About

Founded in 2012, Alissa Tutors seeks to provide students of all ages and abilities with the careful instruction needed to reach their full potentials. Alissa Tutors is owned and operated by Alissa, a New York State certified math teacher who loves to educate and help others grow! 

​

Alissa's Philosophy & Methodology

​

Simply and wholeheartedly, I believe that every student is capable of excellence! I offer personalized instruction, support, and encouragement to elevate students to the next level of understanding and help cultivate their innate abilities. In accordance with the adage "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime," I seek to instill the self-sustaining skills and knowledge essential to a lifetime of success.

Mathematics

​

My math instruction stresses deep and meaningful understanding framed within larger contexts. I strive to make esoteric concepts more accessible, as I believe *everyone* can engage with math. I encourage students to explore the relationships between the various math topics at hand, as all math is intrinsically interrelated. I also help students apply their knowledge to real-life situations, rendering the math more personal. My instruction is concept-based rather than rote because I believe that conceptual understanding is far more lasting and transferable than procedural knowledge. It is one thing to mechanically, albeit successfully, carry out a procedure, but another far more useful thing to understand the reasons that drive the actions. Through this exploratory and concept-based approach, I strive to equip students with the skills required to think critically and tackle unique math problems with confidence. There is no such thing as being innately bad at math, just like there is always room for growth.

English

​

During English tutoring sessions, students practice reading comprehension and writing per their individual needs. I believe that there is no better way to hone one's writing ability than to practice. Thus, I ask my English students (especially those non-native speakers who are learning the language) to write every week, and then reflect upon the writing. Through these reflective conversations, I work to develop a student's ear for diction and syntax, and most excitingly, their unique writing voices! I also teach students techniques for reading with true understanding, an invaluable life skill. For those students who aren't looking to work weekly to improve their skills, but rather looking for assistance with specific assignments, I provide help with essay writing/editing as needed—working to ensure that students emerge from the editing process with a genuine understanding of the grammatical and stylistic changes made.

​

SAT and ACT
   

The SAT and ACT are ubiquitously daunting, but exposure and practice breed confidence and preparedness.  These tests consist of math, critical reading, and writing/grammar (with the latter test also including a science section), and I tutor this content with the same philosophies that drive my math and English teaching. Though it's essential to take practice tests, learn testing strategies, and familiarize oneself with the test's format, I believe the most ready student knows the material and can creatively apply their knowledge to any test thrown their way!

 

To help students acclimate to test day conditions and periodically gauge their progress in a more official setting, I also offer monthly proctoring services. Proctored students receive same day score reports with detailed, personalized feedback and suggestions.

​

College Applications

  
Since the college application process is undeniably overwhelming and complicated, my corresponding tutoring services aim to alleviate stress and help students navigate the application demands. I can assist with every facet of applying, from deciding upon schools, to writing an honest personal essay devoid of cliche, to organizing past achievements in a comprehensible activity sheet. Like with all my services, I am as involved as each family/student requests.

I hope that you feel confident in my passion for education, teaching, and helping students to succeed! You can learn about my background and credentials here, and message me with additional questions or a booking request when ready.

​

I look forward to working with you!

​