High school students are normally over-scheduled and short of time so most do not want supplemental work to do in our sessions. My usual assistance involves reading whatever is assigned in class so that I can provide a clear explanation of the importance and relevance of the book and its author to the student. This is important because high school teachers rarely present this crucial information in the classroom. I am also prepared to help the student with all writing assignments. These students, if needed, will also receive in-depth guidance on how to write each part of a 5-paragraph essay, including how to insert and use quotes as evidence to support their thesis and how to write an effective conclusion.

Of course, if the student wants supplemental work, I can recommend appropriate reading in whatever genre is of interest to the student, and create tailored teaching materials based on the student’s needs. 

My goal is to get to know each student on a personal level to facilitate our discussions of the complex ideas and emotional content in literature read in high school.