Emma's Academic Prep - Academic Confidence For Young Scholars
About
I am high energy and engaging tutor. I have a talent for making learning fun and engaging. As a socialite, and advanced academic, I have learned many techniques that have kept my own high energy personality focused and driven. I have experience teaching children who struggle in a conventional classroom environment. I know how to harness their energy as a strength to excite them about school and learn to study effectively.
I care about showing all kids they have valuable ideas, even if they struggle in the classroom. I grew up with three brilliant brothers who got in trouble for having too much energy in the classroom. It was sad for me to see them get less one on one attention from their teachers, simply because their personality did not fit well in conventional classrooms. As a tutor, and summer school teacher, I have taken measures to ensure all of my students learn how to use their energy is an asset in the classroom.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I believe in building off of students' interests to get them engaged in learning. I like to take the time to get to know what the student enjoys doing inside and out of the classroom. I will spend the first session (or half session) just meeting with the kid to ensure they feel comfortable with me and get excited to start tutoring. From there we will talk about pain points in class and what the student thinks he or she needs to improve (they hear it from their teachers all the time, so they are usually the experts). After the first session, I will talk to the guardian and compare my notes with what they expect from the sessions. We can make edits and a game plan for what fits best with their expectations. I am very communicative and flexible throughout the tutoring process. I am happy to schedule 10 minute meetings free of charge with a guardian after tutoring sessions to debrief on the material covered and behavioral outcomes of the session. I have learned to work with the needs of each individual student I work with so my process is fully customizable to the client.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
- Bachelors in Communication Studies
- Certificate in Computer Science
- In school as a Marriage and Family Therapist
I have a bachelorette in communication, a certificate in computer science, and I am currently applying to a Marriage and Family therapy program. In college, I was awarded the Outstanding Student in Communication Studies award for achieving the highest GPA in the department. After college, I enrolled in a software engineering school, where I learned the fundamentals of coding. I am now a software engineer for a medical imaging company.
As an active person, I had to work to find ways to make learning fun, and I attribute my exemplary grades to that acquired skill. I love sharing my learning techniques with my students and watching them thrive with the new skills.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
- $30 per kid each lesson
I give a $20 discount for any group sessions with multiple kids.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching after I graduated from college as a Communication major. I worked for a summer school in Brooklyn called City Growers. In the program, I taught a classroom of 16 Kindergarten and 1st-grade children about environmental science and farming. Before the summer, I was warned by the director of the school that the students in my class were notoriously high energy. I found I thrived in this kind of classroom. I loved seeing the way kids became engaged in school when their energy was validated as an asset. I began tutoring after this camp because I wanted to continue to share this method of teaching to other students.
What types of students have you worked with?
- High energy who need help focusing
- Reserved who would like to speak up more
I work with all students in the middle and late elementary school age range. I have a talent for working with kids who are high energy and have trouble focusing. I am also great at getting reserved students out of their shells and building their confidence to participate in the classroom activities.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
As a summer school teacher, I had a student who had a hard time paying attention in class and would frequently get upset with other children. he student had entered summer school without a personal aid for the first time. I was able to help him become a successful camper by working with him to craft mindfulness activities that allowed him to stay focused in school. Some of these activities included tracing drawings, running a lap together outside, and tapping his fingers together in a complex order. I learned recently, he used these techniques in the last school year and completed first grade without an individual aid. It thrills me to see my students thrive on their own when they learn how to make school work for them.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I think it is important to look for a teacher who knows how to teach kids how to learn, more than what to learn. Middle school is a critical time to develop complete problem-solving skills, and behavioral management. As a guardian form one of these students, you should look for someone who connects with your child first, and then pushes them to progress their academic skills.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
- What specific and measurable goals can I make for the first few sessions with the tutor?
- Who does my kid get along with?
- What are my child's strengths in the classroom?
- What does my child need to improve on (topical/behavioral)?