"Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That's why it's so hard." – David McCullough, historian

Excellent writing is purposeful and refined in its conception, its structure, and its word-by-word execution. Depending on a student's needs and capabilities, my tutoring can provide support at all of these levels. I can walk a student through the process of conceptualizing and planning a piece of work, provide tools for and feedback on the outlining and drafting process, and/or I can give lessons on grammatical fundamentals.

Too often, schools leave students to their own devices in learning writing. For some, it comes relatively naturally, and they often want more feedback and enrichment; for others, it doesn't come naturally, and they stall out in frustration. Whatever level a student is at, I aim to help them find joy and fulfillment in writing through ever-growing competence. Here's just a sampling the sorts of things I love working with students on:

• Honing critical thinking through persuasive writing

• Mastering grammatical fundamentals through proofreading and sentence diagramming

• Exploring characterization and dramatic structure through fiction writing

• Developing analytical skills through literary analysis

• Building media literacy and integrative thinking through research-based writing

• Improving writing fluency and creativity through journaling and free writing

• Strengthening precision of thought and communication through editing and revision

Organization, time management, motivation, and purposefulness are necessary for success—and are, for many students (and adults), a greater challenge than solving a math equation or fixing comma splices. So why do students often get so little support in building these skills?

As an educator, I've seen time and again the power of regular one-on-one coaching meetings with students. I don't have a one-size-fits-all "coaching curriculum"; my starting point is always to get to know the student as an individual, to find out what they need, and to work with them toward continual progress. Having helped hundreds of students find their own path to success over the years, I know that the approach is as varied as those individuals. Here's a (very incomplete) sample of what might be covered in academic coaching, depending on the student:

• Organization techniques

• Time management

• Handling procrastination

• Reorienting perspectives on academics (e.g., motivation issues or academic insecurity)

• Setting up for success through schedule and work environment

• Side-by-side work to improve work processes

• Handling challenges presented by ADHD, ASD, or other learning differences

• Managing stress

• Foundational skill-building (e.g., note-taking and study skills)

Given the highly individualized nature of academic coaching, the first step is always a (free) consultation, ideally with the student present. If you're interested in exploring academic coaching, please reach out!

History is a criminally neglected area of study. Everyone takes history classes, but it's often students' least favorite class. When I was in middle school, it was mine, too—and when I became a history teacher, I did so with a vengeance. I have no patience for taking what should be the study of the most exciting and important people, events, and ideas ever—the study of where our world today came from, and why it is what it is!—and turning it into a list of names and dates to memorize by rote.

I don't expect much call for one-on-one tutoring for history, but I'm happy to offer it—whether to a student having trouble understanding history or one who loves history and wants more than their own school offers.

If you want something more, like an entire course on US history or the Renaissance, reach out: I spent the better part of the last fifteen years developing history curriculum for nationwide networks of schools, and now I’m excited to do it anew without compromise. Small-group courses will be available as my time and capability permits.

Also, if you’re interested in history (and other) mini-courses, please sign up for the newsletter. There are fascinating historical topics that aren’t covered well in most schools, and I’ll be developing short-term, low-commitment offerings on these in the future.

Maria Montessori spoke often about the process of self-construction: literally, the crafting of the self through thought, experience, and work. To me, literature is one of the great laboratories of self-construction. Great stories present their readers with stakes that matter, characters with intriguing depths, and memorable examples of motivated decisions. They let you peek into the minds of people and cultures different than yourself and your own—and they prompt you to ask: Why would they do this? What would I do? What will I do? Who will I be?

I run literature seminar-style, and while I will do it one-on-one, I believed that discussion thrives best with a group of engaged thinkers. If you’re interested in reading with me, reach out and let me know what you have in mind. If you’re interested in future offerings, sign up for the newsletter!