Private Precalculus Tutoring Services for Students Seeking a Boost

Branden attended Marshall University on a track-and-field scholarship before completing his graduate education at Wilmington University. At both institutions, he graduated with honors at the top of his class. Branden has eight years of tutoring and classroom experience under his belt. He began tutoring after realizing that students often need additional support to truly grasp difficult subjects. 

Branden specializes in tutoring science, math, English Language Arts (ELA), and history. Witnessing the transformative moment when students finally understand challenging concepts is the driving force behind his passion for tutoring. 

As a tutor, Branden prioritizes creating a comfortable and supportive learning environment. He creates his lessons with a light-hearted approach, fostering a safe space where students can not only learn and succeed but also share stories. Understanding the varied ways students learn, Branden provides a diverse set of tools and strategies to meet each student's unique needs.

Branden excels at actively involving students in their own learning. He seamlessly integrates their interests into the material, often incorporating pop culture references to make lessons more relatable and engaging.

In his free time, Branden enjoys surfing, fishing, beach sports, watching movies (preferably with a generous amount of popcorn), and traveling. He has set a personal goal to match the 172 countries his father has traveled to.

Sebastian completed his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. While he currently works as a research manager for ECHO-Chicago, in partnership with the University of Chicago Medicine, he has been tutoring for five years. He initially began tutoring to simply help his friends and family achieve their educational goals before extending his support to other students. Sebastian has successfully assisted students in gaining admission to esteemed universities like the University of Chicago, Princeton, and Yale.

Sebastian's enthusiasm for tutoring comes from witnessing students transition from unfamiliarity to expertise in a subject. He specializes in ACT and SAT preparation.

Sebastian employs a student-led tutoring style, engaging students with questions and allowing them to guide the material discussion to ensure they get maximum benefit from the sessions. He complements this approach with feedback, suggestions on topic areas, and study tips to enhance the tutoring sessions. Recognizing the intricacies of standardized tests and college applications, Sebastian maintains a light-hearted approach, fosters a supportive environment, and always lends an empathetic ear. He guides students through learning blocks with constant encouragement and diverse resources.

Among Sebastian’s standout traits as a tutor is his ability to simplify complex concepts. As a firm believer that all knowledge is interconnected, he makes difficult content relatable to students to ensure they are able to process it in their own way. 

Having lived in Chicago for 10 years, Sebastian loves exploring the city’s food scene and biking along the lake in his free time.

Samantha completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Florida, her Master of Education at Nova Southeastern University, and her Doctor of Education at Grand Canyon University. She boasts over 20 years of teaching experience: 10 years teaching secondary English for one of the 50 largest districts in the United States and 12 years teaching at the college level. She has created over thirty-five unique college courses, edited high school English test preparation textbooks for Barron's Educational Series, and has worked as a full-time staff writer for a newspaper. Her interest in tutoring stems from a profound belief in the transformative power of education.

Having been inspired by several exceptional teachers in her own journey, Samantha aims to pay it forward by acting as a mentor and guide for students. Her tutoring expertise spans SAT, ACT, and HSPT prep, as well as English, reading, writing, communications, ethics, and humanities.

Samantha's teaching style is highly personable; she values establishing relationships with students and conversing with them on a relatable level. Infusing humor into her teaching, she strives to create an engaging and enjoyable learning environment. Central to her teaching philosophy is the emphasis on connection, especially in subjects like English, which she believes can be easily connected to students' interests. By understanding students' interests, hobbies, and learning styles, Samantha ensures she can make connections to course content, even if it may seem dull or mundane, leading to those crucial "light bulb moments."

Drawing on her extensive education and experience, Samantha offers a nuanced perspective on learning and employs effective teaching strategies to help students achieve their goals. She excels at forming genuine bonds with students, providing them with agency in their learning to foster intrinsic motivation. Samantha's creativity shines through her ability to adapt to learning challenges quickly by presenting concepts in fresh and innovative ways.

When she’s not tutoring or teaching, Samantha creates art out of recycled beach debris, donated materials, trash, seashells, and just about anything she can find. She also loves spending time with her three dogs and husband, traveling (especially on cruises), and reading.