...native language, and I aim to empower my students to communicate effectively in Spanish-speaking countries. I hold two master's degreesone in Business Administration and another in Health Administrationfrom Webster University, along with a bachelor's degree in General Studies with a minor in Education from Columbia College. My teaching philosophy is straightforward: "Teaching is a lifelong learning process that involves new philosophies and strategies, learning from parents, the community, colleagues, and students alike."
Read more
...and NYSTCE exams to earn New York State teacher certification. For the past fifteen years, I have focused on SAT, ACT, SSAT and ISEE prep, which I really enjoy. Over these fifteen years and literally hundreds of students, I have honed my style and skills. I develop strong rapport with my students, seek out their individual needs, foster healthy improvements in their scores and work to build their confidence. I have a small backyard nursery,...
Read more
...During my academic career I was recognized with several awards, fellowships, and scholarships that acknowledged my achievement and dedication. But it was not always so. Truth be told, I struggled greatly through high school. This path taught me, on a personal level, that not every student learns the same way. Therefore, my approach to teaching and tutoring is centered around uncovering the unique challenges each student faces, and then helping them build a set of...
Read more
...to support students in-home. Over the last 15 years, Varna has personally tutored over 500 students across NY, NJ, CT, MA. She aims to use her experience to expand into all other subject areas, supported by a team that will assist every learner along their learning pathway. Why I can tutor: 1. I have infinity patience. 2. I understand the concepts on a micro and macro level. 3. I can explain concepts through different scopes....
Read more
...on one with students of varying abilities. I am able to tutor math from elementary math to Calculus. I earned my Bachelors of Arts in Economics at the University of Illinois in Champaign. I earned my Masters in Education at North Park University. My teaching philosophy centers on a student centered approach. My tutoring style is laid back, allowing the students to show me what they know already and then to help them address any...
Read more
What a magnanimous thing is education for the more we learn, the more we crave to know. It is an infinite experience. It is further so rewarding to teach individuals how to think and then witness the results of this gift.
Read more
...am a Clark Atlanta University graduate. I have received a Bachelors of Arts degree in History and I am currently working to obtain my Masters . Since graduation I have obtained a position as Director of an academic after school enrichment program in North Fulton. My experience with tutoring involves above and beyond just teaching your child the work. I am an advocate for giving the students confidence in themselves and teaching them tools to...
Read more
...tutored elementary students in reading and phonics, and led weekly adult literacy classes. I am a great tutor because I genuinely care about my students. Also, I have the patience, ingenuity and compassion to help the student improve in the subject they are struggling with. For example, the year prior to my arrival at the school, only 5% of the 9th grade passed on to 10th grade. However, the following year, thanks to our prep...
Read more
As a lifelong educator, it is my goal to give the best to all of my learners. I am dedicated to engaging the interest of my students. When working with me, you get 110% every session. ... Get to know the student while evaluating through observations and conversation. After, I would take a look at previous work to conclude my evaluations.... By beginning with a process of intensive learning and slowly transitioning the student into an...
Read more
...centers in Taiwan working with children from a young elementary level up to high school and even college students. My other position was as an education consultant for university applications where I taught advanced writing workshops to working professionals. Through my editing and consulting services, I have helped my clients gain entrance to elite US institutions such as Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and others. Outside of school and work, some of...
Read more
...for an improved quality of life, and I try to impart this appreciation to all of my students while also showing them that going back to the basics and having fun while doing homework and studying for tests is absolutely possible and necessary in order to succeed in school. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, playing competitive volleyball, cooking healthy meals and creating new recipes in my kitchen and spending time with my nieces.
Read more
...own academic history, I scored in the 99th percentile on all three sections of the SAT, as well as attaining a score of 5 on the AP Statistics, US Government, US History, and English Literature and Composition exams. I completed my BA in Government in December after having served as a Research Apprentice with the Quantitative Analysis Center, and my thesis utilizing a range of novel econometrics to isolate the effect of public financing of...
Read more
...am currently a sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University. I am pursuing a bachelors degree in biochemistry and I hope to continue to pursue a masters in biomedical engineering. I have tutored students in the past for the SHSAT and the SAT. I also enjoy teaching chemistry and Spanish because they are two of my favorite subjects. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to have a great education. In my free time I...
Read more
Welcome! I was always told that I'm great at teaching all levels of students. My methods for teaching entails; engaging the student; Encouraging learning; Emphasizing the correct pronunciation; so that each student can Excel. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Read more
...a general subject, or brainstorming an essay, I am glad to provide my assistance, and, hopefully, we can have some fun as well. My goal when I tutor a student is not to drool out dull information but to empower students with the tools they need to succeed with both whatever challenge they currently face and those that may come, providing a framework for success the student can continue to build on for many years.
Read more
Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than seeing the look on a student's face when he/she has just grasped a difficult concept.... My teaching philosophy is difficult concepts are merely combinations of simple concepts. If you show a student that all the pieces are straightforward, they broaden their horizons and reach great heights.... In a first session with a new student, I would find out what interests them so I can draw analogies from that area. I...
Read more
...the University of Phoenix. As a teacher and seasoned educational professional, I will provide a quality educational experience for your child through individualizing the learning experience for each student. This includes working with their strengths and particular learning styles to meet academic success. My teaching background has primarily been in public education as a gifted educator, working with special needs students K-12th grade for the past 15 years. I am comfortable and adept working with...
Read more
...am dedicated professional with passion for education. I strive to provide personalized and quality tutoring in a timely fashion. I stress the importance of communication with the students and their parents. I do my best to assist my students with their academic success and I strive to keep my commitments with my students and teach them the same. I am always willing to listen to my student's concerns as well as their parents and explore...
Read more
...a little bit of personalized attention can go a long way when students are missing just one or two key points of understanding. I love seeing a concept click and inspiring confidence in my students as they advance through increasingly difficult topics. I also like tutoring test prep because there is no hiding behind the raw numbers, and I enjoy helping my students maximize their potential and achieve their goal scores. Sometimes, a little motivation...
Read more
Receive personally tailored ISEE- Upper Level 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.
ISEE- Upper Level Tutoring FAQ
The Independent School Entrance Exam, or ISEE, is leveraged by independent and private schools for admissions and placement. It is offered for three different levels: Upper, Middle, and Lower. Each test includes questions in multiple-choice format, as well as an essay question. The amount of time given, the difficulty of the questions, and the number of questions is dependent upon the level taken. Varsity Tutors can help you find a skilled tutor who can help your child study for the ISEE Upper Level exam.
The Upper Level is for students who are entering grades 9-12. The test consists of five sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, and the essay. Your student will have 2 hours and 40 minutes to complete the entire exam.
The Verbal Reasoning section consists of sentence completion and synonym items. They assess your child's vocabulary knowledge, and his or her ability to reason. Children have 20 minutes to complete the 40 questions on this portion of the exam. Your child's ISEE Upper level tutor may work with your child to increase his or her vocabulary by utilizing flashcards with grade-level appropriate words, or they may use other techniques based on your child's current level of mastery.
The Quantitative Reasoning section of the exam uses multiple-choice questions to determine your child's ability to problem-solve and to think mathematically. It does not assess specific math skills. Your child will have 35 minutes to complete 37 items. The ability to think critically is a key factor in answering these questions correctly. Your child's tutor may work with your student on identifying what the question is asking, as well as time management techniques.
Both the Reading Comprehension and Mathematics Achievement portions of the exam are designed to measure your child's ability to answer grade-level questions in math and reading. Your child will be given 35 minutes to answer the 36 questions in the Reading Comprehension section, and 40 minutes to answer the 47 questions in the Mathematics Achievement section. These sections are skill-based, and your child's tutor will spend time determining which skills your student needs to focus on in order to pursue the highest score possible.
The final section of the exam is a single essay question, which is not graded by the ISEE. Instead, it is sent to the school or schools identified on the registration form. While it will not be part of the ISEE grade, it is an important factor in admissions for many schools and should be given the same care and attention as the other sections. Your child's tutor may work with him or her on creating a clear and concise outline to answer writing prompts in preparation for this portion of the exam.
It is important to note that the ISEE only looks for the number of correct answers and does not impose a penalty for those items that are answered incorrectly. Because of this, your child's tutor may also work on making educated guesses, as there is no benefit to leaving a question blank.
The Varsity Tutors live learning platform allows you to schedule your child's private ISEE Upper Level tutoring session at a time and location that is most convenient for your schedule. Private tutoring sessions can be scheduled in a virtual setting or in person. To connect with a tutor who is eager to work with your child, contact Varsity Tutors today.
4.9/5.0 Satisfaction Rating*
Your Personalized Tutoring Program and Instructor
Identify Needs
Our knowledgeable directors help you choose your tutor with your learning profile and personality in mind.
Customize Learning
Your tutor can customize your lessons and present concepts in engaging easy-to-understand-ways.
Increased Results
You can learn more efficiently and effectively because the teaching style is tailored to you.
Online Convenience
With the flexibility of online tutoring, your tutor can be arranged to meet at a time that suits you.
Recent ISEE- Upper Level Tutoring Session Notes
I first went over some practice tests the student did in the prep book. He did rather well on them. We then worked on an essay the student had started previously, so he finished writing it. After that, we worked on some more complicated square root problems, and finally finished with some synonyms practice.
We started to look the math section and began with geometry. We went through questions on squares, rectangles, parallelograms, rhombi, other quadrilaterals, kites, and hexagons. I had the student find the measure of angles, length of sides, area, perimeter, and diagonals. Some of the questions included other material such as finding the mean or a percentage. She needs to break the problems down into smaller parts and diagrams are very helpful. She is used to working with the metric system but the ISEE includes questions in both English and metric; she's going to need to learn how to convert between the two systems and within the English system. She also needs to make sure to read questions carefully so that she answers the question being asked. We will work together to make her proficient in all these areas.
We made some great progress with math. We're going through each concept covered on the test and reviewing things he forgot. We also did an overview of reading comp strategy and how to look at the questions given. Great work!
It was great meeting this student today! She's a very bright, very friendly student, and I appreciate the amount of hard work that she puts into our sessions. We began by reviewing the way that the ISEE is structured and basic math vocabulary. When it was clear that she could jump into more advanced topics, we immediately started working on percentages and word problems associated with algebra and percentages. She did a great job with translating those word problems into equations.
The student finished the lessons for all sections on the ISEE today. She feels confident about her progress thus far and is using the notes we took as a guide.