Hi, I’m Sharon Silverman.
I am a highly experienced tutor and a retired attorney with a JD degree from UC Berkeley and two BA degrees in English Literature and Philosophy from UCLA. I am also the mother of two adult sons.
My Comprehensive Approach
I am unique in that I will teach any book based on the student’s interests, and have put together reading courses for long-term students. For instance, I recently created a reading course for middle and high school students on US history from the 1830s through WWII, using both nonfiction and fiction books. I have expert knowledge of the books that elementary through high school students should read so I can put together tailored book lists for students to choose from upon request.
Additionally, I create all my own materials that I use to teach each book and know what I want my students to learn from reading it. I have a base of set skills that I want all my students to learn, such as effectively annotating a book to access its substance and developing critical thinking and reading skills.
Within 48 hours of a session, the student receives a detailed homework email that sets out exactly what I would like the student to do before the next session. Each week, the student will have in-depth writing assignments, such as answering comprehension questions on the book or on supplemental materials I provide to better understand the book or its author. At the finish of each book, the student will complete a final writing project, such as a formal five-paragraph literary essay to creative writing based on the book, depending on the student’s individual needs.
Moreover, students will receive clear, concise guidance on how to edit their writing directly in our session and in the weekly homework email.
Every student will do a minimum of 30 minutes of vocabulary work a week through a website that allows me to assign practice vocabulary lists based on the books the student is reading or the age and grade of the student. After finishing each practice list, the student will be assigned a quiz. All the work on the vocabulary website is multiple choice, which will have the added benefit of giving your student plenty of experience on how to successfully take a standardized test, such as the SSAT, SAT, and the ACT.