
Seth: Hempstead tutor
Certified Tutor
There was something off about the ending. It was a week before the opening of my Independent Project "The Midnight Show," the culmination of my 4 years studying at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. I'd written the show, memorized my lines, and facilitated communication between my actors, designers, and stage crew as the director. But something still wasn't working.
All my life, I've enjoyed working with people. My time at theatre school has given me unique skills in project management, creative writing, and solving problems quickly and efficiently. These attributes have helped me in many different jobs, particularly working with students. I taught Improv and Stage Combat to middle schoolers at Exploration Summer Programs, and I volunteer regularly with 826NYC, helping students of all ages with their writing. I particularly loved helping with 826's Personal Statement Weekend, helping students craft a compelling college essay.
I believe that all students have a story to tell, whether it's the story of the Civil War, how to conjugate a verb, or how to simplify a fraction. I like to help students view their schoolwork as a performance, something to be invested in, rather than just being lectured at by an adult. I am particularly qualified for English/Language Arts and History tutoring.
It ended up being a monologue my character spoke that was dragging the play down. While it was well-written, it simply didn't fit within the world of the show. I made the decision: the speech had to go. But I wasn't upset. I knew that it was for the good of the entire project, and the show was a smashing success. My interpersonal skills and clear, precise writing led me to accomplish something I would never forget.
Connect with a tutor like Seth
Undergraduate Degree: New York University - Bachelors, Drama
Comic Books, Video Games, Reading, Politics, Theatre, Improv, Comedy
- AP US History
- Audition Prep
- College Application Essays
- College English
- Creative Writing
- Elementary School
- English
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- High School Level American History
- High School Writing
- History
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- SAT Reading
- Social Studies
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that students work best when they are passionate about their work and can find connections between subjects. For example, if a student who loves history is having trouble in science, learning about the history of the theory or idea will help form connections in the student's mind, and give them a personal investment in the work.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would want to know about the student outside of school. What do they like to do, what's their favorite show, etc. I would then ask them what they think they have trouble with and what their goals are for the length of tutoring.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would state up front what the break schedule will be. I like to do 10 minutes on, 2 minutes off.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I like to have the student, at the end of the session, explain what they've learned, and allow them to become the teacher. I then record these and as we continue tutoring, we can see just how far we've come.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
My tutoring style is very verbal. I don't think there's much benefit of trying to get through as many questions as possible. Taking my time and really honing in on the source behind the problem is more important than the end result.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I like to break down sentences into their component parts and actually diagram them out. This allows the student to actually see how the words connect. I'm also a fan of highlighting physically important words. Having the student hand write the passage is also a great way to increase comprehension.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I've found getting to know the student as a person helps them to trust me and not just see me as another teacher.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Encouraging students to learn actively, and treat learning as storytelling will help them become more independent.