Monique
Certified Tutor
Hi! I am incredibly passionate about literature and look for any opportunity to deepen someone else's knowledge of a great book, play, or poem. As you might imagine, my favorite subjects to tutor are high school and college lit as I am a voracious reader but I also enjoy test prep (PSAT, SAT, ACT, IB) and essay writing (especially for Comp 1 and Comp 2 in early college). I am an organization fanatic so I can help with that and study skills as well.
I am an IB graduate, so I know all about the IB Extended Essay and the IB exams. I have a BA in English from the University of Miami and an MA in English from Wichita State University. I have taught 10th grade high school English, 11th grade American literature, and 12th grade AP literature. I taught an intensive FCAT prep course as well. I also taught Comp 101 and 101, Business and Professional Writing and Exploring Literature at the college level. I have tutored both the SAT and ACT.
I am a rockstar when it comes to writing and re-working essays. As a writing tutor at WSU, I learned how to explain the revision process with patience and understanding. I give feedback that is easy to understand and implement and my students tell me they love it.
I have a great deal of experience with American literature (colonial through contemporary) as well as 18th and 19th century British literature and contemporary Brit lit. I am absolutely comfortable with Shakespeare (having taught most of his major plays) and poetry analysis is yet another favorite.
My favorite thing about tutoring is watching my students blossom and fully understand the material in a new way. I also love watching their test scores rise! I have been told that I am incredibly enthusiastic and friendly and that I am a compassionate teacher.
Outside of academia, I am a Star Trek fanatic and fan of musicals. I read a lot, write plays, and drink a ton of herbal tea. I also bake sweet treats and eat way too many at a time.
I hope I can help you get the grade you want!
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Miami - Bachelors, English, Spanish, Sociology
Graduate Degree: Wichita State University - Masters, English Literature
Reading, Writing plays, Movies, Baking
- ACT English
- ACT Reading
- ACT Writing
- AIMS Prep
- American Literature
- AP English Literature and Composition
- British Literature
- Business
- Business Writing
- Classics
- CLEP Prep
- CLEP American Literature
- CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- CLEP College Composition
- CLEP English Literature
- College Business
- College English
- College Level American Literature
- Comparative Literature
- English
- Essay Editing
- Expository Writing
- FCAT 2.0 Prep
- Florida EOC Assessment Prep
- High School Business
- High School English
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Writing
- IB Extended Essay
- IB Language A: Literature
- Languages
- Other
- SAT Subject Test in Literature
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- SAT Writing and Language
- Social Studies
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Test Prep
- World Literature
- Writing
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I encourage them to break the larger chunk of reading into smaller, more digestible bites. We read each piece and talk about its individual meaning, and then read the next piece and tie that meaning to the previous meaning. Eventually, we put it all together.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Building rapport is essential. I try to immediately establish a connection, lighten the mood with a little humor, and be honest with them about my own struggles so they are more comfortable sharing theirs.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I try to make connections to popular movies / tv shows / games, as these are things a lot of students enjoy. Showing them that their favorite entertainment often comes from famous literature sparks their interest and encourages engagement.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I always ask students to repeat concepts back to me in their own words as a means of testing their understanding.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I express to them that many students struggle in some subjects while excelling in others, and I make sure to praise them for every bit of growth or understanding so that they can see their progress.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I ask them to detail their needs, and then I question their understanding of certain concepts related to those needs. Sometimes they know more than they think.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I pull from a variety of resources so I can cater to different types of learners and focus on their specific needs. I am constantly researching and learning new techniques so I can be up to date and provide the best assistance for individual students.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I always have my computer so I can do on-the-spot research. I also have a massive library of classical literature, a number of textbooks, test prep books for the SAT and ACT, and some tutoring guidebooks from previous tutoring jobs.