6+ Years of Experience Teaching 9th Grade English

I have taught 9th Grade English for 6 years at the best schools in Austin: IDEA Rundberg College Prepatory (ranked #3 by U.S. News) and McCallum High School (ranked #16 by U.S. News). My main objective has been to help students feel prepared for the English 1 STAAR, which is one of the standardized tests that students in Texas must pass in order to graduate. I have mastered how to strengthen students' reading stamina, their problem solving when approaching multiple choice questions, their understanding of grammar, and their ability to outline, write, and revise a strong 4-5 paragraph essay. These skills are necessary for them to succeed throughout their high school careers.

My favorite part of being a teacher is getting to talk with students about their feelings, what their opinions are, and especially WHY they have these thoughts. Now that I'm transitioning towards becoming a therapist, I have ample time to support students 1-on-1 with these skills that I have become an expert on during my teaching career. I really look forward to working with your teenager to help them feel more confident as a ninth grader navigating the complexities of high school!

What to expect during a tutoring session:

-Once you've scheduled a session, you will receive an email with a google calendar invite. Make sure to save this email because this is where you will find the Google Meet link for our session.

-In the calendar invite, I also share a Tutoring Confirmation Form. Please complete the Tutoring Confirmation Form within 24 hours. If you do not complete this form, I will ask you to complete it at the beginning of our session.

-At the time of the session, you will follow the Google Meet link and join the meeting.

-Your parents are welcome at the first session, but not required. This tutoring is for YOU, so whatever feels best for you is what I recommend.

-First, we will all introduce ourselves. My hope is that my presence will help you feel at ease. This is not meant to be scary or intimidating, my goal is to support you however you need it!

-I will ask you questions about your current experience in English class, and you will show me any coursework that is relevant as well as your current grade in your English class. 

-If you opted for Tier 2, I will also ask you questions about your other courses, your high school experience so far, how you like to learn, and your work ethic. Then you will show me coursework and grades for other classes. 

-If you opted for Tier 3, I will also ask you questions about your friends, family, peers, teachers, administrators, coaches, and other relationships. You can show me any information you have from the school if you have any.

-After gathering enough information, I will suggest ideas for how I can support you. If you disagree, we can work together to figure out what will work. When you agree, we can begin working.

-5 minutes before the end of the session, I will give suggestions for what you can do going forward or until our next session.

-At the end of the session, I will share my Venmo information for payment and if you would like to continue seeing me, we can schedule our next session.

Why should I care if my 9th grader passes the English 1 STAAR?

Plenty of reasons!

• Students need to pass the English 1 STAAR in order to graduate from high school

• Students who don't pass the English 1 STAAR might...

  • lack age-appropriate language, reading, and/or writing skills

  • not care about their own success in life

  • be underprepared to manage the severe anxiety of test-taking

• The exam tests important communication and relationship skills (like reading, writing, and inferring) that will indicate their ability to succeed in their life beyond school

Read more here.

Who is this tutoring for?

I work with ninth grade students who are:

• Anxious about taking tests, writing essays, or answering questions

• Trying to do their work perfectly before submitting anything

• Struggling to keep up with the demanding work load

• Receiving parent contact from teachers about behaviors

• Getting lower grades than expected on their progress reports and report cards

• Refusing to tell their parents what is going on at school

• Staying up late because they keep procrastinating or forgetting deadlines

• Defending their grades by saying their teacher hasn't updated grades yet

• Melting down when asked about their schoolwork

• Doing fine grade-wise, but struggling with friends

• Worried their teacher doesn't like them

You can also follow me on Instagram!