"My name is Sam O., and I recently graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in English with distinction. I'm extremely passionate about reading and writing-- it's my goal to share my love for words in their various forms with every student I work with, regardless of where they're starting from. I use precision, pace, and sensitivity to meet students where they are in their learning, focusing on the "why" and "how" more than just the correct answer on the test. Each student has their own unique mind and thought process, so as a tutor, my work is not just about knowing where the result can be found, but also about discovering each student's path to getting there. I've found that when explaining concepts, selecting examples that match a student's expressed interests can help them latch onto an idea much faster than they would otherwise. As such, I use conversations with students to find songs, poems, or quotes that I think might both illustrate a concept and fit their interests, making sure to listen to my students at every step.

While I was at Yale, I worked with both children in the New Haven area and my own peers on essay writing, reading comprehension, and creative writing tasks. Apart from my college-age peers, the children I worked with were most often between the 5th and 12th grades, Most of my teaching has been through volunteer work, and I've taught in both group and 1-on-1 settings, with 1-on-1 instruction being most helpful with essay tasks. I prepared lessons, reviewed essays, and assigned tasks, from writing poems based on visual prompts to analyzing short stories in presentation form.

I want to help each of my students improve and excel in reading and writing, and I am happy to discuss any resources, suggestions, or concerns students or their parents bring. Feel free to reach out to me, and I will be sure to provide quick and appropriate responses. I'm excited to be a part of your learning!" less...