My name is Cortney and I hope to share my love of learning with my students. My interests vary widely, but my expertise includes Art History (of which I am a Ph.D. student), SAT and ACT prep, college prep, reading and writing. I am also proficient in mathematics up to college algebra. ... I make it a priority to help my students identify their learning style and then show them appropriate techniques to improve their study...
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...with Varsity Tutors. I truly enjoy working with students of all ages, strengths, challenges, and motivation levels. I believe I can speak for my former students when I say that I am generally regarded as a friendly, kind, and funny tutor who knows how to bring out the best in her students and how to make the most productive use of each session. My time is valuable and I know that my student's time is...
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...worked as a research assistant at the American Bar Foundation, served as a private editing consultant for start-ups needing assistance with their business proposals and a writing coach for high schoolers and undergraduates working on admissions essays, and tutored high school equestrians and other world-class athletes through a private tutoring company. It is most important that students learn to self-express verbally and via writing. So, whether I am tutoring AP English Language, Modern World History,...
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...I have several tools and resources from various curricula to work with and would love to help your students in any elementary or middle school subject area. For the past three years, I have been working as a classroom Teacher in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classrooms, teaching students with a variety of needs. I can also tutor students through high school and college in History and Spanish as I hold degrees in both subjects...
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...tiger ecology and conservation with sub-field foci on predator ecology, and modeling population dynamics. My tutoring strategy is to tackle topics of highest combined difficulty and priority first, and to do so in a manner that accommodates both myself and my student. I've found in past teaching experiences that the most rewarding and meaningful results come from direct engagement with students, and so that is what I aim to do. I've had experience with several...
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...of work (where I am a management consultant), I play hockey and piano. Since high school, I have helped fellow students with academics. At school, I was also a tutor through Penn's Tutoring Center. I think what makes me a successful tutor is the ability to not only understand the material but also the perspective of the tutee. This helps me convey necessary information in the best way possible for that particular student.
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...same. Check out my excellent scores on the SAT and SAT subject tests, including a perfect score on Math II. I'm friendly, flexible, and always put students' and families' needs first. I also know a lot about teaching, due to my background in ESL teaching, educational nature tours, and private SAT tutoring (see my resume!). I majored in English at GWU and I would love to help you improve the quality of your academic writing....
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...people. For the past 10 years, I have tutored students of all ages and in a variety of subjects, with a strong focus on K-12 mathematics. I am pursuing a Master's degree in Elementary Education and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. I am extremely passionate about teaching and work daily to improve my craft. Students, parents, supervisors, and colleagues have described me as efficient, extremely patient, creative, and caring. I am...
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...on to get accepted into world-class universities like Yale, U Penn (early-acceptance), Berkeley, UCLA, Wellesley College, Claremont McKenna, and many more. I have also worked extensively with ESL students and students with learning disabilities to help them achieve their goals. In terms of teaching philosophy, I recognize that all students have different strengths and learning styles. While working on a variety of subjects, I make sure to always reach students on their level and keep...
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...them, whether that means using imagination exercises to decode difficult reading passages or tackling grammar as though it were a math problem. Through this approach, I help my students to build confidence, thereby ensuring that they can succeed when facing problems on their own. I believe that trust and respect are key components of a successful tutoring relationship, and I treat my students with as much respect as I ask from them. I am punctual,...
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...majored in computer science with minors in math and art history. I strongly believe in holistic approaches to education, and as a computer science at a liberal arts college, I had invaluable experience studying both math and science while continuing to develop my critical writing, reading and research abilities. At Vassar, I was deeply involved in the computer science department as a tutor and lab coach for several years and as the department-wide academic intern....
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...overall, but have numerous interests in M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital. I have tutored peers and students for the past 7 years of my life and I have always assumed a role of a mentor, instead of being a simple tutor. Tutoring in general is a perfect means of passing down tips and experience gathered over years of schooling that help numerous students, no matter where they are. Outside of all of these aspectes,...
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...tutored students at an all-girls orphanage in a bilingual environment. Throughout high school, I also helped students prepare for standardized examinations such as the SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests, AP Exams and Regents examinations. I am eager to work with students in these areas, with a particular emphasis on reading, writing, and history. My experience working with children expands beyond tutoring. I also have worked with students on their college essays. I absolutely enjoy working...
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...guide you through subject material is a factor that can prove to be a difference maker in achieving at the highest level. From my experience in undergrad at Cornell University to the many test-prep classes I have taken, I feel that I am knowledgeable in science subjects and mathematics and have developed strategies to best apply these techniques to standardized tests. I look forward to working with Varsity Tutors to help others the same way...
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...includes working with students one-on-one and in classrooms settings. As an undergraduate student at Yale, I completed a science curriculum including biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and mathematics. Additionally, as an undergraduate student at a liberal arts school I gained a rigorous background in literature, journalism, and English. Therefore, I am comfortable tutoring students in both science/mathematics and humanities classes. In addition, I also have a strong mastery of standardized tests, and have a firm grasp...
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...this is evident to my students. My basic belief is that knowledge grows best in a relaxed and playful context, so I try to create an atmosphere and develop learning activities that relax student's inhibitions. Thus, allowing them to take chances, a skill that is crucial to progress in a new system of communication. As a second language learner myself, I understand the trials students must face in language acquisition and this translates into a...
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...hardest of all, had to confront the realities of how the struggling lives of my students outside of school influenced their attitudes inside the school walls. Currently I am a rising second year medical student at NYU School of Medicine. I hope to pursue a career in global health, particularly focusing on curable blindness worldwide. Although I am no longer in the classroom, the passion I have for teaching and the personal value I place...
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...work, I like to read and write, play soccer, spend time outdoors, and spend time with my friends. I have previous short-term teaching experience in Peru and Spain, and am near-fluent in Spanish. I believe in the power of positive thinking, hard work, and self-confidence. I also believe that practice makes perfect: putting theory into practice is the best way to become comfortable with new material, so when tutoring I try to incorporate practice problems...
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...was working with students in a one-on-one setting. I love the process of guiding a student to where he or she is able to solve a problem or explain a concept independently. As a tutor, I endeavor not to simply "lecture" or tell the student the steps to solving a problem. Instead, I try to guide the student through the inquiry process, so that he or she is doing most of the mental heavy lifting....
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...be. Given my passionate about education policy, I understand the important role that standardized tests play in allowing students to maximize their own educational potential. My goal as a tutor is to help each student that I work with to perform to the best of their abilities on the standardized test that they are preparing to take. I hope that I can play a part in helping my students to attend the higher education institution...
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Receive personally tailored PSAT Writing Skills lessons from exceptional tutors in a one-on-one setting. We help you connect with the best tutor for your particular needs while offering flexible scheduling to fit your busy life.
PSAT Writing Skills Tutoring FAQ
If your child has set their sights on becoming a National Merit Scholar, they will need to earn excellent scores on the PSAT, as this exam is also the NMSQT - the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Regardless of how your student scores, this free exam provides an opportunity to take an exam that mimics the real SAT, complete with proctors, time limits, and test-day anxiety. The way your child scores on the PSAT can thus provide them with an analysis of their current abilities in the three subjects that the SAT tests, which includes the Critical Reading section, the Mathematics section, and the Writing section.
Students who give stellar performances on the PSAT can also be nominated as National Merit Scholars, an honor that is often accompanied by merit-based financial aid during the college application process. If your child is ready to reach for this goal, but they know that their writing and editing abilities could use some support, Varsity Tutors can help by assisting you in connecting with a highly skilled and experienced private tutor.
Your child's classes are not going to help prepare them for the specific problem types they will face on the PSAT. Practice books cannot answer questions about the material they present, and online resources are often unreliable. Varsity Tutors can help you and your child connect with personal PSAT Writing tutors that avoid these pitfalls and can help them streamline their studying.
All tutoring takes place in a one-on-one setting, where your instructor can answer your child's questions as they arise, providing specific guidance about the section's content and real-time feedback on their work. We understand that every student is a unique learner with different strengths and weaknesses. Your child's tutor can create a review plan just for them, custom tailored to focus on helping them develop the knowledge and skills they most need for success on test day.
No matter whether they struggle with picking out subtle grammatical inconsistencies in questions for identifying sentence errors, picking out the best way to rephrase a sentence in questions for improving sentences, or employing the passage-based logic tested by questions on improving paragraphs, your child's tutor can provide them with practice materials and instruction to help them master any and all of these writing section question types.
Is your child afraid of running out of time when they take the actual PSAT? Not sure how to strategically approach the section based on the tests scoring system? Your child's tutor can help address these issues well before test day in order to help the student give their best performance at that time. Your private tutor can help your child develop effective time management skills, which will make sure that your child has at least a chance of answering every exam question. Your child's tutor can also help them identify where exactly their strengths and weaknesses lie in terms of learning style. That way, they can develop a study plan that will help them make the most out of their strengths, while trying to minimize their weaknesses as much as possible. PSAT Writing tutoring does not just offer benefits leading up to the PSAT. The English and writing skills that it can help your child internalize can benefit them in future classes as well.
Varsity Tutors is focused on flexibility and convenience. Our live learning platform enables you and your child to meet with a private tutor either in person or face-to-face online. This allows you and your child to pick a time and place that works best for both of you.
Contact Varsity Tutors today to learn more about how PSAT Writing tutoring can help your child prepare for the PSAT efficiently and effectively. Let us help you and your child connect with a highly skilled and experienced private tutor that can make all the difference on test day.
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Recent PSAT Writing Skills Tutoring Session Notes
Reviewed the Correcting Sentence Errors and Improving Sentences portions of the Critical Reading section. Covered basic grammar mechanics and idiomatic use of English, as well as multiple-choice strategies relevant to the PSAT/SAT. Student is a quick study, and clearly very motivated (took notes on unfamiliar material). Will continue with the verbal section next session.
The student and I began by discussing her questions from the practice test sections she took during the week. Then we moved onto to work through a writing practice section together, and ended by working through a math section. The student is noticeably improving and applying techniques we have worked on to her practice tests.
The student and I continued to work on the Improving Sentences section, with a specific concentration on Identifying Sentence Errors. Towards the end of the session we moved on to working on the Improving Paragraphs section.
Today we continued with PSAT studying. We did a bit of a math section and determined that he could answer all of them so we moved on. We worked most on grammar and I taught him some easy tricks that I learned from SAT prep and he seems to feel better about his English skills. I think he just needed a little more self-confidence.
We focused on the Writing section during today's session. I started by reviewing the writing section on a practice test the student had completed prior to our session. We then worked through some tips and strategies for Improving Sentences questions, Identifying Sentence Errors questions, and Improving Paragraphs questions, looking at examples of the application of each strategy. Then we reviewed the list of common grammar and usage errors often used by the test. Finally, we went over the Writing section of a practice test, working through each question and the answer choices together. I asked him to review a list of common diction errors as well as the list of grammar errors and complete another Writing section test before our next session.
Reviewed last week's work on writing the PSAT essay and how to break down the 25-minute time block accordingly. Encouraged client to spend 10 minutes planning essay (choosing stance on prompt, coming up with arguments for/against, and coming up with good examples from literature/history/current events/personal experiences).
We reviewed an example prompt from the student's test prep book and came up with arguments for/against together. I reminded student to take a definite, clear stance on the prompt. We also reviewed essays that scored a 6 (highest score) and a 4, and we read the graders' rationale for each score.
We also reviewed part of the sentence revision portion of the grammar review. We reviewed 4 of the 16 different types of errors that this section reviews. Lastly, we completed 10 sample sentence completion questions and we reviewed the ones he got wrong (5 out of 10) and why, cross-referencing aforementioned types of errors.
