Felipe's Academic Tutoring And Test-Prep Services

Before working with a new student, I offer parents a complimentary consultation to listen to their concerns, to discuss goals and expectations, and to review the services that I provide outside of the tutoring sessions. I also like to take this opportunity to communicate directly with the student, put them at ease, and build their trust. I give the student the opportunity to go over some questions on the material that he/she is in need of assistance, and this, in turn, allows me to gauge how they learn. Finally, I provide the student with a few ideas and strategies that they can use immediately so that they can quickly experience success. For students seeking short-term help in preparation for a quiz or test, I supply supplementary materials to enrich their preparation and address underlying gaps that may otherwise go amiss. In these situations, I simply ask for parents/students to supply in advanced a brief list of the topics being covered on the quiz or test. For students seeking assistance on an ongoing basis, I develop a learner profile for parents, provide progress reports, and establish midweek check-ins with the students. On Sunday evenings, I also hold remote “office hours” with my students via Skype. Students can take advantage of this opportunity to have pressing questions answered on demand. Many things develop over the course of a school week, and I like to stay connected with my students and offer my support whenever possible.

On top of a rigorous academic formation, I possess a range of work experiences and qualifications that diversifies my teaching background. I am a nationally certified academic coach and tutor (National Tutoring Association) with a graduate background in education. I specialize in active, inquiry-based learning, and I subscribe to this Socratic-like method of teaching over the lecture-based format because of the advantages an individualized setting provides for its implementation. This pedagogical approach is different from the temporary solution than most lecture-driven tutoring experiences provide; it helps establish long-term impact on a student's education.

Session rates range from $40-70/hr depending on the academic subject level (with more advanced, specialized courses eliciting higher hourly rates). This hourly rate also covers the personalized preparatory work that goes into every tutoring session: from complementary materials to session reports, midweek check-ins, and progress updates. In summary, it supports my mission to provide the highest quality of customized learning experience to your child.

My first teaching experience occurred during my junior year of high school. As part of a self-motivated initiative between my high school friends and me, we decided to start an afterschool tutoring program servicing students of inner city Indianapolis, Indiana. Our mission was to help address the low statewide standards-based assessment scores that were prevalent at the time. As part of our plan of intervention, we targeted one of the lowest performing school districts of Indianapolis, providing free weekly English, reading, and math tutoring to 6th-8th graders.

I have worked with male and female students of varying age groups, temperaments, learning profiles, and confidence levels. Across varying rigors of classes, from regular to accelerated, honors, and AP/IB, and from the elementary to the graduate-school level, I deliver uniquely tailored tutoring sessions to fit each student’s needs.

Look for a teacher who can place your learning needs in the center of their approach to tutoring. Seek a teacher who can take what you prioritize and can customize and execute an approach for your success. Search for a teacher who can guarantee that they will ask the right questions at the right time, including challenging you to problem-solve, making you think about the big picture, prompting you to map out the necessary steps to success, or asking you how to break down what a complex question is asking of you. Finally, hire a teacher who empowers you to think independently and who promotes reverse teaching.

Before approaching teachers, students should ask themselves self-directed learning questions, such as "What do I want and need to learn from this material?" or "Why is this concept important, and how do I intend to use the knowledge that I gain from it?" Students should also self-reflect on the information they already know and what they need still need to find out. Finally, before speaking to teachers, students should assess their capabilities and limitations as learners, from their academic knowledge to their executive functioning skills, so that they target areas in need of improvement more effectively. If students cannot find a sense of purpose or direction after asking themselves these types of questions, then it would behoove them to consider the assitance of teachers to address their needs.