"Hello, everyone! I have taught college and am ready to be your high school or college tutor in History (American, European, Ancient), Government (American and comparative), English literature, grammar, composition, test prep (SAT/PSAT, ACT, GED, GRE), as well as Latin, Italian, French, and Classical Greek.

I have tutored many students who have been challenged by difficult or unfamiliar material. I empathize with the struggling learner, but I am also determined to help him or her form effective study techniques to leap over those obstacles. For your tutoring, I would begin with your particular needs, as you and I see them, and then form a program of exercises to meet those needs.

When approaching a topic, I like to start with the basics and then try to see the big picture. In a passage, I look for the overall intent of the writer and the organization of the writing. For example, the Declaration of Independence is a logical sequence of paragraphs, with paragraphs as sequential sentences, sentences as sequential phrases, phrases as sequential words, and words as sequential syllables (for words that are unfamiliar, a dictionary is our best friend!). Learning is sequential, and so your lessons should be sequential as well. We would first seek a sure grasp of the basics of a topic, then proceed to examine it more closely, gaining knowledge of the precise or more complex aspects of it.

For best results in this process of tutoring and learning, I use a patient and careful method, regularly engaging the student with conversation and questions to prompt him or her to recite and explain the material -- or to return to study it again, if need be. As a teacher, I can attest that a sure sign of grasping a topic is being able to explain it to another!

I look forward to working with you soon!" less...