Marc: Merrillville tutor
Certified Tutor
A journalism alumnus from Michigan State University, I have a diverse background in:
Academic writing
Academic presentations
Corporate presentations
Feature writing
News reporting
Graphic design
Typesetting
Editing
Page layout & design
Marketing
Social media marketing
Email marketing
Event planning
Strategic analyses
Blogging
Event planning & setup
Office administration
Technical help desk
As a tutor, I believe in active listening, identifying goals, and working with personal learning stylesultimately,
"scaffolding" knowledge on a week-to-week basis.
Fresh out of my undergrad days, I interned at The Detroit News and Free Press as a copy-editor and as a reporter. I have been published in the Wisconsin State Journal, Lansing State Journal, and several weekly newspapers.
I earned my MBA in 2017 and wrote my master's thesis on the efficacy and contributions of online tutoring as a modern pedagogy.
After my MBA program, I was accepted into the UW-Madison Graduate School into the curriculum and instruction master of science program but decided not to move forward in the teaching profession.
Currently, I am enrolled in the Michigan State University Strategic Communication MA program, with an emphasis in media analytics.
So I am not only a tutorI am a student just like you with piles of homework and lots of stress!
When I'm not nerding-out on tech and social media trends, I like to hang with my dog, play video games, binge-watch Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon ("The Office," "30 Rock," and "Doctor Who" are some favorites), swim, read, write, find spicy vegetarian recipes, and listen to audio fiction podcasts.
I am a writer at heart.
I am academically restless.
I am magnetically drawn to learning.
I want to make a difference in the worldone sentence at a time.
Connect with a tutor like Marc
Undergraduate Degree: Michigan State University - Bachelors, Journalism
Graduate Degree: Broadview University - Masters, Marketing
Outside of tutoring, I like to hang with my dog, play videogames (Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch), watch Netflix and Hulu ("The Office" and "30 Rock" are two of my favorite marathons), swim in the summer, sing in the car, stay current with technology and gadgets, and listen to short story podcasts.
- 10th Grade Reading
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade Reading
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade Reading
- 12th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade Reading
- 6th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Writing
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- Adult Literacy
- Basic Computer Literacy
- Business
- Business Ethics
- Business Writing
- College Business
- College English
- College Essays
- Conversational Spanish
- Creative Writing
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- High School Business
- High School English
- High School Writing
- Homework Support
- Journalism
- Languages
- Marketing
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Persuasive Writing
- Public Speaking
- Spanish
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 2
- Technology and Coding
- Vocabulary
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
(a) To foster critical thinking skills (b) To help students develop problem-solving strategies (c) To teach writing as a means of expression, rather than drudgery (d) To empower students to function as highly skilled and competent members in their classes and, eventually, in their fields (e) To have fun while doing all of the above
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I like to start with an icebreaker that I call "Give Two, Take Two." I would share two facts about myself and have you share two things about yourself. Once you know a few things about someone, you are no longer strangers, right? I might ask your favorite singer and/or band too. The music we listen to tells so much about us. Next, I would ask: • What problems are you having? • What do you hope to get out of tutoring? • How would you describe your learning style?
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I would explain that often, learning is not about knowing the answer right away. Independent learners ponder the appropriate learning and support tools they need to find the answer.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
As a grad student, I understand how classes and homework and projects can become overwhelming. To motivate, I suggest: • Taking frequent breaks to avoid burnout • Explaining your homework, paper, or project to a friend. I bet you'll find that you know more, and are more prepared, than you think. • Thinking about a good grade you received in the past as motivation and proof that you are doing a great job. • Referring to your syllabus as a roadmap for the class, taking one assignment at a time • Taking a one-song break. Make a study break playlist of songs that motivate and pump you up.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Often, it is valuable to use examples from the student's life to illustrate the skill or concept. Reframe the concept in terms that the student can understand. Also, helping them identify the resources to answer the question may passively reinforce the idea.