EXPERIENCE SAVAGE STUDY SKILLS

Home: Welcome

FALLING BEHIND IN SCHOOL?

Sometimes, having someone other than the parent or teacher take a fresh, unbiased approach to the academic situation is just what a student needs to rediscover the fun in learning and the motivation to succeed. With decades of experience teaching and mentoring adults and kids in classroom, home-learning, university and athletic settings, I have developed the skills and instincts that I can bring to your individual situation and help get things back on track. While I am comfortable tutoring in most subjects and at most grade levels, my emphasis is on helping the student discover how they learn best and to help assemble a toolbox of study skills they can apply to any or all of their subjects, now and in the future.

Home: About Me

TEACHING AND EMPOWERING IS MY PASSION!

I have had many opportunities to serve others as an instructor and mentor in a variety of settings, beginning with five years of teaching undergraduates in the Psychology Department at Virginia Tech, where I pursued my PhD in Developmental Psychobiology.

While raising our three boys, we explored different options to find the best educational experiences for their unique and evolving academic needs. Collectively, our family has experienced the joys and challenges of private school, public school, cyber charter school, homeschooling, college, and graduate school. During our homeschooling years, I taught a variety of study skills, writing, and science courses at our kids' homeschool co-op. When they were in brick-and-mortar school, I frequently worked as a CAIU substitute teacher in various local school districts.

For the last 13+ years, I conducted academic and IQ testing in a local neuropsychology office, where one of our specialties is assessing ADHD and learning issues in children and young adults. Two of my own boys have struggled with ADD / ADHD / dyslexia, so I have decades of direct experience with these learning differences.

Outside of school and work, I have spent the last 10 years teaching adults and children self-defense and bullyproofing skills based in both Korean-style martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / Judo. I currently hold a 2nd degree black belt in Jung Sim Do and a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu.

TEST PREP

Many students have anxiety when it comes to test-taking. Feeling truly prepared can alleviate some of the stress associated with this aspect of school. My goal is to work with students to identify problem areas and work in positive, constructive ways to plan ahead, break tasks down into manageable chunks, and practice skills and memory techniques to achieve test success and build overall confidence. I am also ready and able to help with standardized test prep for everything from the GED to the GMAT.

PLANNING AND TIME MANAGEMENT

When students are young, natural ability alone is often enough for them to earn good grades in school. However, making the transition to higher grades and more challenging material can be a struggle for even the most gifted student if they haven't had the opportunity to develop time budgeting skills. My focus is on empowering students to come up with a plan and a study routine that works for their individual needs.

ACCOUNTABILITY

In my role as a tutor and learning coach, I am able to provide an additional level of accountability for the student, taking some of the pressure off of what can sometimes be a stressful parent-child or teacher-student relationship. With tools provided to me by the school, and with your permission, I have the ability to keep up with what is being covered in the student's classes, fluctuations in their grades, and upcoming projects and assignments. I have most of the High School textbooks and other resources on hand so I can follow along and troubleshoot the lessons as needed.

Home: Services

Learning is a way of life, and opportunities to learn can be found everywhere. Even a student's least-favorite subject can serve as an opportunity to develop skills they can use in future endeavors. Although we may be working on a lesson in math, reading, science, or writing, my goal is to discover each student's unique blend of interests and strengths and to guide them in collecting and mastering a toolbox of academic skills they can apply to any situation.