Jonathan
Certified Tutor
I am in the process of transitioning careers from an attorney to a high school social studies teacher. I plan to start teaching in the fall. I have a rich background in a rigorous liberal arts education that
would enable me to tutor in a diverse range of subjects, as well as guide students to think more critically, read more closely, and write more crisply and powerfully. My legal education and experience have further enhanced these skills. Most importantly, I love learning and have come realize that it is my vocation to share and impart that love of learning in others.
As beautifully put by Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca in his moral epistles: "[P]art of the joy in learning
is that it puts me in a position to teach; nothing, however outstanding and however helpful, will ever give me any pleasure if the knowledge is to be for my benefit alone. If wisdom were offered me on the one condition that I should keep it shut away and not divulge it to anyone, I should reject it. There is no enjoying the possession of anything valuable unless one has someone to share it with."
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Undergraduate Degree:University of Dallas- Bachelors, Politics
Graduate Degree:University of Dallas- Masters, Humanities
Reading classic literature, philosophical works, psychological works; iTunes University courses; Exercising (hiking, walking/jogging, kayaking); Watching the Red Sox and Patriots; Meteorology
- 10th Grade
- 10th Grade Reading
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade
- 11th Grade Reading
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade
- 12th Grade Reading
- 12th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Writing
- 9th Grade
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- ACT English
- ACT Reading
- ACT Writing
- Administrative Law
- Adult Literacy
- Advanced Placement Prep
- Ancient and Medieval Heritage
- AP
- AP Comparative Government and Politics
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP Human Geography
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Microeconomics
- AP US Government
- AP US History
- Arithmetic
- ASPIRE English
- ASPIRE Reading
- Business
- Civics
- Civil Procedure
- CLEP American Government
- CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- CLEP History of the United States I
- CLEP History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present
- CLEP Humanities
- CLEP Introduction to Educational Psychology
- CLEP Introductory Psychology
- CLEP Principles of Macroeconomics
- CLEP Principles of Microeconomics
- CLEP Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
- CLEP Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present
- College Business
- College Level American History
- College World History
- Comparative Literature
- Constitutional Law
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law
- MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
- Earth Science
- Ethics
- European History
- Expository Writing
- Gifted
- High School
- High School Business
- High School English
- High School Level American History
- High School World History
- High School Writing
- History
- Human Geography
- IB Economics
- IB Economics HL
- IB经济学SL
- IB Geography
- IB Geography HL
- IB Geography SL
- IB History
- IB History HL
- IB History SL
- IB Literature and Performance
- IB Philosophy
- IB Philosophy HL
- IB Philosophy SL
- IB Psychology
- IB Psychology HL
- IB Psychology SL
- Introduction to Poetry
- Law
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Macroeconomics
- 中世纪文学
- Middle School
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Persuasive Writing
- Property Law
- PSAT Critical Reading
- PSAT Writing Skills
- Reading
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Social Sciences
- STAAR Prep
- STAAR EOC Prep
- Summer
- Test Prep
- The Modern World
- Tort Law
- US Constitutional History
- US History
- Vocabulary
- World Civilization
- World History
What is your teaching philosophy?
My ultimate aim in tutoring is to help students become more self-confident, independent learners and thinkers. My method is to combine catering to each student's individual learning style (visual, auditory, tactile/kinesthetic) with my strength as a coach/subject-matter expert. Where possible, I try to incorporate a student's interests in designing my lessons. The lessons themselves will be broken into "chunks" of time and material, after which I will check for understanding. If the student is agreeable, I like to occasionally combine teaching and a physical activity, such as taking a walk, shooting baskets, etc. I will regularly request feedback so that I can adjust my tutoring to better meet the student's immediate needs and longer-term goals.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Before the first lesson, I want to find out as much as I can about the student's interests and preferred learning style. I also want to know the student's specific goals for the tutoring sessions. I will request that the student bring all relevant course materials and the class syllabus to the first session so that we can get right to work. At the first session, I will introduce myself and my academic and professional background. I will also explain my philosophy of tutoring, my expertise in the subject matter and my love of learning. In addition, I will emphasize that I here to help and that literally no question that the student may ask is stupid or silly.