I created Margin Notes Tutoring Services to provide students with the kind of individualized attention that is not always possible in a busy classroom.
As an experienced English Language Arts educator with a Ph.D., I have spent my career helping students strengthen their reading comprehension, writing, literary analysis, grammar, and critical-thinking skills. I understand that students struggle for various reasons; while one student may have insightful ideas but difficulty organizing them, another may need help understanding a text, using evidence, or expressing ideas clearly.
My approach begins with identifying what each student already does well and determining which specific skills need further development. From there, I provide focused instruction, guided practice, constructive feedback, and strategies students can use independently.
I believe effective tutoring should do more than help a student finish a single assignment or do well on a single assessment. It should help the student understand the process, build confidence, and develop skills that transfer to future academic work and beyond.
Through Margin Notes, I offer a supportive environment where students can ask questions, take intellectual risks, and make meaningful progress without feeling rushed or judged.
MY APPROACH
Personalized
Each session is designed around the student’s current skills, assignments, and goals.
Supportive
Students receive patient, encouraging guidance while still being challenged to grow.
Skill-Based
Sessions focus on transferable reading and writing strategies—not simply completing an assignment.
Collaborative
Students remain active participants in the process so that their work continues to reflect their own ideas and voices.
AREAS OF SUPPORT
• Reading comprehension and close reading
• Literary analysis
• Academic and analytical writing
• Essay planning, drafting, and revision
• Grammar, sentence structure, and proofreading
• Test preparation for a specific course
• College and personal essays
• Organization and academic confidence
MORE ABOUT ME
While earning—and after completing—a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, I taught English Literature and Composition courses at two- and four-year colleges. I moved with my family to Rhode Island so that my husband could continue working as a postdoctoral researcher in Geological Sciences at Brown University, where he remains a researcher.
Because I was working as an adjunct instructor while completing my dissertation, we struggled financially, and I knew I needed to make a change that would provide greater stability. I decided to pursue the opportunity to teach at the high school level, and I continue to teach at a high school in Massachusetts.
Teaching in Massachusetts has given me the opportunity to work with students who have widely different learning goals and skill levels. While many students are eager and high-performing, others struggle to process, comprehend, and communicate their understanding of the material. Consequently, I have significant experience differentiating guidance and instruction.
In addition, one of my children has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD, so I personally understand the perspective of a parent who witnesses their child struggle but is unsure how to help them make progress and succeed.
I have twins who currently attend universities in Rhode Island and Chicago, and I have three dogs—two Golden Retrievers and a Labrador Retriever—who take me on long walks every morning and ensure that I stay active. I am also an avid runner and a recreational pickleball player.
Contact Margin Notes: https://thewritemindset.org/contact/
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