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Margot

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In June of 2015 I graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Music and Theater. I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, where I attended Menlo School, one of the top private high schools in California. Given my educational background, I am no stranger to the pressures facing today's students--from schoolwork to extracurriculars to college applications and test prep, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's why one of my main goals as a tutor is to ease the stress in students' lives. I'm here to help your workload feel manageable (and hopefully fun!) and to encourage you to do your best work. I take this attitude and my teaching style and adapt it to the needs of each individual student. We'll work together to figure out how YOU learn best, what approaches work well for you, and ultimately, how we can achieve your goals. Whether you're a struggling student who needs a patient and a new way of explaining concepts, or a star student who wants a tutor who will challenge you at new levels, I can help you get there. I am passionate about making every student feel confident and prepared, no matter the academic situation.

I began working as a tutor and teacher in high school, and have loved working with students of all ages ever since. I've worked with students from Pre-K through high school and college, teaching and tutoring a wide range of levels and subjects from basic reading and math skills to AP essay writing and college test prep. While I enjoy tutoring a wide range of subjects, some of my favorites include various levels of test prep (SAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, etc.), college essay editing, AP English Literature and Language, AP U.S. History, and AP Music Theory.

While at Dartmouth, I performed in theater and opera productions, sang in several choirs, took ballet and yoga classes, worked as a teaching assistant and stage manager in the Theater Department, and volunteered as an arts teacher in under-served local public elementary schools. Dartmouth expanded my passion for learning and taught me the value and impact of teachers who really support their students and value their student-teacher relationships. That's why, in my own work with students, I show them that I am truly invested in them not just as a student, but as a person--I want the best for them and am willing to help however I can.

Outside of tutoring, I enjoy acting, singing, dancing, cooking, rooting for the San Francisco Giants, and soaking up all that New York City has to offer!

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Margot’s Qualifications

Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: Dartmouth College - Bachelors, Double Major in Music and Theater

Test Scores

SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1470

SAT Verbal: 710

SAT Writing: 710

Hobbies

Theater, Music, Dance, Opera, Choir, Lacrosse, Hiking, Cooking

Tutoring Subjects

ACT English

ACT Math

ACT Writing

College English

College Essays

Comparative Literature

Conversational French

English

English Grammar and Syntax

Essay Editing

French

French 1

French 2

High School English

Homework Support

HSPT Prep

HSPT Language Skills

HSPT Math

HSPT Quantitative

HSPT Reading

HSPT Verbal

ISEE Prep

ISEE- Lower Level

ISEE- Middle Level

Languages

Literature

Math

Middle School Math

Music

Music Theory

Other

PSAT Critical Reading

PSAT Writing Skills

Reading

SAT Prep

SAT Math

SAT Mathematics

SAT Reading

SAT Writing and Language

SHSAT Prep

SSAT Prep

SSAT- Elementary Level

SSAT- Middle Level

Study Skills

Study Skills and Organization

TACHS Prep

Writing

Q & A

What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe firmly in adapting to the needs of each individual student. Everyone learns differently and responds to different teaching styles in their own way, and thus it's important that we find what works best for them personally. I generally find that my passion for the subject matter, combined with patience and a genuine investment in my students' progresses, is what makes me a great tutor.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

I would take some time to get to know more about you and discuss your learning style and your goals--how do you learn best? What do you find challenging about the subject? What goals do you have and how can we achieve them? These are all crucial questions in making sure that our time together can be effectively spent. After that, we'd dive right in to whatever subject we're focusing on and go from there!

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I think that having strong study skills and being organized are key to being an independent learner. I also provide students with methods and approaches they can use when they get stuck when working on their own. I can help students develop these skills so that even when I'm not there, they can be making progress toward their goals.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Goals! I think that goal-setting can make a huge difference in motivation. It's important to establish a long-term goal, while also creating smaller mini-goals that can be accomplished along the way.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

I'd figure out where the confusion is coming from--what part of the skill or concept are they not understanding, and how can we pinpoint and tackle that specific issue. I also would try new ways of explaining the concept so that we can perhaps find a more effective approach.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

I think that when students see the progress they've made, it can help get them excited about the subject. Therefore, I like to give them concrete ways to track their progress. That way, they can see that they're improving. If that approach isn't working to get them engaged, then I try to show them the real-life applications of the subject matter, which can help them understand why it's important and thus make them more willing to engage deeply with the material.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

I feel that the true test of a deep understanding of a subject is if the student can successfully explain the concept back to me. I'll ask them to explain or illustrate the concept to me as if I were the student--if they can do that well, then I know that the material has really sunk in!

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

I think the best way is through practicing! For example, say a student is struggling with the Math section of the SAT and therefore has little confidence in it. I would start by working on easier level questions with them, and as they improve, we would gradually move on to harder and harder questions. This way, by the time we approach those harder questions, they've learned how to tackle the problems and aren't overwhelmed. I will also build off of the knowledge a student already has (i.e. from their schoolwork) to help them realize that they do in fact have the skills they need to succeed at that subject, even when it comes to more challenging questions.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

I adapt based on their learning style. Some students work best by having to try to solve a problem on their own first, even if that means getting it wrong or struggling with it, and then having me offer an explanation or support (essentially be asked a question first, then learn the lesson later). Other students learn better by being taught how to solve the problem first and then being asked to replicate the process on their own (essentially being taught the lesson first, then asked the question). Many students also learn better when they are asked to explain the concept back to someone. They are forced to really understand the concept and define it in their own words. I also adapt based on the student's processing style--are they a visual learner? A tactile learner? An auditory learner? Something else? I will teach them in whatever medium proves to be the most effective. I also adapt the homework I give based on the student's needs. Some students benefit from very specific, spelled out homework assignments, while others enjoy the sense of trust and freedom that comes from more self-directed practicing. I'm happy to adjust the amount and type of homework I assign to best suit each individual student and their needs.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

It depends on the subject I'm tutoring. For most test prep sessions, I like to work from Varsity Tutor's bank of practice questions. I also will work with students out of a prep book, looking at lessons and/or practice problems. If I am tutoring a student for their coursework, our materials are mainly their assignments from school, though I will sometimes supplement with additional reading material, practice problems, etc.

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