Zalesak Tutoring

Students usually come to me because they want to pass a difficult course, bring a B to an A, or prepare for an exam like the SAT. I first work out a plan with the student to identify how our sessions can most efficiently meet their goals. Then we arrange to meet for a first, no commitment session that allows the student to see whether my tutoring style works for them. If the first session is a success, we find a consistent weekly time to meet for the duration of the student's course or until their needs are met. While I have some flexibility, I prefer consistent, regular meetings since I have to fit many students into my schedule. Most students request weekly, one- to two-hour sessions, but the occasional student finds that meeting for longer or for more sessions per week best meets their needs.

I have an Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and a Master's degree in Environmental Sciences from the Univerisity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and four years of research experience. I have over one hundred hours of professional tutoring experience, seventy of which have been in the Washington, D.C. area. My students can expect an experienced tutor who can explain advanced topics easily and who makes the learning process engaging. I currently tutor multiple students in topics including algebra, precalculus, calculus, college chemistry, college biology, SAT prep and more. I work part-time with the companies Grade Potential Tutoring and Tutor Hero as well as tutor independently. I began posting on Tutors.com in October 2022.

Tutoring for most high school subjects is $50 per hour with higher/lower rates in rare cases based on course subject.  SAT and ACT tutoring are a higher rate and negotiable. Trial sessions for all subjects are only $30 per hour ($45 for test prep) and have no commitment to further sessions. Trial sessions are limited to 2 hours and one per student. After a successful first session, I ask students to pay for however many sessions they would like for the month at the beginning of that month. I am flexible about cancellations but request 24-hour advance notice; I offer the same courtesy to my students. Sessions are non-refundable, but students are guaranteed to receive as many sessions as they paid for.

I have been fascinated with education systems since I was a child. At various ages, I have been a student at Japanese elementary, junior high, and senior high schools and at a British middle school. As a tenth-grader, I chose to homeschool to try out experimental education methods like Project-Based Learning and the Socratic Method before returning to the public school system the next year. These experiences remind me to look at the big picture of education even when it seems like the next test is all that matters.

My first professional tutoring was as a chemistry tutor in high school, where I was also a Teaching Assistant for my chemistry teacher. From time to time, my teacher even let me teach the class, which was a truly humbling experience! At university, I was a peer tutor for students in courses like analytical chemistry as well as a mentor in the Japanese language club. After graduating, I began tutoring professionally in a variety of STEM topics.

Most of my students are in college or later high school, although I also tutor middle school students. College students typically seek assistance on a single course while high school students often seek assistance on multiple courses, even if one is their primary focus, or on standardized examinations such as the SAT and ACT. I have worked with students in the American and Canadian school sytsems.

I recently had a middle school algebra student work with me on the equations of straight lines. We discussed what the slope of a line means and how to find it. Then the question arose of what the slope is of a curved line like a parabola. Well, that's precisely what calculus is for! We talked about the basic concept of the derivative and student was thrilled. I have a habit of teaching anyone and everyone about calculus who asks, no matter what course they're in at school or univerisity. Did you know that there is a school of thought among math educators that calculus concepts should be taught in schools to elementary-age children before they have learned algebra? Read more about this fascinating idea here: www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/03/5-year-olds-can-learn-calculus/284124/

Consider your goals: do you want to pass a course, build a stronger foundation, raise your B to an A, or ace a standardized test? Do you want something else in addition? Consider whether you want in-person tutoring or virtual tutoring, both of which can be very effective. Consider what topics or areas you feel strongest in and which need the most work.