If your middle school-aged child is starting to experience difficulties at school, it’s an ideal time to hire an experienced tutor. Tutoring middle school students requires a different skill set than working with high school or elementary students. An effective middle school tutor understands the developmental and academic milestones expected of that age group.
At Teachers Who Tutor NYC, your child will receive comprehensive academic support from renowned classroom educators who hold master’s degrees in education or the subject of their expertise.
If your child is struggling with subjects like English, math, foreign language, science, or history, our tutors are here to provide a positive and nurturing learning environment. We will work together with you, your child, and your child’s school to create a customized action plan for success. Additionally, you will receive weekly progress updates so you know exactly how your child is doing as well as future goals for areas of improvement.
What Does Middle School Tutoring Entail?
Our tutors are committed to helping your child work on both the academic skills and the executive functioning skills (organization, time management, prioritization) that students in grades 5-8 need to succeed. Every child faces a unique set of challenges, and our premier middle school tutoring service tailors instruction to meet individualized needs while boosting confidence. Eventually, your child will develop the independence to take on difficult subjects themselves and thrive in the classroom and beyond.
The #1 Middle School Tutoring Service Is Teachers Who Tutor NYC
Our middle school tutors at Teachers Who Tutor NYC hold advanced degrees and have professional teaching experience in the best independent, public, and charter schools throughout New York City and Long Island. Contact us today to learn more.
Meet Our Middle School Tutors
Erin Carstensen
Erin Carstensen is the Middle School Co-Director of Community Roots Charter School. Previously, Erin served for 6 years as the Principal of Essex Street Academy. She was a founding teacher at the school when it opened in 2004 and the Assistant Principal from 2007 – 2010. Earlier in her career, Erin taught 4th grade in the South Bronx, 5th – 8th grade Social Studies at KIPP Academy, and history and literature to students grades 9 – 12. Erin holds a B.A. in Diplomatic History from the University of Pennsylvania, a M.S.W. from University of California – Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare, and a M.Ed. in Administration from the Bank Street College of Education. In addition, Erin speaks Brazilian Portuguese fluently and, in her free time, can be found around NYC playing Capoeira, an Afro Brazilian Martial Arts.
Claire Chatinover
Claire Chatinover is a 7th and 8th grade science teacher at Community Roots Middle School. She taught 4th and 5th grade in Coney Island, and has also taught 7th and 8th grade math. She is originally from Chatham, NJ and Edgartown, MA. She comes from a big family of educators. Claire holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Southern California and a Master’s Degree from Relay Graduate School of Education in New York. After spending many summer working on Martha’s Vineyard at a nature sanctuary, Claire has developed a deep passion for science, outdoor education and teaching through experience. She is also incredibly familiar with teaching science from her on campus job teaching 4th and 5th grade science to students in South Central Los Angeles. Her science and math teaching approach is 5E model based which includes engaging the student in the learning and then exploring the topic deeply. She believes this creates a genuine curiosity in subjects and a deeper understanding. When Claire isn’t teaching she is training for the New York City Marathon or reading, eating at fun restaurants or hiking in nature.
Annie Cheung-Livhits
Annie has 19 years of teaching experience – 17 of them at The Brearley School. She spent two years as an Associate Teacher in kindergarten and second grade, and the rest of the time was devoted to teaching K-6th grade Science. Before that, she taught English at an international school in Hong Kong. Annie has a passion for keeping students curious about the world around them through hands-on, minds-on science investigations. She also enjoys incorporating STEM activities whenever possible. Annie was born and raised in New York City. She graduated with Phi Beta Kappa distinctions from Colgate University, where she got her Bachelor‘s Degree in Education and Asian Studies. In her free time, Annie enjoys hiking with her family and watching her two boys play hockey.
Carl Ciaramitaro
Carl has been an educator since graduating from the University of Michigan School of Education in 2012. He taught high school in Michigan, middle school in Arkansas, and 4th grade in NYC while getting a Masters as a Literacy Specialist from Teachers College. He currently teaches 5th grade at The École – French American Bilingual School in New York. He also worked with kids 1:1 ranging from 2nd grade to high school and has helped in classrooms across the country to grow students as readers and writers as a Literacy Consultant through Columbia for 5 years. As a published curriculum author, Carl’s passion lies in tutoring students who are looking for concrete steps to solve abstract problems in reading, writing, and mathematics. Carl enjoys geeking out over fantasy and science fiction, seeing shows with his partner, and traveling in his free time.
Alan Donaldson
Alan Donaldson, Tutor, is a lifelong educator who currently teaches at the Cathedral School, where he has taught kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade. In addition, Alan has taught middle school English and social studies and tutored math to students through high school. Alan has been tutoring and teaching since graduating from Middlebury College, where he joint-majored in English and Chinese language. Before receiving his Master’s of Science in Elementary Education from Hunter College, Alan taught English in Taiwan for two years to students aged 4 to adults. Beyond the classroom, Alan has been an administrator running the After School Program at Cathedral, Dean of its Lower School and Fifth Grade, and the Academic Director of the Chinese Cultural Program for Children at Columbia University. He also coaches middle school sports in all three seasons.
Lauren Nicole Furst
Lauren has been a teacher in Washington DC for the past four years. She has taught two years of 5th grade English and two years of 6th grade English. She has also led intervention and tutoring programs at the school in all subjects. Lauren has taught both in-person and virtually and created multiple programs to improve student performance and attendance. Lauren received her Bachelor’s degree in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University and her Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University. She is currently a graduate student at Columbia University to get her Masters in Social Work. Lauren is trained in restorative justice, SEL practices, Expeditionary Learning, and reading intervention programs. Lauren works to get to know her students and creates individualized assignments and activities to help target their needs. She focuses on building strong relationships with students so that they can feel comfortable and confident in their academic and social abilities. In her free time, Lauren loves to cook, travel, read, and spend time outside.
Brittney Gerald
Brittney is a fifth-grade teacher at Dream Charter School. Prior to teaching at Dream, she taught students with disabilities ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade. Brittney has experience tutoring elementary and middle school students attending New York City public and private schools. She graduated from New York University and received her Master’s in general education and special education from Touro College. Brittney loves to spend her free time reading, traveling, and exploring different restaurants.
Samantha Gordon
For over 10 years Samantha has worked in the prep school world teaching and tutoring students in reading, writing and math as well as college admission essays and SAT/SAT Prep. She also specializes in organizational support. Most recently Samantha has worked for The Spence School and Convent of the Sacred Heart NYC as well as St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, CT teaching history. Samantha’s tutoring approach empowers each individual student; she emphasizes understanding each student’s strengths and learning style and helps them find personal connections with the content so they can use their learning to empower their lives. Samantha graduated from Lehigh University with High Honors and earned her M.Ed in Secondary Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Outside of the classroom she has coached field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. Samantha is an enthusiastic traveler and has built various global partnerships with schools in Europe and Asia. Born and raised in Westchester, NY Samantha is a fan of all things outdoors; she is an avid skier, marathon-runner and enjoys exploring NYC in search of the next best dish.
Arann Kim
Arann currently teaches fifth grade at the Speyer Legacy School and is a graduate of Teachers College with an M.A. in Elementary Inclusive Education. Arann has been teaching students from diverse backgrounds, ranging from grades K-6, for more than nine years. Throughout her teaching career, she has collaborated with literacy and math specialists to differentiate her teaching to meet targeted learning skills and goals specific to her students’ needs. Her passion is to motivate each student to become a life-long learner so that they can achieve success beyond the classroom.
Sara McCarthy
Sara is a 6th grade Special Education teacher and has worked with students in both middle and high schools throughout New York City. As a teacher in the South Bronx, she piloted a debate program for middle schoolers and coached them to win several speaker awards in their first year. She currently works at the Community Action School on the Upper West Side. Sara earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from Hunter College and a Master’s in the Art of Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education as a member of the New York City Teaching Fellows. As a teacher, she prioritizes fostering relationships with her students while maintaining high expectations. Her background in Special Education enables her to understand and develop a plan to address individualized student needs. When she is not teaching, Sara is an avid reader and enjoys being outdoors.
Jade McFadden
Jade currently teaches third-grade students at the Dwight School on the Upper West Side and previously spent several years as a fifth and sixth-grade teacher in California. After four years of full-time travel, long-distance hiking, and volunteering in classrooms around the world, Jade is excited to bring her globally inspired perspective and love for learning to students in New York. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Master’s of Education from California State University, Bakersfield. Jade tutors students in all subject areas and strives to individualize instruction for every student, building strong relationships and foundations by weaving unique experiences and learning into every interaction.
Lauren Mitchell
Lauren Mitchell has worked as a computer science and engineering teacher at an all-girls high school in NYC for 5 years. She has taught algebra and geometry, and tutored a variety of middle and high school math andcomputer science students. Prior to teaching, Lauren worked as a Software Engineer in NYC and has a bachelor’s in computer science and mathematics. She is currently pursuing a master’s at NYU Tandon School of Engineering outside of the classroom. Lauren is a running enthusiast; she ran the NYC Marathon and is always on the search for another fun race.
Lauren Murynec
Lauren is currently an intervention teacher for students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. She previously taught second grade at a public school in midtown Manhattan where she has also worked as a first, third and fifth grade teacher. Lauren received a B.S. Ed in Early Childhood Education from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Science in Literacy from Bank Street College. In addition, Lauren earned a certificate from Fordham University for Reading Intervention and she is Orton Gillingham certified. She has tutored students in grades K through 7, working on all subject areas. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling, trying new recipes, and taking pictures.
Madalyn McDaniel
Madalyn McDaniel holds dual certifications as a Middle Childhood Generalist (Grades 5-9) and a Students with Disabilities Generalist (Grades 7-12). Her commitment to excellence led her to pursue both a Masters of Arts in Teaching as well as a Master of Arts in International Affairs to ensure student learning is contextualized within current events and is culturally responsive.
During her career, Ms. McDaniel has accumulated teaching experience with children from infancy to twenty-one years of age. She has taught across all core content areas with a particular focus on mathematics, science, reading, and writing. Ms. McDaniel’s individualized approach to addressing students’ needs guarantees students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to grow and succeed academically.
Ruby Silverstein
Ruby currently works at East Side Middle School teaching 6th grade Humanities and 7th grade Math in an ICT classroom. She completed her undergraduate degree at Binghamton University and received her masters in education at Hunter College, earning a dual certification in general and special education grades 1-6. While enrolled at Hunter College, she taught 6th and 7th grade Math at The Windward School, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The Windward School is a private school specializing in supporting students with language based learning disabilities, most commonly dyslexia. From 2018-2022, she provided research based, direct instruction and developed multisensory lesson plans. Furthermore, she participated in seminars relating to growth mindset, ADHD and executive functioning, study skills, academic language, and strategies for improving students’ math skills. When Ruby’s not teaching or tutoring, she enjoys spending time outdoors biking, skiing, playing tennis, and hiking with her mini-goldendoodle named Buddy.
Michael Urda
Michael Urda, Tutor, is an experienced Middle School generalist. Michael has taught English and Test Prep for the New York State Tests in English and Math, served as a Team Leader for Middle School for 5 years and has additional experience supporting students with Math, Science, Speech and Debate, Latin, and History. Michael, who has taught at a charter school in the South Bronx for 8 years, graduated from Notre Dame Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa and completed his Masters in English Literature (1900-Present) at Oriel College Oxford. He has also taught one-on-one and small group sessions for the entirety of his career in schools and is experienced in tailoring curriculum to help individual scholars reach their potential. Michael is passionate about making sure that every student has an opportunity to put forth their particular best effort and build independence. He lives on the Upper East Side and enjoys running, reading, playing trivia, juggling, and playing piano.
Jackie Winsch
Jackie is an elementary and middle school teacher, with experience teaching upper elementary self-contained classrooms, middle school social studies and middle school ELA. Specifically, some of her teaching experience includes 4th grade reading comprehension and oral fluency, 4th grade math, 4th and 5th grade social studies, 4th , 5th and 6th grade writing, and 6th grade world history. Additionally, Jackie has experience tutoring 1st -8th grade students in reading comprehension, writing, math, and social studies. At the University of Notre Dame, Jackie earned both her B.A. in American Studies and her Masters in Elementary Education. After teaching 4th and 5th grade in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, she taught middle school at Marymount School of New York, where she also directed several theatrical productions. Presently, Jackie is working towards her doctorate in Literacy at the University of Pennsylvania. Jackie is passionate about using creativity in elementary and middle school classrooms to increase student engagement, rigor, and motivation. She is originally from Fairfield County, CT, where countless educators inspired her love for teaching. Outside of the classroom, Jackie loves to sing, experiment with new recipes, run outdoors, and read.
Stephanie Harb
Stephanie has been teaching (and tutoring) for more than 10 years. Her teaching experiences are vast, having taught multiple subject areas and grade levels. Throughout her career, she has taught Grades 2-8 (English, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science), High School (History/Humanities, Algebra, Biology), Test Preparation (SHSAT, TACHS, Regents Exams), and more. She speaks multiple languages (Spanish, French, Arabic) and has also spent a long portion of her career working with English Language Learners, helping her students to access language and academic content. Stephanie loves working one on one with students and creating a plan that works for them. Aside from teaching, Stephanie is an accomplished writer and has successfully helped students apply to high school, college, and graduate school with her writing expertise. In her free time, you can find Stephanie at the pottery studio, taking photos, or planning her next trip.
Winnie Zhu
Winnie Zhu has taught a variety of student populations ranging in grades 6-8, including students with disabilities, students with autism, and twice-exceptional students. She obtained her Masters in Science Teaching Degree in Students with Disabilities from St John’s University. She has a deep passion for adapting curriculum to meet the needs of special needs students, particularly in the subject areas of math (including algebra), social studies, reading, and writing. Winnie currently works at Lab Middle School where she is an ICT teacher. Aside from content, Winnie provides executive functioning and organizational support for special needs students. She is fluent in Cantonese and English. Winnie’s goal as a tutor is to bring joy into learning, build students’ confidence in subjects that they struggle in, and help them develop strategies to foster independence. She has been tutoring since high school, guiding students across all grade levels. When she’s not teaching, Winnie enjoys visiting other countries, reading, gardening, and fitness.