Melanie

Over the course of 35+ years, I have taught all subjects within elementary and middle school, as well as math, science, and technical writing to high school students. 20+ years of my experience were at a private school, the rest were either as an in-person homeschool tutor or an online tutor. I have a bachelor's degree in psychology, and a master's degree in educational leadership, finishing off my professional career as the head of a private school.

Tutoring Style

Working in different settings, with learners who ranged from having some learning disabilities to those who were advanced in subjects, has given me a wide range of experiences to draw from in my tutoring, and enables me to successfully tutor students with various needs and abilities. While I have taught and tutored in almost all subjects, my strengths lie in math, sciences, and technical writing/language arts (ELA).

I begin working with new students using a fairly structured format, but quickly tailor that to meet students where they are, continuing on with lesson plans and techniques that are geared specifically to each student. Knowing that it is important for students to be strong in their understanding of concepts and skills before moving on to more complex, or new material, I frequently review materials until the student shows a high level of mastery.

Success Story

Math:

A nursing student was having difficulty with understanding how to make math calculations regarding concentrations and dosages. We worked together over the course of a few sessions, and she was able to master the concepts, and successfully apply the knowledge in her education. This enabled her to move forward in her career in nursing school, and then into the professional field.

Science:

A homeschooling high schooler was working his way through an online chemistry program. Although he was progressing, he found some of the concepts difficult to understand via the online textbook and videos. When he came up against a difficult concept, we would schedule a session (or more if needed) to go over the concepts. I found various activities/videos/ ways of explaining the concepts that he could connect with, enabling him to complete the textbook portion of his credit with success.

ELA:

One freshman came to me with a severe learning deficit in reading, as during the time when students are strengthening their reading skills, he had been out of school on a regular basis for a few years due to health issues. By focusing on the basic skills, and finding reading material at his ability level that also connected with his age and interests, we were able to bring his reading level up to grade level within one year of tutoring - an approximately 5-year ability improvement.

Hobbies & Interests

I am from a rural area, enjoy the outdoors, and have had many types of pets over the years. Music is a major component of my life, and I use my ability and interest to play at a local nursing home for both a regularly schedule church service and a general time of singing. I love to read, and to do various types of crafts.