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A photo of Jay, a tutor from Bowdoin College

Jay

Certified Tutor

I appreciate my students and want them to succeed. I have many years of experience assisting students of all ages. I received my PhD in English at Northern Illinois University and currently work as a professor at an Atlanta university. I have taught middle school, high school, and college English. I have expertise in all language arts areas and test prep, such as the SAT, ACT, and GRE tests. I also have experience helping students prepare for the SSAT and ISEE exams. I think an added benefit is that I get along well with students of all kinds. My goal is to assist all students with their test objectives so they can achieve academic success now and in the future.

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Jay’s Qualifications
Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: Bowdoin College - Bachelors, English

Graduate Degree: Northern Illinois University - PHD, English

Hobbies

Reading. yoga, meditation

Tutoring Subjects
ACCUPLACER ESL - Listening
ACCUPLACER ESL - Reading Skills
ACCUPLACER ESL - Sentence Meaning
ACT English
ACT Writing
Business
College English
College Essays
Comparative Literature
Economics
English
English Grammar and Syntax
ESL/ELL
Essay Editing
Graduate Test Prep
GRE Analytical Writing
GRE Verbal
High School Economics
High School English
HSPT Language Skills
HSPT Reading
HSPT Verbal
ISEE Prep
ISEE- Lower Level
ISEE- Middle Level
ISEE- Upper Level
Literature
Macroeconomics
PRAXIS
PSAT Critical Reading
PSAT Writing Skills
Public Speaking
Reading
SAT Reading
SAT Writing and Language
SSAT Prep
SSAT- Elementary Level
SSAT- Middle Level
SSAT- Upper Level
Test Prep
Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe all students can learn with the right support and hard work.

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

I would try to do a diagnostic assessment in order to assess strengths and weaknesses, and then create an academic plan for improvement.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Try to make the student more than he/she normally does, and encourage and praise frequently.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Keep the learning fun.

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

Teach, teach, and reteach using different strategies.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

You model reading strategies for them and have them select different ones while practicing.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

I find that modeling specific reading strategies involving mapping, surveying and outlining are most helpful while looking at English studies.

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

I would focus the student on the academic dream or goal.

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

Using formative assessment, and then summative assessment is always useful.

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

You constantly praise the student when they are right.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

You see an assessment score and base the needs from this assessment.

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

You find out what the student needs and then tailor instruction to strategies based on those gaps.

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

I like to use flashcards, textbooks, and test prep guides.