Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been teaching ?

I have been teaching for the past 16 years now. I worked in a charter school for 7 years and I currently work for a public school, so I have a great understanding about how different schools work, experience with different types of curriculum, and extensive background knowledge of the fundamentals of Common Core standards. 

How many students do you take on as clients?

I never want to overwhelm myself at any time, so I take between 5-10 students during the school year. However, during the summer, I open up my schedule to accommodate 15-20 students from Jun-Aug.

How can you keep my child focused during the tutoring session?

The best part about a one-on-one session is that I really get to the know the student(s). This means I get to find out what motivates them and giving them "brain breaks" especially when they get frustrated or overwhelmed. Many times, children who have ADD, ADHD, Autism and other attention deficits, do very well with me due to my ability to keep routine and to provide them a chance to be themselves. 

What can I expect during a lesson?

Honestly, that can be difficult to answer because the needs of each individual child is always different in some way. However, please know that I will always be prepared with manipulatives, tools, and materials to facilitate your child's growth to make their tutoring experience fun, yet educational.

If I need you to communicate with my child's teacher, is that possible?

If you feel that I should have dialogue with your child's teacher regarding my teaching style, I would be happy to assist as long as the teacher is willing and open. I am a teacher as well and all teachers are not so receptive or have the time to talk  to tutors. 

What types of materials do you use during tutoring?

The materials I use are based on the academic area the child needs help with. Furthermore, I adapt each lesson as they increase their understanding of concepts. It can vary from curriculum types, tools, and graphic organizers.

What does online instruction look like? 

During an online session I use all the features from Zoom including the whiteboard and sharing features. However, I go above and beyond to utilize other technology such as my digital doc camera tied in with good teaching practices.

How can you help my child with Common Core and state testing requirements?

Well, I don't "teach to the test," I teach students to understand the "how" and "why" things work, as well as, how to be a critical thinker which is aligned with Common Core.

Is there a guarantee that my child's grades or scores will increase?

I cannot guarantee that a student will pass a test, or earn a specific score in a class or on a test. Those types of things all depend on the student completing assignments, studying for tests, finishing practice, attending tutoring sessions and class frequently and consistently, and actively participating in class. However, what I can guarantee there will be academic GROWTH as long as the student is applying the skills and strategies learned during tutoring. 

What are your hours of operation?

My availability is posted on the page for appointments/sessions. 

Where does tutoring take place?

For typical tutoring sessions, I tutor students at the library, cafe, online (Zoom or Google Meets) or at their home if they choose. 

What are the fees for the tutoring session?

Please take a look at my pricing and fee schedule here.

What if I am unsatisfied with the tutoring services provided?

Although I haven't had any unsatisfied students, if it does occur, I will do whatever is in my power to provide your child with the best tutoring service. 

If I have a friend in need of tutoring services, can I provide your information to them?

Referrals are the best! Word of mouth is the best advertising. I even give a discount on your next tutoring session when your referral schedules and completes a tutoring session. You can even forward them to my website or facebook page. 

What forms of payment do you accept?

Payments are made via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) through PayPal. For our first session, I’ll send an invoice to be paid online. All charges are processed on the same day of tutoring, (or if the packaged sessions are arranged, the charge for the entire monthly will happen on the earliest day of the week on which a lesson takes place).

Do I need to sign a contract and are there any additional fees?

I do have contract that I ask my clients to sign to make sure they understand all my policies, cancellations requirements, and payment policy, BUT understand that it does not lock you into anything. I usually don't include any additional fees unless there's a science lab component or "assessment request."