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English Tutor New York

Our approach to English tutoring is highly personalized- we always begin by assessing the individual’s needs, and then developing a program specifically for that person. All of our English tutors are experienced, highly qualified, and professional.

Our English tutors have a proven track record of helping struggling students achieve good grades, and helping already-successful students move to the next level. We work with students in reading comprehension, writing skills, and test preparation.

Specific areas in which we offer tutoring include:

Whether we are tutoring a child in general reading comprehension and writing skills or helping a student prep for a standardized test (such as the NYS ELA, the SAT II in Literature, the AP English Exam, or the NYS English Regents), we believe in a strategy that involves practice, expert feedback, and real development of skills to go along with a mastery of test-taking techniques. When we are teaching, we carefully analyze the strengths and weaknesses of our students so that we can tailor our tutoring to their specific needs. We can do this because our tutors are thoroughly knowledgeable about English Language Arts skills such as fiction writing, non-fiction writing, reading comprehension, grammar, and usage. Our tutors also have a thorough knowledge of all of the major standardized tests given to test students’ skills in English.

Even when we are tutoring a student for a specific standardized test in English, one of our goals is for that student to learn skills that have real value and will be useful even after the test is over. With this in mind, we encourage students to read widely, and often introduce our students to English literature that they turn out to love, but might not have encountered otherwise.

Most often, the lessons we offer take the form of one-on-one tutoring. One-on-one tutoring has the advantage of being extremely personalized. Students who receive this kind of attention often make quick progress. However, we also offer small group tutoring in English. This can be very stimulating for students because they have the opportunity to hear multiple viewpoints about the English literature that they are reading or the essays that they have written. Many parents like small group English tutoring because it is significantly more affordable than private tutoring. Small group tutoring works especially well for students preparing for exams such as the New York State English Regents, the SAT Subject test in Literature, and the AP English exams.

New York State ELA exams (grades 3-8)

The good news about the New York State English Language Arts tests given to 3rd through 8th graders is that they test real skills. The best way to prepare for them is to read copiously and write often. Regular, thoughtful (and thought-provoking) feedback is also very helpful for students who are preparing for their NYS ELA test, especially when it comes to developing their writing skills.

At New York Academics, our approach to helping children prepare for their NYS ELA test is simple, sane, and effective. We evaluate our students to find out where their strengths and weakness are, and then we work with them to strengthen their skills. The ELA tests are not particularly “tricky” and our instruction reflects this: we don’t spend hours and hours drilling students in test-taking methods. Instead, we help them develop real skills that will serve them well on the test and in life. Having said that, we do make sure that our students fully understand the format of the NYS ELA test and what will be expected of them.

Families often want to know what the stakes are for their child when he or she takes the New York State ELA test. The politics around this test are intense and the practical meaning for students is therefore prone to change, however as of January 2010, students in 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades can expect to be held back if they score a 1 on their ELA test (http://schools.nyc.gov/Accountability/PromotionPolicy/default.htm). In addition, these tests can affect the school choices that are available to them when they apply to middle and high schools. For example, 5th graders must achieve a score in approximately the top 10th percentile on this test and the state math test in order to be eligible to take the Hunter College High School entrance exam.

Tutoring for the SAT Subject Test in Literature

The SAT Subject Test in Literature (formerly the SAT II: Literature) is designed to assess advanced reading comprehension and literary analysis skills. Fundamentally, the best preparation for this test is to read a wide variety of challenging literature over a long period of time. However, there are a variety of ways that we work with students to help them improve their scores.

The SAT Subject Test in Literature is about 50% prose and 50% poetry (there may also be a small amount of drama). Many students are rarely exposed to poetry, and for that reason can often have difficulty understanding and analyzing sophisticated poems. When appropriate, we provide intensive instruction in poetry.

Other students struggle with the literary analysis aspect of the SAT Subject Test in Literature. Our tutors work with students to help them develop the specific vocabulary and skills to answer questions relating to diction, syntax, tone, imagery, characterization and theme.

Without doubt, having strong reading comprehension and literary analysis skills is the most important step towards achieving a high score on the SAT Subject Test in Literature. However, test taking skills are often important. Our English tutors work with our students to hone these skills and also make sure that students get plenty of practice taking sample SAT Subject Literature tests.

Tutoring for the AP English Language and Composition Test

The AP English Language and Composition Test is intended to measure whether or not students have mastered reading comprehension and writing at a level expected of first-year college students. The test is a mix of sophisticated, multiple-choice reading comprehension and essay questions based both on passages provided in the test and on literature that the student has previously read. In contrast with the AP English Literature and Composition test, this test emphasizes non-fiction.

The College Board states that the goal of the AP English Language and Composition is to “… enable students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers.” With that in mind, students who are preparing for this test should be reading a wide variety of literature, especially serious non-fiction forms such as journalism, science writing, analysis of historical events, and biographies.

Our English tutors see each one of our students as an individual and works with him or her on precisely the areas where there is the most room for improvement. This can mean reading and analyzing works of non-fiction literature with the student, guiding the student in essay writing, or teaching the student to identify, understand, and use literary devices. Of course, our tutors also make sure that students are thoroughly familiar with the format of the AP exam and know how to most effectively take the test and score well on it.

Tutoring for the AP English Literature and Composition Test

The AP English Literature and Composition Test is intended to measure whether or not students have mastered reading comprehension and writing at a level expected of first-year college students. The test is a mix of sophisticated, multiple-choice reading comprehension and essay questions based both on passages provided in the test and on literature that the student has previously read. In contrast with the AP English Language and Composition test, this test emphasizes fiction.

The College Board states that the goal of the AP English Literature and Composition is to “… enable students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers.” With that in mind, students who are preparing for this test should be reading a wide variety of literature, especially classics and serious literature and they should be writing, editing, and drafting essays and papers.

Our English tutors see each one of our students as an individual and works with him or her on precisely the areas where there is the most room for improvement. This can mean reading and analyzing literary novels with the student, guiding the student in essay writing, or teaching the student to identify, understand, and use literary devices. Of course, our tutors also make sure that students are thoroughly familiar with the format of the AP exam and know how to most effectively take the test and score well on it.

English for Homeschoolers

Homeschooling is most clearly characterized by diversity. We work with homeschool families in a variety of ways: we can provide a student’s entire English curriculum in a one-on-one setting, we can design a supplemental class specifically to meet a particular student’s interests, and we can work with co-ops or groups of students to create book clubs, writing classes, or test preparation classes for small groups. For more information about our offerings for homeschoolers, you may wish to visit our homeschool pages.

English Tutoring for Reading Comprehension

There are many reasons why a child may have trouble with reading comprehension. In our experience, one of the most common is also one of the simplest: lack of practice. Since reading every day is absolutely critical for students who wish to improve their reading comprehension skills, we select reading material that even reluctant readers can be enthusiastic about. Since practice alone isn’t enough, especially once a child has begun to struggle and fall behind, we also use guided discussions, shared reading, and other techniques to teach specific reading strategies and support students as they read material that is just a little bit harder than what they can manage on their own.

When students struggle with reading comprehension, it can be emotionally difficult for both students and parents. Our English tutors recognize this and combine high standards and expectations with patience and compassion.

English Tutoring for Writing Skills

The most effective way to learn to write well is to combine practice with prompt, high-quality feedback. For this reason, our English tutors make sure that our writing students are always writing and we provide constructive, individualized criticism and advice.

When we teach writing, we teach fundamental structures (such as the five-paragraph essay) but we also encourage our students to think creatively and to write in ways that are not only clear but also engaging, persuasive, and elegant. We emphasize the importance of working through multiple drafts and teach self-editing techniques so that our students are eventually able to write well independently. Of course, when we work with students who are specifically preparing for a standardized-test with writing on it, our approach is slightly different, because drafting is not possible in that context and too much creativity may not be rewarded.

Although our focus is always on the big picture (i.e., is the writing compelling, logical, and persuasive?) we teach grammar, spelling, and punctuation whenever necessary.

English Tutoring for Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation

A mastery of grammar, punctuation, and spelling is important for anyone who wishes to be taken seriously as a student or a professional. Our tutors address writing mechanics whenever our students show a weakness in this area. We can also arrange a tutoring program in which students focus on writing mechanics and explicitly learn rules of grammar and usage.

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English Tutor Ney York - available for those living in and around Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx

For more information about preparing for specific standardized tests, please go to our "Test Prep" section.

 

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