Tutor Feature: Matt M.
Matt is one of our top tutors and we can’t recommend him enough! Parents have referred to him as a 10/10 and we couldn’t agree more. He has been working with students since 2008 and with Tutor Corps, Matt tutors high level English, history, government, and executive functioning.
About Matt
Matt graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in English. He began teaching ESL as a student at Michigan State for international students before being hired by the Federal government's No Child Left Behind program. He also served as a College Admissions Specialist, helping students gain admission to MIT, Yale, Berkley, USC, and other top universities. Matt is well versed in common core and guided reading, and believes in using universal learning design to reach all learners. Matt personalizes his lessons to each individual student’s learning style to promote comprehensive understanding of material. He has experience working with students who are challenged by anxiety and attention disorders and feels comfortable supporting students with learning differences.
When Did You Start Teaching and Why?
I started teaching my sophomore year in college. I was working this dreadful job at a sandwich shop right across from campus and I thought to myself, there's got to be a better way to make some money. The next semester I had a class right next to the International Student Center and I saw a sign that said "ESL Tutor Needed!" so I applied. By the time my class had ended I had a voicemail asking me for an interview and by the end of the week I had my first student.
What’s Your Favorite Subject to Teach and Why?
I love teaching history. So often teaching history gets bogged down by teaching names and dates but it is so much more than that. History has to be about the why and the lessons we can learn from it. In the same way that English teachers ask students to understand narratives and themes of literature, history has to be taught to recognize patterns and values. I also love history because it is messy. We often think of history as a narrative of events that happened in a specific way when in reality it is a collection of experiences, stories and perspectives. We have to constantly weigh the objective and subjective to move toward the a reasonable hypothesis of what is true. That process really excites me.
What are Your Top Three Book Recommendations?
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Mila 18 by Leon Uris
The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine
What is Your Favorite Activity To Do Outside of Teaching?
I am, and always have been, an athlete. I played ice hockey, baseball, soccer and lacrosse growing up. Eventually I landed at Michigan State University to play a season of Division 1 ice hockey. Competition and physical activity are two things which are completely integral to my identity as a person. I still play both ice hockey and softball multiple times a week (though the competition level has changed significantly). I think that sports get a bad wrap for the toxicity parents can sometimes bring to them, but their ability to foster social skills, exercise, mental health and fun are second to none. I wouldn't give them up for the world and I see myself playing until my body says I can't anymore!
Thank you Matt for all of the amazing work that you do with your students. We appreciate you!
If you are interested in live 1:1 tutoring support and working with Matt or one of our other amazing tutors, please contact us!