Gina T. says, "This service is offered by Dan - probably, and I say this sincerely, one of the figures, though only 30ish at most, who had the most profound impact on my teenage son's academics performance.
I found Dan and asked that he assist my son, then a HS freshman, with his writing for school (which was very poor). Dan, in our phone discussion, could almost finish my sentences as I described the several issues I believed plagued my son's writing. Clearly, he had seen them all before.
However, he made clear that he treats no student exactly the same; in fact, he emphasized strongly that if my son cooperated with the very reasonable practice he often asked for completion between sessions, and stuck with learning to write, how to REWRITE, how to revise, and so on, he (Dan) would quickly discover the most effective ways to ensure these skills, with practice, met my son as an individual learner and could resonate with him.
Very quickly, my son took to Dan, his humor, but also his the intensity he demonstrated in always seeking to make my son stronger. The combination of these attributes is unique in a tutor: Dan maintained the best sense of informality, enabling my son to connect with him, feel comfortable with him, become open and inquisitive with him, and most lethal of all, eventually become invested in completing assignments or even doing things on his own to improve because he didn't want to let Dan down. Dan never asked for or demanded respect - but he sure earned it. And, he took it upon himself, my unlike any other, beginning to maintain track of the 9th grade English readings assigned to my son. Next thing I knew, Dan was integrating discussions about literary elements and techniques in the texts my son was assigned, requiring him to draft short responses to prompts that blossomed soon into shorter versions of assignments consistent with what the teacher would use most units. Dan would read ahead with my son, review his responses to these predicted prompts, and by the end of the year, my son's writing had almost without even realizing it had become immeasurably stronger (almost unrecognizable from 8 months earlier) than when they began. His grades in English in the first two quarters: C and B-, became an A- for the third, and (we all almost fell off the chair) an A+ (I kid you not for the fourth and final quarter).
While I wanted Dan to continue working with my son, he wouldn't refuse, but he said to me, "Let's work through the summer. Let's sharpen all skills. And let's really challenge him to think and write critically."
But let's maybe stop there. Let's maybe give him time to continue to grow independently as reader and writer in his sophomore year. Not every paper will receive an A. Not every novel or piece of literature will be crystal clear. BUT he has it inside him to work through challenges. And he and I COLLABORATED for almost a year to discover and tap into that. Dan said he refused to believe he would fall on his face and needed to find a bit of himself on his own.
I pushed. Dan kindly remained firm. I became a bit testy with him - someone who would go out of his whenever he felt beneficial - to reach out to me, update me, pick my mind, offer his thoughts, and give a very detailed progress update very frequently. The number of hours he gave simply to me, and never charging a penny, were tremendous. It was at times listening to the in-the-moment evolving thoughts of I mean a genius but who could adapt to any situation and maintained the most pragmatic ideas and approaches. Our slight diversions and his just indescribable sense of humor also made made many of the calls just delightful.
I conclude here...Sophomore year began. My son had some struggles; he had some immediate successes; he ended with a B+ the first quarter (now in honors). Not satisfied, my son, reflecting on everything he had ABSORBED, started quarter 2 with unrelenting focus....A-; A+; A+ (his grades in the final three quarters.
It was halfway through the year, but I texted Dan and asked to speak. I updated him on everything. And I apologized for the curt manner in which I had left off after all he had given. He could not have been more on-point in what he foresaw.
And as I think of it, basically turning away a very regular client - one who paid on time every time without ever a reminder and even OFFERED (never asked or suggested) a substantial bonus in addition to hourly rates to maintain summer sessions, clearly my son meant more to him than mere money. Any other tutor could have just kept moving with him though sophomore year, put on the brakes and cruised a bit, and it would not have been evident.
Dan sacrificed a steady pay, an easy client, etc. because of his conviction in what were in my son's best interests.
THAT....You won't find elsewhere.
Meet him halfway - and he'll take it from there. Whatever his rate, every penny is worth it. I recommend times infinity." Read more
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