About
Education & Experience:
I graduated cum laude from The College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in French and a minor in Mathematics. I obtained a 4.0 GPA in graduate coursework at William & Mary’s School of Education with a concentration in Elementary School Curriculum & Instruction and a certificate in English as a Second Language (ESL). I work full-time as a math tutor for students with ADHD, autism, and other students who struggle to learn in the traditional classroom.
Teaching Philosophy:
Every student is unique in their learning. That’s why I structure my lessons based on the student’s needs.
* Detail and Compartmentalize: Break down complex concepts into smaller, more manageable parts and provide clear, systematic, and detailed problem-solving approaches.
* Testing-Taking Skills: Some students need more help with “test-taking skills” to avoid careless errors. I help ensure students focus on the fine details and make fewer mistakes on their exams.
* Structure and Clarity: I offer highly structured sessions to students who are often labeled “troublemakers.” By providing the utmost clarity, predictability, and leaving no room for misunderstandings, I am able to have sessions free of behavioral problems with most students.
* Special Interests: I also incorporate the students' interests in teaching concepts. For example, if a student loves Minecraft, I can explain and create math problems based on Minecraft. This strategy helps students develop a love for math and learning.
Mission:
My mission is to empower neurodiverse students to learn math and succeed in school. As a neurodiverse person myself, I struggled to learn in the classroom and had no choice but to figure out how to teach myself entire curriculums. I succeeded through a top-tier college and graduate school, mastering the material and achieving the highest grades. I use the ability to break down concepts and teach myself anything to become the tutor I wish I had as a student– someone who knows how to teach math in a way that makes sense to the neurodivergent brain.
Services:
I tutor Preschool math, Elementary school math, Pre-algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II. I prefer to start with students in preschool, elementary, or middle school– that way I can fill in any gaps in knowledge before they reach higher-level mathematics.
Other Services Offered:
Organizational skills: If needed, I help the student learn how to use a planner, turn in assignments on time, develop study plans for regular assessments and exams, etc. Some students need to be taught these skills once, whereas others need ongoing support to stay organized with these difficult executive functioning skills.
While my primary focus is math, I tutor most subjects. Please discuss with me to see if I can help in addition to math tutoring.
FAQ:
What students do I work with?
I work with public, private, and homeschool students of all ages. I mostly work with neurodiverse students (e.g., ADHD, Autism).
Where do I tutor? Do I offer online lessons? In-person lessons?
I conduct tutoring sessions over Zoom and also offer in-person sessions at Ashburn Library.
How much do I charge?
I charge $120/hour. I increase my rate if I need to drive anywhere other than Ashburn Library depending on the time and distance.
Click this link to schedule a phone call so I can learn more about your student and schedule a free trial session: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhpyBNrL7r9GWCLS0-AwdbCivFb-O9CaVDHBZ1NjV3sBxFNQ/viewform
Highlights
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jane M.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I first have a phone call with the parent to learn about the childs educational strengths and areas of desired improvement. I also like to learn about the child's interests so I can incorporate them into the lessons to make them more interesting. If the parent wants to schedule a first session, I work on classroom procedures with the child (e.g. behavior expectations) and conduct initial testing to gage exactly what skills the student has mastered, is in the process of learning, and does not know yet. If the parent wants to continue with me, I evaluate the tests and customize lessons based on the skills the student needs work on.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I got a 4.0 GPA in graduate coursework at William & Mary's School of Education in ESL and in elementary education curriculum and instruction. I was a student teacher in a kindergarten classroom for the first half of the school year, where I created and taught lesson plans to individual students, small groups, and the whole classroom in English Language Arts, Math, Science, and History.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I discuss pricing with the client on the first phone call.
How did you get started teaching?
I tutored my younger brother and my friends. I also volunteered in second and first grade classrooms. I enjoyed working 1-1 with students to help advance their academic skills. I considered becoming a classroom teacher, but I decided that my passion is on the 1-1 work with students, so now I work as a tutor.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and fifth grade students one-on-one with a special focus on English Language Arts and Math. I also have worked with high school students on SAT prep.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I was working with a pre-k student on the alphabetical knowledge skill of recognizing the onset sound of words. After a few days of her struggling to hear the sounds, it finally clicked: she was quickly identifying the onset sound of word. She told me that her brain changed, and she was right! It was so meaningful to help a student learn this lifelong skill and enjoy the big victory on the journey to literacy.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would advise parents to look for someone who is trained in up-to-date, research-based educational practices. For example, tutors should know how to teach the different stages of literacy through phonics. Teachers should also be trained in how to think like a child in approaching math because children qualitatively think about the world differently than adults. And teachers should also be trained and experienced in classroom management: without clear expectations and procedures, not much teaching can get done in a session. And of course, it is important to look for someone who has a passion for teaching children.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Parents can look at any work samples from the student and reports from teachers to get an idea of the students strengths and areas of desired improvement. Parents can let teachers know exactly what skills they think their child needs help in. Parents should also think about any behavioral challenges the student has experienced and let the teacher know what has/ has not worked to best motivate the student.