
Michael
Certified Tutor
There's no joy like the joy of seeing your student's eyes illuminate once they grasp a concept that you both have worked hard at them getting for some time. There's no reward like that of watching the arc of your student's character bend towards maturity, integrity, accountability, responsibility, and dignity, and knowing that you had a hand in making that happen. These are the reasons I'm passionate about youth work and helping students.
I taught for eleven years in the New Orleans public school system as an ELA teacher, a poetry teacher, an instructional coach of other teachers and a librarian. I also taught ancient mythology in an Integrated Humanities course at New Orleans' most premier liberal arts school. At the beginning of my youth work career, I was a camp counselor a couple of times: once for the Freedom Schools and once for children of expatriates and military at a summer camp in Beijing, China.
I received my Bachelor's degree in Business at Florida A&M University. I received my Masters of Arts in Teaching at Xavier University. I have tutored in math, reading and writing, as well as performance (poetry, public speaking and acting).
I'm most fond of teaching writing and poetry. These are the subjects I know best so I'm best equipped to teach them and get the most joy out of seeing students find their voice. I would say math comes in second as it was my second favorite subject as a young student myself, and I really enjoy breaking down the concepts and experiencing my students grasping them.
My teaching philosophy is an adage that I received from my mom growing up: there's more than one way to skin a cat. I'd rephrase that for modern times to say "there's more than one way to get to the top of a mountain." What this means is that if one approach doesn't work, we can always try another. I'm all about accommodating the learner however necessary to get them to the end goal of mastering the concept that they're being taught.
My interests outside of academia include physical fitness (yoga, jogging, exercise at the gym), taking in the arts (theater, film, poetry, writing and performing) and travel (I've been to 8 countries and am eager to stamp my passport some more!). I'm also a bit of a foodie so I like eating at new restaurants, cooking my own new dishes, and eating with friends.
All of my life experiences in the classroom and outside of it have culminated into a nice kit of tools for any teaching situation. I look forward to having the opportunity to share them with your young person.
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Undergraduate Degree: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University - Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Management
Graduate Degree: Xavier University of Louisiana - Master of Arts, High School Teaching
Reading, Writing (essays, short stories, poetry), Yoga, Jogging, Exercising at the gym, Theater (performing and attending), Film (viewing and making), Travel, Eating new foods
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Writing
- Literature
- Middle School English
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Social Studies
- Middle School Writing
- Reading
- Social Studies
- Spelling, Grammar, and Writing Skills Class
- Writing