Mackenzie
Certified Tutor
I am a writer and aspiring educator currently applying to graduate programs to become a high school English teacher. I studied English and Theatre Arts at Loyola Marymount University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2014. I am an alumni member of Sigma Tau Delta, the national English Honors Society, and I was a student ambassador for the English department at my college. During school, I was able to study abroad in Madrid, Spain, where I was able to practice my Spanish while learning about another culture (I miss the paella very much). I previously worked with the San Diego Zoo’s Education department and am currently a private tutor/nanny in New York City.
Personally, I love reading almost any kind of literary fiction (though I have quite an affinity for WWII fiction). I also love to write and try to take as many different kinds of writing classes as my schedule and wallet can afford me. Aside from literary interests, I love trying any kind of new food, attempting to bake pies, and knitting anything cozy or fluffy.
I believe that through communication, we can work together to target your specific needs in English Literature/Reading/Writing, Spanish (levels I and II), and Elementary math. Learning is a very individual and personal pursuit, and I will make sure that our meetings will be geared towards you!
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Undergraduate Degree: Loyola Marymount University - Bachelors, English - Creative Writing
Reading, Literary Fiction, Writing, Theatre, Knitting, TV, Movies
- College English
- College Essays
- Comparative Literature
- Conversational Spanish
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- Homework Support
- Languages
- Literature
- Math
- Other
- Reading
- Spanish
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 2
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe strongly in open communication, empathy, and understanding between teacher and student. I will always try to understand each student's individual abilities and needs, and attempt to shape our sessions based on that information. However, I cannot do that fully unless a student is willing to tell me exactly how I can help him or her in the best way possible. Through this process, we will be able to accomplish the student's goals for success!
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
First and foremost, I want to get to know the student! What do you like to do? What are your hobbies? What subjects do you like? Why? Not like? Why? What do you think you're good at? What do you want to accomplish in our sessions? Using these questions, I'd come up with a goal for our work together and we can figure out together how to fit our sessions especially for the student.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I want to teach my students learning tools and concepts rather than simply help with specific problems or questions. By teaching larger concepts, I can give my students the tools and confidence they will need to answer the more difficult questions on their own in the future. I will make sure that once I have explained a topic (however many times it may take), the student is confident in their ability to now apply it without my help.