Cassandra: Riverdale tutor

Certified Tutor

Hello! I'm a teacher, writer, and actor with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater from Marymount Manhattan College, my TESOL license, training in AP English tutoring, and research experience studying historical movements in drama and dance.

My teaching experience includes my current position as an online ESL teacher; a previous TA position for a theater course, during which I edited papers and led review sessions; a position as dramaturg for a collegiate playwriting exchange between students and incarcerated individuals, which required me to provide writing support and research; a child guardian position for a 10-year-old actor, during which I assisted her in online coursework; and tutoring jobs with high school students in English and writing (two years). Furthermore, I've taught in less traditional classrooms as a dance and movement teacher for toddlers, a swim instructor for children aged 1-12, and I was a nanny for 5 years, which involved lots of homework help and academic encouragement.

Additionally, I worked for two years as a local newspaper correspondent, where I wrote full-length news and editorial pieces as well as news briefs each week. Lastly, as a research assistant to my college professor, I conducted research about the history of U.S. social dance, and presented my findings in research summaries, a podcast format, and in a series of lectures to upperclassmen at the college. Through this work, I've developed an attentive editing eye, and a sense of how to guide students toward establishing cohesiveness, organization, clarity, and personal voice in their writing.

The experience I hope to provide in my classroom is a compassionate challenge. I see students get so stressed and overwhelmed by all that is expected of them, especially if they feel that they are struggling with a subject or concept. This can result in "mental blocks" and even a self-defeating mentality. I aim to lift this pressure by modeling concepts in a clear manner with a lighthearted tone. I use the "I do, We do, You do" model of scaffolding to model skills, support the student in their practice, and ultimately guide them towards independence! I also utilize rewards and often try to make learning into a game. I want students to feel comfortable making mistakes with me so they are willing to engage in challenging work which stretches them to do their best.

My combination of experiences in teaching, writing, childcare and theater offers a unique perspective with which I will challenge and motivate my students do their best work. I'm passionate about learning, energetic and compassionate to the individual needs of my students.