Preston P.
Private tutor in Smiths Falls, Canada
Education
I have a MA in Economics and BS in Finance from the University of Edinburgh. I also have a MSC/MBA in Finance and Business from the London school of Economics. I also have a degree from the prestigious Groton Academy. I graduated with honors in both my undergraduate and graduate studies and also studied languages at Harvard University.
Experience
I STRUGGLED IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. Then, my parents found me an SAT tutor and my life changed. My tutor didn't just lecture me. He taught me to think clearly, accurately and efficiently. Learning became fun and exciting. My tutor helped me to develop skills that allowed me not only to master standardized tests but also to succeed in school and life. Getting into the prestigious Groton Academy was a significant turning point in my life. Now, I help my students get accepted to their dream schools. I specialize in the SSAT and SAT. I also tutor K-12 math, English and writing. I'm excited to help others take ownership of their future. My approach to math is to engage my students. My tutor taught me how to think clearly, efficiently and accurately. I was able to develop mental math concepts that I teach to my students to find the simple elegant solution rather than a trial and error, brute force approach. I don't just lecture the material. I use the Socratic method. This means that I engage my students by asking questions and guiding the student to realizing important points. These eureka moments increases understanding and retention. I liken it to being a good physical trainer who guides a trainee through a series of heavy lifting exercises. In this case, I guide my students through a mental workout and strengthen their ability to think. My approach to English is to engage the student in exercises that will promote understanding in what is being read. I also approach grammar in a step by step method that allows my students to grasp basic grammar concepts. Vocabulary training is fun and interactive. Students hate to memorize. I get my students to learn and use new vocabulary through conversations that give my students a real feel for the words. For the SSAT, I bring both patience and simplicity. Younger students have shorter attention spans and can also be less self-motivated. In my experience, SSAT preparation needs to keep this in mind. I tailor the lesson to the students abilities including his or her attention span. I have developed different approaches to mental math, grammar and reading exercises depending on the level and age of the student. I started to tutor students for the SAT and SSAT while in London. When I returned to NYC, I started to tutor students here. I have been tutoring students for the SAT and SSAT for well over 5 years.
Subject Expertise
10th Grade, 10th Grade math, 10th Grade Reading, 10th Grade Writing, 11th Grade, 11th Grade math, 11th Grade Reading, 11th Grade Writing, 12th Grade, 12th Grade math, 12th Grade Reading, 1st Grade, 1st Grade math, 1st Grade Reading, 1st Grade Writing, 2nd Grade, 2nd Grade math, 2nd Grade Reading, 2nd Grade Writing, 3rd Grade, 3rd Grade math, 3rd Grade Reading, 3rd Grade Science, 3rd Grade Writing, 4th Grade, 4th Grade math, 4th Grade Reading, 4th Grade Science, 4th Grade Writing, 5th Grade, 5th Grade math, 5th Grade Reading, 5th Grade Science, 5th Grade Writing, 6th Grade, 6th Grade math, 6th Grade Reading, 6th Grade Science, 6th Grade Writing, 7th Grade, 7th Grade math, 7th Grade Reading, 7th Grade Science, 7th Grade Writing, 8th Grade, 8th Grade math, 8th Grade Reading, 8th Grade Science, 8th Grade Writing, 9th Grade, 9th Grade math, 9th Grade Reading, 9th Grade Writing, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Algebra 3/4, Economics, Elementary Algebra, Elementary Math, Finance, PSAT, PSAT Mathematics, SAT, SAT Math, SAT Mathematics, SAT Verbal, SSAT, SSAT- Elementary Level, SSAT- Middle Level, SSAT- Upper Level