My philosophy as a tutor is that learning only occurs if interest can be cultivated. My goal is to help students find their passion for scholarship as I found mine; through discovery.

My experiences as an educator have allowed me to develop rigorous curriculum aligned to the Common Core. Through continuous assessment, data analysis, and reflection I tailor my practice to ensure the needs of diverse learners are matched and high expectations are being met. It is my belief that students are most successful when a sound action plan, based on performance data, is developed and pushes them towards mastery of material.

I am a dedicated, committed, and enthusiastic educator who strongly believes that curriculum and assessment operate hand-in-hand and that the two areas should inform educational outcomes in order to improve the formal and informal learning experiences for all of Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade students. When I was a South Bronx youth, my young parents worked all the time and my grandparents, aunts, and uncles supported me while obtaining my education in New York City. It is my belief that a highly motivated student can accomplish any academic goal(s) s/he puts their mind to. Learning is a process; concepts build on each other. Knowledge mastery is a goal the student strives towards. As a tutor, I hope to guide, support, and encourage the student to think critically and analytically about her or his education inside and outside the classroom walls

I am music educator and band director at Fort Hamilton High School. I have received a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance: Percussion Studies with a Minor in Piano and Voice from LIU Post. I have a Master of Arts and a Master of Education in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. I am completing a third Master of Education in Education Administration, School Building Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. I have studied percussion for over 18 years, piano for 12 years, and voice for 10 years. I have toured as a performing musician to Ireland, Puerto Rico, Switzerland for the Montreux Jazz Festival, and Australia for the International Music Festival. I have also performed with the North Shore Symphony Orchestra, at Carnegie Hall with the Cecilia Chorus of New York, in the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, and many other wind ensembles and choruses vocal jazz ensembles, jazz bands, jazz combos, and percussion ensembles. I have worked with artists such as the New York Voices, Esperanza Spalding, Wynton Marsalis, Rossano Galante, Julie Giroux, Mark Camphouse, and many others through numerous masterclasses and performances. I currently work for Carnegie Hall Music Educators Workshop as a Classroom Connections facilitator and advisor. At FHHS, I assists in music ensembles as a percussion liaison and teaches the class "Music Interpretation" This class is a curriculum I developed based on the studies of popular culture, musicology, and music philosophy, where non-music students receive the opportunity to learn to compose, perform, analyzation and appreciate music from around the world through different perspectives and inclusive discussions.

I have been a Special Education teacher for over 30 years. I specialize in working with children with ADD/ADHD and reading difficulties. I am certified as a WILSON and FUNDATIONS instructor and have dyslexia myself, as does my son! I know what it is like to struggle and can help your child overcome their learning obsticles, by teaching them strategies for success!

I am so thrilled to be back in Buffalo after living and teaching in Brooklyn, NY for 5 years. In Brooklyn I was on the founding faculty of a charter school. There I was able to help develop the ELA, Math and Social Studies curriculums. In addition, I piloted the theatre department by starting the Drama Club and later teaching the first Theatre elective class. My primary role in Brooklyn was part of the Special Education department as a Learning Specialist. In this role I gained experience co - teaching in ELA, Math and Social Studies classrooms grades 6 - 8. In addition, I taught a mixed- grade remedial reading class to help students improve their reading comprehension skills.While in NYC, I also took advantage of the great higher education institutions there by obtaining my masters in Reading from Teachers College at Columbia University. As part of the program I had the opportunity to work in a reading clinic with students ranging from 4th grade - Adult and I worked with them to improve their reading decoding skills, comprehension skills, as well as writing skills. Through my course work I also gained knowledge and experience administering and analyzing variety of reading assessments to help me identify the needs and strengths of students.I believe I bring a lot of experience, creativity, and enthusiasm to my tutoring clients. I like to use a variety of learning strategies including web quests, pneumonic devices, and songs to meet the individual needs of my students. I look forward to meeting you and working with you to help your student reach their academic and personal goals.

My name is Melody and I am currently a graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University studying Clinical Psychology. I have spent the last 6 years studying psychology and sociology. Some of my hobbies are running and doing yoga. I love to play piano, walk my dogs, and eat! I have been to most of western Europe, Mexico, and am planning on traveling some more before I start my doctoral degree.I have been tutoring students for the past 6 years in both formal and informal settings. I have tutored primarily in social sciences (psychology and sociology), English (writing, editing, and literature), and biology. My tutoring style varies depending on who I am working with - for example, if someone is a learner by doing then I won't have them watch me do a practice example, instead I will give them one and have them talk me through the steps they are going through. Each student is unique and should feel empowered! I like to foster that and have each student feel like they are actually in control of their learning.

I consider myself as a great tutor because I grew up learning both, English and Spanish simultaneously. Therefore, I am able to explain and simplify many irregularities and difficult concepts within the languages in a manner in which the student comprehends. In addition,I create a pace according to the student's personal growth instead of pacing according to school's curriculum. I believe student should be able to learn at their own learning pace and understand concepts by being provided many opportunities to discover patterns and explanations in their unique way.

Educator. Sponge. Poet.As an educator, I've learned how to absorb both memories from the places I've traveled along with the skills gained from opportunities I've had and turn them into moments of mentorship and learning for other folks who are on the path toward achieving their goals.Highlights:--Working towards my Masters in Clinical Psych at Teacher's College, Columbia Univ.--Lived in China for 4 years and traveled throughout Asia learning languages + cultural customs--Taught Writing, Film, and Linguistics Courses at a top university in China--Worked at educational consulting companies as an admissions counselor/writing coach

I earned my B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin and my Ph.D. in Cognitive Studies from Columbia University. I've taught in New York City classrooms, private homes, and in community colleges. My specialties include instruction in English reading and writing, as well as verbal SAT prep. In the 1st-grade talent show, I read the Gettysburg Address out loud in red velvet pantaloons, which might be why I wasn't more popular in school. However, I had books to keep me company. Today, I do have friends and am usually trying to get them to play Scrabble, Words with Friends, or Taboo with me.

I am a recent graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University. I received my Bachelors in African American studies with a minor in Child Development. Since graduation, I worked as an elementary school substitute teacher in New York, served as a College and Career Readiness Coach, and mentoring young girls. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about sharing testing strategies, English, and History. I attribute much of my success to the phenomenal teachers that taught me that all students' are capable no matter what, rather than the achievement gap that divided many from academic attainment. Therefore, I believe that if students are provided access to a high-quality, culturally-relevant education, then they will develop a heightened sense of achievement through self-awareness in order to be prepared to participate in our global society. I aspire to tutor all students because given the right set of tools and professional network; I can help empower our students to reach their full academic potential. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and trying new foods.

I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Elementary Inclusive Education at the Teachers College, Columbia University. I have ambitions to someday affect educational policy and administration - maybe I'll be a principal or school superintendent.In college, I coordinated a reading program with local elementary school students that took place once a week. I also tutored at my college's writing center, working with fellow college students to improve and enhance writing assignments in all disciplines and to strengthen basic grammar and organizational skills. I am excited to be a Varsity Tutor, instilling a passion for learning in my students through experiential, hands-on education that promotes critical thinking skills.I firmly believe that the provision of equal educational opportunities can help foster social equality. I emphasize inquiry-based learning because I believe that students learn best when they are invested in the material and can fully explore its relation to the real world. I am flexible and accommodating in my approach to teaching, allowing all students to reach their full potential.