PrepNow Tutor - Michelle L.
Tutor and teacher Michelle has worked with hundreds of students in a variety of subjects, including test prep. She double majored in English and Spanish at the University of Chicago; she also has an MA in education from Relay Graduate School of Education. She has worked as an English, RTI (response to intervention) teacher, and test prep teacher. Currently, she works as a human resources assistant.
Michelle began tutoring (private and school-sanctioned) in high school. "At the time I had received the highest ACT score anyone had seen for the network of schools I was a part of, so it was the natural next step for me," she reflects. "After that, I pursued teaching opportunities in college and tutoring gigs to help me pay for books. I have been in education since and have always loved feeling like my experiences are useful to others in their own academic journeys."
In college, Michelle volunteered for Whatever It Takes, an organization at the University of Chicago that focuses on leveling the playing field for high school juniors. She worked with all students who applied, and the program provided 10 weeks of ACT and SAT prep—plus mock exams—free of cost. During and after her master's degree, Michelle taught English to high school students for several years. She's proud to share that her students made major strides in their grades and test scores!
Michelle sees herself as a guide to her students. "I like it when students take ownership of their learning, and I appreciate their input when it comes to understanding how they learn best," she explains. To build rapport, Michelle learns their interests and ties their academic goals to their personal goals; that way, her students can feel more confident and empowered. "When it comes to teaching students that struggle with certain math concepts, I try to make sure I use base knowledge to build upon as well as real-life scenarios so that they feel more connected to the work they're doing," she offers.
In high school, Michelle was in Book Club, Cooking Club, AP Chemistry Club, Gardening Club, Newsletter Club, and was a member of the Ivy League Mentorship Program. She won multiple awards in high school: 2nd place at the Science Fair, the INCS award for charter schools, and the English award for excellence in English and Literature. She was also a Questbridge Scholar in college and finished her master's program with distinction.
Michelle loves journaling, playing video games, and watching films. "I enjoy spending time with my dog, Bailey's, a teacup pomeranian that has my whole heart."
