To laugh is to learn. I want to teach people to love to learn, and the best way to do that is to make them laugh. I have over twenty years of experience tutoring people in every subject from ABC to Algebra. Let's learn together.

Hi! I am passionate about tutoring and mentoring students. I want to make learning fun and want to work together to reach your academic goals! Look forward to connecting with you!! :)

I am fortunate; I get to do the best job in the world. While teaching is my second career, it was always what I wanted to do. When I graduated from college, I was offered a position with my college's admissions and marketing office, where I had been working to put myself through school. It was a tremendous opportunity, and launched an eighteen-year career helping high school students make important decisions about their futures, and navigate an often complex admissions and financial aid system. I loved working with students, being around bright, engaging people, and doing work that made a difference. But each time I walked through a high school to present a workshop on writing college essays or preparing for college interviews, I was reminded of how deeply I still wanted to be in a classroom. So I took the plunge, and now spend my days teaching social studies to great students at a great school. I have taught world history, American history, sociology, psychology, economics, and even developed a high school course in teaching for students seeking a career in education. I am passionate about understanding how the past has shaped the present, and helping students recognize their critical role in protecting and preserving democracy. In addition to teaching course curricula, I work with students on writing skills, standardized test preparation, and college essays, because all of these skills will help them reach their academic goals. As a teacher, I believe that it is critical to help students develop the ability to regulate their own learning, and implement meta-cognitive strategies that will serve them in college and beyond. When I'm not teaching, I am a mom to a high school sophomore, a long-distance mom to two college students, a gardener who grows lots of organic vegetables, and an avid reader of anything historical. If I can help you in a specific subject area, or with essays, test preparation, or homework support, either face-to-face or on-line, let me know!

I am a certified K-12 educator, musician, and artist with a passion for teaching and helping others. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education/Jazz Studies from Augustana College. I currently work as a 5th-8th grade teacher during the day with teaching licenses in two states. I teach private music lessons to 4th-12th grade students on all concert band instruments and offer music theory/music education tutoring. I have been tutoring test prep for the past year on all levels of the ISEE, SSAT, ACT, and HSPT. I also tutor students in English and reading along with general homework help. Since I am certified in two states to teach K-12 students, I work well with students of all ages. I work especially well with upper elementary and middle school students because those are the students I teach most frequently. I love teaching these middle ages because it is important to grow academically and personally during this time as the students start to become aware of who they are and who they want to become. As a school teacher, I love watching students grow and achieve their goals. While music is my specialty, I am an effective and positive tutor in test prep and reading subjects. I teach with a playful and relaxing style that helps students take control of their own learning while providing a comfortable environment to learn and grow.

I am a graduate of the University of Kansas, with bachelor's degrees in biology and environmental studies. While I am fascinated by the natural world, I also have interests in other fields, such as literature, philosophy, and foreign languages. One of the reasons I like tutoring is because it allows me to use what I have learned in such fields to help others gain confidence in and become excited about a subject. I especially love to tutor in French, which I studied at the Universit du Havre and minored in during college. I believe that curiosity is the most important ingredient in learning. As a tutor, I ask questions to help students come to right answers on their own, and I show students how to ask their own questions as well. I believe in giving my students resources that help them continue learning after tutoring is finished and throughout their lives. In addition, using my knowledge of science, math, the arts, and the humanities, I make connections between different subjects to help my students see how what we're working on isn't so strange after all! Before beginning to work with Varsity Tutors in August of 2014, I worked in a K-8 school as an intervention math teacher. There, I tutored elementary- and middle-school students in math in small groups. Working in that setting taught me more about how to explain abstract concepts simply and creatively, and about how to use quizzes and evaluations to track student progress. During college, I helped my peers learn French both individually and in small groups; and most recently, I worked as an English language teacher in France, helping small groups of middle- and high-schoolers put their language learning into practice by organizing projects, conversations, and debates. In my free time, I like to read, write, draw, and learn about topics of interest such as Spanish and world literature.

As both a student and an employee, I have been involved in higher education for over twenty years. I earned my bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (English-Writing), my master's degree from Regis University (Nonprofit Management), and currently hold a college administrative position by day. For a number of years now, I have enjoyed tutoring students in middle school, high school, and college on test preparation (primarily the verbal/reading/writing sections for ACT, SAT, PSAT, HSPT), as well as essay and speech writing. I have a passion for the written word because I feel it is often times the best way to communicate - a way to express our thoughts and feelings in an organized and structured manner, in our own voice and within our control.

Hi! My name is Matt Hlavin. I am currently working on my Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering. I would consider myself a lifelong learner. Education has always had a special place in my heart, and now I am excited to share my love for learning with you!

I graduated from Southwestern Illinois University in Edwardsville with a BS in Mathematics Education. My first job was teaching junior high school math in East St. Louis. Some of my students were nearly as old as I. It was quite an experience for a first year teacher. Very challenging. I moved to the northern part of the state and taught middle school and high school in a small district of 7000 students for 16 years. These experiences were varied. I team taught in a school with no walls. We had students working independently with no direct instruction. Each student was given independent tutoring and allowed to progress at their own pace. I also taught computer intro courses. I moved to Chicago in 1989. I taught high school algebra, geometry, and algebra 2 until I retired in 2016. I also tutored students who were prepping for the high stakes standardized tests they take as juniors. I taught after school programs and summer classes for students who were making up credits in order to graduate. I have learned to adjust my teaching approach for the students I have before me. I understand the concept of learning styles. I have experience with students who are bilingual and are struggling with English as a second language. I have worked with students of all skill levels. I have tried to remain healthy by running and going to the fitness center daily. I enjoy keeping current on the news and going out with friends. I am using this extreme stay at home time to enhance my online tutoring skills and to explore the technology that is being employed to bring education into students' homes. I have also explored the possibilities that this unprecedented time in history has caused some to contemplate a new reality for education. Education may never return to what it was before.

I have had the opportunity to teach and to tutor thousands of students over my 33 year teaching career. I believe that each student is unique, and that academic skills and weaknesses should be assessed and targeted for the best results. I also hope that it can be a FUN learning experience! I love it when students develop a passion for a subject like Biology, or develop an understanding and/or respect for Algebra, Geometry, etc. Most important to me is that the student ultimately feels successful, and sees improvement. Learning is a lifelong skill, and the desire to become better academically or to pass a class with a particular grade provides the motivation and opportunity to grow! I feel fortunate to be able to assist in those endeavors!

I am a professional tutor and certified teacher with a Master's degree in Math Education. I specialize in 5th/6th/7th/8th grade Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2. I am engaging, enthusiastic, and keep communication a high priority. I also tutor SAT and ACT test prep as well as PSAT, SSAT and HSPTs

To laugh is to learn. I want to teach people to love to learn, and the best way to do that is to make them laugh. I have over twenty years of experience tutoring people in every subject from ABC to Algebra. Let's learn together.

Hi! I am passionate about tutoring and mentoring students. I want to make learning fun and want to work together to reach your academic goals! Look forward to connecting with you!! :)

I am fortunate; I get to do the best job in the world. While teaching is my second career, it was always what I wanted to do. When I graduated from college, I was offered a position with my college's admissions and marketing office, where I had been working to put myself through school. It was a tremendous opportunity, and launched an eighteen-year career helping high school students make important decisions about their futures, and navigate an often complex admissions and financial aid system. I loved working with students, being around bright, engaging people, and doing work that made a difference. But each time I walked through a high school to present a workshop on writing college essays or preparing for college interviews, I was reminded of how deeply I still wanted to be in a classroom. So I took the plunge, and now spend my days teaching social studies to great students at a great school. I have taught world history, American history, sociology, psychology, economics, and even developed a high school course in teaching for students seeking a career in education. I am passionate about understanding how the past has shaped the present, and helping students recognize their critical role in protecting and preserving democracy. In addition to teaching course curricula, I work with students on writing skills, standardized test preparation, and college essays, because all of these skills will help them reach their academic goals. As a teacher, I believe that it is critical to help students develop the ability to regulate their own learning, and implement meta-cognitive strategies that will serve them in college and beyond. When I'm not teaching, I am a mom to a high school sophomore, a long-distance mom to two college students, a gardener who grows lots of organic vegetables, and an avid reader of anything historical. If I can help you in a specific subject area, or with essays, test preparation, or homework support, either face-to-face or on-line, let me know!

I am a certified K-12 educator, musician, and artist with a passion for teaching and helping others. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education/Jazz Studies from Augustana College. I currently work as a 5th-8th grade teacher during the day with teaching licenses in two states. I teach private music lessons to 4th-12th grade students on all concert band instruments and offer music theory/music education tutoring. I have been tutoring test prep for the past year on all levels of the ISEE, SSAT, ACT, and HSPT. I also tutor students in English and reading along with general homework help. Since I am certified in two states to teach K-12 students, I work well with students of all ages. I work especially well with upper elementary and middle school students because those are the students I teach most frequently. I love teaching these middle ages because it is important to grow academically and personally during this time as the students start to become aware of who they are and who they want to become. As a school teacher, I love watching students grow and achieve their goals. While music is my specialty, I am an effective and positive tutor in test prep and reading subjects. I teach with a playful and relaxing style that helps students take control of their own learning while providing a comfortable environment to learn and grow.

I am a graduate of the University of Kansas, with bachelor's degrees in biology and environmental studies. While I am fascinated by the natural world, I also have interests in other fields, such as literature, philosophy, and foreign languages. One of the reasons I like tutoring is because it allows me to use what I have learned in such fields to help others gain confidence in and become excited about a subject. I especially love to tutor in French, which I studied at the Universit du Havre and minored in during college. I believe that curiosity is the most important ingredient in learning. As a tutor, I ask questions to help students come to right answers on their own, and I show students how to ask their own questions as well. I believe in giving my students resources that help them continue learning after tutoring is finished and throughout their lives. In addition, using my knowledge of science, math, the arts, and the humanities, I make connections between different subjects to help my students see how what we're working on isn't so strange after all! Before beginning to work with Varsity Tutors in August of 2014, I worked in a K-8 school as an intervention math teacher. There, I tutored elementary- and middle-school students in math in small groups. Working in that setting taught me more about how to explain abstract concepts simply and creatively, and about how to use quizzes and evaluations to track student progress. During college, I helped my peers learn French both individually and in small groups; and most recently, I worked as an English language teacher in France, helping small groups of middle- and high-schoolers put their language learning into practice by organizing projects, conversations, and debates. In my free time, I like to read, write, draw, and learn about topics of interest such as Spanish and world literature.

As both a student and an employee, I have been involved in higher education for over twenty years. I earned my bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (English-Writing), my master's degree from Regis University (Nonprofit Management), and currently hold a college administrative position by day. For a number of years now, I have enjoyed tutoring students in middle school, high school, and college on test preparation (primarily the verbal/reading/writing sections for ACT, SAT, PSAT, HSPT), as well as essay and speech writing. I have a passion for the written word because I feel it is often times the best way to communicate - a way to express our thoughts and feelings in an organized and structured manner, in our own voice and within our control.

Hi! My name is Matt Hlavin. I am currently working on my Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering. I would consider myself a lifelong learner. Education has always had a special place in my heart, and now I am excited to share my love for learning with you!

I graduated from Southwestern Illinois University in Edwardsville with a BS in Mathematics Education. My first job was teaching junior high school math in East St. Louis. Some of my students were nearly as old as I. It was quite an experience for a first year teacher. Very challenging. I moved to the northern part of the state and taught middle school and high school in a small district of 7000 students for 16 years. These experiences were varied. I team taught in a school with no walls. We had students working independently with no direct instruction. Each student was given independent tutoring and allowed to progress at their own pace. I also taught computer intro courses. I moved to Chicago in 1989. I taught high school algebra, geometry, and algebra 2 until I retired in 2016. I also tutored students who were prepping for the high stakes standardized tests they take as juniors. I taught after school programs and summer classes for students who were making up credits in order to graduate. I have learned to adjust my teaching approach for the students I have before me. I understand the concept of learning styles. I have experience with students who are bilingual and are struggling with English as a second language. I have worked with students of all skill levels. I have tried to remain healthy by running and going to the fitness center daily. I enjoy keeping current on the news and going out with friends. I am using this extreme stay at home time to enhance my online tutoring skills and to explore the technology that is being employed to bring education into students' homes. I have also explored the possibilities that this unprecedented time in history has caused some to contemplate a new reality for education. Education may never return to what it was before.

I have had the opportunity to teach and to tutor thousands of students over my 33 year teaching career. I believe that each student is unique, and that academic skills and weaknesses should be assessed and targeted for the best results. I also hope that it can be a FUN learning experience! I love it when students develop a passion for a subject like Biology, or develop an understanding and/or respect for Algebra, Geometry, etc. Most important to me is that the student ultimately feels successful, and sees improvement. Learning is a lifelong skill, and the desire to become better academically or to pass a class with a particular grade provides the motivation and opportunity to grow! I feel fortunate to be able to assist in those endeavors!

I am a professional tutor and certified teacher with a Master's degree in Math Education. I specialize in 5th/6th/7th/8th grade Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2. I am engaging, enthusiastic, and keep communication a high priority. I also tutor SAT and ACT test prep as well as PSAT, SSAT and HSPTs