I tutor all college entrance exams, including the SAT, PSAT and ACT. I offer one-on-one tutoring online via video chat or in person in the Dallas area. I am available during the week and on weekends throughout the year.
While my specialty is students with ADD/ADHD or other learning differences, I will gladly work with any student. My methods work for anyone!
Unlike the big test prep companies, I emphasize subject mastery rather than "tricks." The key to success on standardized tests is knowing the content, not gaming the test. There are no quick fixes and hard work is essential. But it works! My tutoring benefits students over the long term, not just on test day.
At the outset of tutoring, I'll develop a recommended plan of study based on a student's prior test scores (or practice test scores). We'll then spend as much time as needed on a student's weak areas. I will assign regular homework, and most of the work necessary to see real progress will happen outside of tutoring sessions. As with most things, the more work you put in, the more you'll get out.
While most students work with me for at least five sessions, I've spent as little as half an hour with a student who needed only a few specific questions answered. If you're prepping yourself, but need a bit of limited tutoring, I'm ready to help.
Most of my ADD/LD students will apply (or have already applied) for testing accommodations for the standardized tests of their choice. In many cases, little thought is put into the types of accommodations to request. Most ask for extended time, but making a long test longer isn't necessarily the best strategy for someone whose focus dissipates with fatigue!
I work closely with students and parents, doing diagnostic testing as necessary, to determine which accommodations will provide the most benefit. I am also intimately acquainted with the psychological tests administered in an accommodations evaluation. I can help you ensure that new testing meets the College Board or ACT requirements, and supports your accommodations request.
Parents want the best for their children throughout their lives. After 18 years of hard work, parents may view the college admissions process as their crowning achievement. Unfortunately, parents can unintentionally create a greater level of anxiety in their already anxious children.
Some children respond to the pressure by freezing on test day. Others shut down and refuse to prep. Still others run away at the mere mention of the SAT. I can identify adaptive ways for parents to help. I can also assist parents in coping with their own fears about college. Learning to let go a little is healthy for everyone!
In many cases, committing to a tutoring plan is unrealistic for a variety of reasons. While I try to make tutoring as affordable as possible, I realize that my services won't fit into every family's budget. To meet the needs of students who will prep on their own, I can develop a personalized study plan. This allows students to study at their own pace, without defaulting to the usual suspects and their equally suspect materials.
I base my self-prep plans on a student's previous test results, just as I do with my tutoring students. I'll then develop a course outline using official College Board or ACT materials based on a student's specific needs and the number of weeks until test day. As with tutoring, I always recommend starting early!
I'm always available to self-prep students for limited tutoring when you're stumped by a particular question. Contact me for more information.
The SAT can be overwhelming and it's easy to feel that the test is too big to conquer. I've heard "I'm a bad test taker" more times than I care to acknowledge. Students (and parents) can make the test into an epic event. It's hard to perform at your best when you feel your life is over if you don't score as high as you believe you should.
Sometimes a change of attitude is all that's needed. Getting past the anxiety and re-framing the entire college admissions process will do wonders. I can help you focus on the real priorities. Remember, there is a college out there for everyone. Set yourself up for success!