"With over 33 years of experience as a classroom teacher of English, literature, and composition, I have dedicated myself to guiding students through the intricacies of reading and writing. I started my career in a Middle School working with seventh and eighth graders in an interdisciplinary program where English, art and history intertwined by theme. We read novels and wrote essays around American history and students prepared for end of unit essays where they followed a thread through the materials. In addition, students studied grammar and I connected the lessons to writing in the media.

For several years, I worked as a Freshman Writing instructor and then a teacher of electives at the University of Maryland, College Park. In English 101, students studied rhetorical forms and learned how to write persuasively. In the electives, students developed their speaking skills during literature discussions of novels and honed their analytical skills through writing essays.

For twenty-four years I worked with students in grades 9 through 12, teaching writing and electives. At this independent school in Baltimore, I met students where they were in the learning process, providing both full class and individual instruction in areas where students needed support. I loved breaking down the stories and the writing process to aid students in developing their best insights and ideas. My mission was to promote joy through learning, believing that each student could succeed.

My philosophy of tutoring is the same: to empower students to unlock their full potential by identifying areas of support and by working joyfully toward deep understanding and confidence." less...