tutoring
About Me:
I have been tutoring high school and college students for over 20 years in math, writing/reading, German and SAT/ACT test prep. In addition to my tutoring experience, I also have over 10 years of college teaching experience teaching Communication Studies classes (critical media studies, writing, video production). I have taught at Pine Manor College, Temple University, Drexel University, Arcadia University and Ursinus College, and I was fortunate to have also taught on Semester at Sea as a Visiting Lecturer of Communication where I had the opportunity to travel around the world teaching communication classes.
When I took the SATs in high school, I scored in the 94th percentile in the Verbal section and in the 96th percentile in Math, and these scores qualified me for membership in Mensa. Luckily, my scores on the SAT were also high enough to earn me a full academic scholarship to Ursinus College where I completed an English and Communication double major with a minor in German (I briefly toyed with the idea of majoring in math, but I found that I enjoyed my literature and language classes more so I pursued that instead). I graduated from Ursinus with the honors of Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude. After I graduated from college, I completed my M.F.A. in Film and Electronic Media at American University and my Ph.D. coursework in Mass Media and Communication at Temple University. I also completed an International Diploma in English Language Teaching.
If you are interested in learning more about me, my Linkedin.com profile can be viewed at: www.linkedin.com/in/jenmintzer.
Tutoring Approach/Teaching Style:
I approach tutoring realizing that each person's learning style is different, and I try to tailor my approach to each student's needs as best I can. In general, I always stress to students that any mistakes they make are useful and that making mistakes helps them learn/improve. I also always encourage students to tell me if they still don't "get" something even if we've gone over it a few times because that just means I need to take a different approach in order for a concept to make sense to them. All in all, I think my overall approach/temperament lends itself well to tutoring, and past student evaluations have have described me as "encouraging,” “approachable,” “knowledgeable,” “well prepared,” “understanding,” “organized,” "easygoing" and "helpful" (links to my teaching evaluations are available here). Regardless of past evaluations, each person ultimately need to find a tutor that is the right fit for him/her. A lot of students find that I'm a good match for them, but if not, they are never locked in to a certain amount of hours of tutoring.
I realize that preparing to apply to college and taking the SAT/ACT can be stressful and emotionally-charged to a degree so I try to just put things into perspective for kids and encourage them to do the best they can. From my observations as a tutor, a majority of students experience a rise in test scores by practicing as much as possible prior to the exam (working with a tutor in addition to practicing outside of tutoring sessions). Practice in tutoring sessions obviously helps reduce test anxiety for many people and helps train students to recognize common pitfalls or tricks that they might encounter on the actual exam. For me, raising my SAT score to a certain level helped me earn a full academic scholarship to college, and I hope to be able to help students make themselves as competitive as possible for consideration of those financial benefits as well.
My experience as a college professor and academic advisor gives me the ability to address questions that students might have about entering college as a freshman and what to expect as a new college student. Past students have told me that it's been reassuring to have the perspective of a someone who has taught at a college to know what college professors expect of them as a student (and how that differs from their high school experience) and what college admissions staff look for in college applications in general. I'm always happy to help and provide guidance in that regard in whatever way I can throughout tutoring sessions.
What is expected of students:
I ask that students from whom tutoring is requested actually WANT to be tutored. If the parent wants a student to be tutored but the student has zero interest in being there, there's not a ton I can do to combat that disinterest. There has to be some degree of investment on the part of the student to want to be tutored and to want to try to improve. This includes a willingness to complete some homework outside of tutoring sessions at times so that we can effectively use tutoring meetings to pinpoint what types of questions tend to trip a student up.
Contact:
If you are interested in being tutored or having your child tutored, please contact me at jen.mintzer@gmail.com.
Tutoring subjects offered:
- SAT test prep
- ACT test prep
- PSAT test prep
- Pre-algebra
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Reading
- Writing Skills
- Vocabulary
- Public Speaking
- German
- Video Production
- ESL (I am available for English language conversation via Skype as well for people from further away)
Materials required for SAT test prep (students must have this in-hand for the first tutoring session):
The Official SAT Study Guide, ISBN: 0874478529
Materials required for ACT test prep (students must have this in-hand for the first tutoring session):
The Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd edition, ISBN: 076893432X
Rate: $80 an hour
Methods of payment accepted: Cash, check or credit card (Paypal payments can be made as well to jen.mintzer@gmail.com); payment is expected at the end of each tutoring session
Tutoring location: I can either come to a student's home or meet a student at a nearby library. I currently serve the Philadelphia suburbs - specifically the Bucks County and Montgomery County areas of Pennsylvania as well as the Main Line area. I am also available to tutor via Skype if needed.
Length of session:
For SAT/ACT test prep, 1.5-2 hour sessions are recommended with at least one or two sessions per week. Ideally, students should begin tutoring 8-12 weeks prior to the date they aim to take the test. For other subjects, 1-2 hour sessions per week are recommended.
Cancellation policy: I require at least 12 hours notice for cancellation. If 12 hours notice is not given, payment is still required.
School Districts Served:
Bucks County: Bensalem Township School District, Bristol Boro School District, Bristol Township School District, Easton Area School District, Council Rock School District, Centennial School District, Central Bucks School District, Morrisville Boro School District, Neshaminy School District, New Hope-Solebury School District, Palisades School District, Pennridge School District, Pennsbury School District, Quakertown Community School District, Souderton Area School District
Montgomery County: Abington School District, Boyertown School District, Cheltenham School District, Colonial School District, Hatboro-Horsham School District, Lower Merion School District, Lower Moreland School District, Methacton School District, Norristown School District, North Penn School District, Perkiomen Valley School District, Pottsgrove School District, Pottstown School District, Souderton School District, Spring Ford School District, Springfield School District, Upper Dublin School District, Upper Merion School District, Upper Moreland School District, Upper Perkiomen School District, Wissahickon School District
Main Line: Lower Merion School District, Radnor Township School District, Haverford Township School District, Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, Great Valley School District
High Schools Served:
Bucks County: Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, Central Bucks East High School, Central Bucks South High School, Central Bucks West High School, Council Rock High School North, Council Rock High School South, Bensalem Township High School, Bristol High School, Bucks County Technical High School, Buxmont Academy, George School, Holy Ghost Preparatory School, Morrisville Senior High School, Neshaminy High School, New Hope-Solebury High School, Palisades High School, Pennridge High School, Pennsbury High School, Plumstead Christian School, Quakertown Community High School, Solebury School, William Tennent High School, Harry S Truman High School, Villa Joseph Marie High School
Montgomery County: Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School, Lansdale Catholic High School, Bishop McDevitt High School, St. Pius X High School, Abington Friends School, Abington Senior High School, The Academy of the New Church, AIM Academy, Akiba Hebrew Academy, The Baldwin School, Cheltenham High School, Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, Episcopal Academy, Friends' Central School, Germantown Academy, Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Harriton High School, Hatboro-Horsham High School, The Hill School, The Haverford School, Jenkintown High School, Lakeside School, La Salle College High School, Lincoln Academy, Lower Merion High School, Merion Mercy Academy, Methacton High School, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Norristown Area High School, North Penn High School, The Perkiomen School, Perkiomen Valley High School, Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy, Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, Pottsgrove High School, Pottstown High School, St. Basil Academy, The Shipley School, Souderton Area High School, Springfield Township High School, Spring-Ford High School, Upper Dublin High School, Upper Dublin High School, Upper Merion Area High School, Upper Moreland High School, Upper Perkiomen High School, Valley Forge Baptist Academy, Wissahickon High School
Main Line: Conestoga High School, Great Valley High School, Harriton High School, Haverford High School, Lower Merion High School, Radnor High School, The Haverford School, Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Agnes Irwin School, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, Baldwin School, Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Delaware Valley Friends School, Devon Preparatory School, Episcopal Academy, Friends' Central School, Malvern Preparatory School, Merion Mercy Academy, The Shipley School, Valley Forge Military Academy, Villa Maria Academy, Archbishop John Carroll High School
Towns Served:
Bucks County: Bedminster, PA; Bensalem, PA; Blooming Glen, PA; Bristol, PA; Buckingham, PA; Carversville, PA; Chalfont, PA; Croydon, PA; Danboro, PA; Doylestown, PA; Dublin, PA; Durham, PA; Erwinna, PA; Fairless Hills, PA; Feasterville, PA; Ferndale, PA; Forest Grove, PA; Fort Washington, PA; Fountainville, PA; Furlong, PA; Gardenville, PA; Hilltown, PA; Holicong, PA; Jamison, PA; Kintnersville, PA; Lahaska, PA; Langhorne, PA; Levittown, PA; Line Lexington, PA; Lumberville, PA; Mechanicsville, PA; Milford Square, PA; Morrisville, PA; New Hope, PA; Newtown, PA; Ottsville, PA; Penns Park, PA; Perkasie, PA; Pineville, PA; Pipersville, PA; Plumsteadville, PA; Point Pleasant, PA; Quakertown, PA; Revere, PA; Richboro, PA; Richlandtown, PA; Riegelsville, PA; Rushland, PA; Sellersville, PA; Silverdale, PA; Solebury, PA; Southampton, PA; Spinnerstown, PA; Springtown, PA; Trevose, PA; Trumbauersville, PA; Upper Black Eddy, PA; Warminster, PA; Warrington, PA; Washington Crossing, PA; Wycombe, PA; Zionhill, PA
Montgomery County: Abington, PA; Ambler, PA; Arcola, PA; Audubon, PA; Bala Cynwyd, PA; Blue Bell, PA; Bridgeport, PA; Bryn Athyn, PA; Cedars, PA; Cheltenham, PA; Collegeville, PA; Colmar, PA; Conshohocken, PA; Creamery, PA; Dresher, PA; Eagleville, PA; Earlington, PA; East Greenville, PA; Elkins Park, PA; Fairview Village, PA; Flourtown, PA; Fort Washington, PA; Franconia, PA; Frederick, PA; Gilbertsville, PA; Gladwyne, PA; Glenside, PA; Green Lane, PA; Gwynedd, PA; Gwynedd Valley, PA; Harleysville, PA; Hatboro, PA, Hatfield, PA; Haverford, PA; Horsham, PA; Huntingdon Valley, PA; Jenkintown, PA; King of Prussia, PA; Kulpsville, PA; Lafayette Hill, PA; Lansdale, PA; Lederach, PA; Mainland, PA; Merion Station, PA; Mont Clare, PA; Montgomeryville, PA; Narberth, PA; Norristown, PA; North Wales, PA; Oaks, PA; Oreland, PA; Pennsburg, PA; Perkiomenville, PA; Plymouth Meeting, PA; Pottstown, PA; Red Hill, PA; Royersford, PA; Salford, PA; Salfordville, PA; Sassamansville, PA; Schwenksville, PA; Skippack, PA; Souderton, PA; Spring House, PA; Spring Mount, PA; Sumneytown, PA; Telford, PA; Tylersport, PA; Valley Forge, PA; West Point, PA; Willow Grove, PA; Worcester, PA; Woxall, PA; Wyncote, PA; Wynnewood, PA; Zieglerville, PA
Main Line: Ardmore, PA; Bryn Mawr, PA; Rosemont, PA; Garrett Hill, PA; Haverford, PA; Merion, PA; Narberth, PA; Penn Valley, PA; Villanova, PA; Wayne, PA; Radnor, PA; St. Davids, PA; Strafford, PA; Chesterbrook, PA; Wynnewood, PA; Penn Wynne, PA; Paoli, PA; Berwyn, PA; Devon, PA; Malvern, PA; Frazer, PA
Bucks County: Bensalem Township School District, Bristol Boro School District, Bristol Township School District, Easton Area School District, Council Rock School District, Centennial School District, Central Bucks School District, Morrisville Boro School District, Neshaminy School District, New Hope-Solebury School District, Palisades School District, Pennridge School District, Pennsbury School District, Quakertown Community School District, Souderton Area School District
Montgomery County: Abington School District, Boyertown School District, Cheltenham School District, Colonial School District, Hatboro-Horsham School District, Lower Merion School District, Lower Moreland School District, Methacton School District, Norristown School District, North Penn School District, Perkiomen Valley School District, Pottsgrove School District, Pottstown School District, Souderton School District, Spring Ford School District, Springfield School District, Upper Dublin School District, Upper Merion School District, Upper Moreland School District, Upper Perkiomen School District, Wissahickon School District
Main Line: Lower Merion School District, Radnor Township School District, Haverford Township School District, Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, Great Valley School District
High Schools Served:
Bucks County: Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, Central Bucks East High School, Central Bucks South High School, Central Bucks West High School, Council Rock High School North, Council Rock High School South, Bensalem Township High School, Bristol High School, Bucks County Technical High School, Buxmont Academy, George School, Holy Ghost Preparatory School, Morrisville Senior High School, Neshaminy High School, New Hope-Solebury High School, Palisades High School, Pennridge High School, Pennsbury High School, Plumstead Christian School, Quakertown Community High School, Solebury School, William Tennent High School, Harry S Truman High School, Villa Joseph Marie High School
Montgomery County: Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School, Lansdale Catholic High School, Bishop McDevitt High School, St. Pius X High School, Abington Friends School, Abington Senior High School, The Academy of the New Church, AIM Academy, Akiba Hebrew Academy, The Baldwin School, Cheltenham High School, Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, Episcopal Academy, Friends' Central School, Germantown Academy, Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Harriton High School, Hatboro-Horsham High School, The Hill School, The Haverford School, Jenkintown High School, Lakeside School, La Salle College High School, Lincoln Academy, Lower Merion High School, Merion Mercy Academy, Methacton High School, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Norristown Area High School, North Penn High School, The Perkiomen School, Perkiomen Valley High School, Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy, Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, Pottsgrove High School, Pottstown High School, St. Basil Academy, The Shipley School, Souderton Area High School, Springfield Township High School, Spring-Ford High School, Upper Dublin High School, Upper Dublin High School, Upper Merion Area High School, Upper Moreland High School, Upper Perkiomen High School, Valley Forge Baptist Academy, Wissahickon High School
Main Line: Conestoga High School, Great Valley High School, Harriton High School, Haverford High School, Lower Merion High School, Radnor High School, The Haverford School, Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Agnes Irwin School, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, Baldwin School, Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Delaware Valley Friends School, Devon Preparatory School, Episcopal Academy, Friends' Central School, Malvern Preparatory School, Merion Mercy Academy, The Shipley School, Valley Forge Military Academy, Villa Maria Academy, Archbishop John Carroll High School
Towns Served:
Bucks County: Bedminster, PA; Bensalem, PA; Blooming Glen, PA; Bristol, PA; Buckingham, PA; Carversville, PA; Chalfont, PA; Croydon, PA; Danboro, PA; Doylestown, PA; Dublin, PA; Durham, PA; Erwinna, PA; Fairless Hills, PA; Feasterville, PA; Ferndale, PA; Forest Grove, PA; Fort Washington, PA; Fountainville, PA; Furlong, PA; Gardenville, PA; Hilltown, PA; Holicong, PA; Jamison, PA; Kintnersville, PA; Lahaska, PA; Langhorne, PA; Levittown, PA; Line Lexington, PA; Lumberville, PA; Mechanicsville, PA; Milford Square, PA; Morrisville, PA; New Hope, PA; Newtown, PA; Ottsville, PA; Penns Park, PA; Perkasie, PA; Pineville, PA; Pipersville, PA; Plumsteadville, PA; Point Pleasant, PA; Quakertown, PA; Revere, PA; Richboro, PA; Richlandtown, PA; Riegelsville, PA; Rushland, PA; Sellersville, PA; Silverdale, PA; Solebury, PA; Southampton, PA; Spinnerstown, PA; Springtown, PA; Trevose, PA; Trumbauersville, PA; Upper Black Eddy, PA; Warminster, PA; Warrington, PA; Washington Crossing, PA; Wycombe, PA; Zionhill, PA
Montgomery County: Abington, PA; Ambler, PA; Arcola, PA; Audubon, PA; Bala Cynwyd, PA; Blue Bell, PA; Bridgeport, PA; Bryn Athyn, PA; Cedars, PA; Cheltenham, PA; Collegeville, PA; Colmar, PA; Conshohocken, PA; Creamery, PA; Dresher, PA; Eagleville, PA; Earlington, PA; East Greenville, PA; Elkins Park, PA; Fairview Village, PA; Flourtown, PA; Fort Washington, PA; Franconia, PA; Frederick, PA; Gilbertsville, PA; Gladwyne, PA; Glenside, PA; Green Lane, PA; Gwynedd, PA; Gwynedd Valley, PA; Harleysville, PA; Hatboro, PA, Hatfield, PA; Haverford, PA; Horsham, PA; Huntingdon Valley, PA; Jenkintown, PA; King of Prussia, PA; Kulpsville, PA; Lafayette Hill, PA; Lansdale, PA; Lederach, PA; Mainland, PA; Merion Station, PA; Mont Clare, PA; Montgomeryville, PA; Narberth, PA; Norristown, PA; North Wales, PA; Oaks, PA; Oreland, PA; Pennsburg, PA; Perkiomenville, PA; Plymouth Meeting, PA; Pottstown, PA; Red Hill, PA; Royersford, PA; Salford, PA; Salfordville, PA; Sassamansville, PA; Schwenksville, PA; Skippack, PA; Souderton, PA; Spring House, PA; Spring Mount, PA; Sumneytown, PA; Telford, PA; Tylersport, PA; Valley Forge, PA; West Point, PA; Willow Grove, PA; Worcester, PA; Woxall, PA; Wyncote, PA; Wynnewood, PA; Zieglerville, PA
Main Line: Ardmore, PA; Bryn Mawr, PA; Rosemont, PA; Garrett Hill, PA; Haverford, PA; Merion, PA; Narberth, PA; Penn Valley, PA; Villanova, PA; Wayne, PA; Radnor, PA; St. Davids, PA; Strafford, PA; Chesterbrook, PA; Wynnewood, PA; Penn Wynne, PA; Paoli, PA; Berwyn, PA; Devon, PA; Malvern, PA; Frazer, PA
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