learn and grow in all areas of the academic spectrum (rather than picking and choosing the classes I was best at). A sampling of my background includes Calculus I and II, Physics I and II, MatLab, Rhetoric, Logic, engaging in Socratic Seminar, reading Dostoevsky, Dickens, Plato, and Aquinas, writing fourteen page research papers, French I and II, and Orchestra. I've been trained across the academic spectrum and can honestly say that I've loved all of it (although I might have a particular fondness for History, Literature, Philosophy, and Math).
Additionally, I have three years of tutoring experience, and a lifetime experience of helping my younger siblings.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I generally charge $15-$20 for an hour session, depending on the subject and skill level. For example, I might charge $15 for a 7th grade math student, but $18 for a 10th grade writing student.
How did you get started teaching?
I've loved helping others learn for as long as I can remember. When I was younger (and still to this day), I used to help my three younger siblings with their homework. Once I reached junior year of high school, I realized both the joy I found in teaching and the need for it at my school. At this point I reached out to the administration, and helped in setting up a tutoring program for middle school students. After I graduated high school, I tutored at Mathnasium over the summer, further confirming my passion for helping others grow in their love of learning.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked primarily with middle school students, but I've also worked with students as young as pre-kindergarten and as old as freshmen in college. I also have some very limited experience working with special needs students and those with learning challenges such as dyslexia.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Before asking any questions, students should first honestly evaluate their past work and learning habits. Ask yourself what area of your subject you love and what area you dislike, if you're thorough in your work, what motivates you and what discourages you, and what your goals are. At the end of the day, if you want to improve but don't have any way to measure your progress, you'll end up feeling unmotivated or discouraged. Be prepared to answer questions honestly about where you were, where you are, and where you want to be!