“I understand it.
What do I write?”
Move from plot summary to an interpretation grounded in specific details. Learn to explain how language and structure build meaning.
Online · Alberta · Grades 10–12
Help with English.
Habits that
last beyond it.
For students who have ideas but struggle to turn them into clear, convincing analysis.
Individual instruction in reading, literary interpretation, and analytical writing for English 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1.
Ask about tutoringApproximately 20 years of teachingCurrent Alberta & IB experienceDiploma marking & assessment development
Where students get stuck
Make the next step clearer.
The session begins with the student’s needs. These are some of the questions we can work on.
“I understand it.
“My essay has ideas.
It doesn’t have a shape.”
Develop a defensible argument, organize paragraphs, choose useful quotations, and explain the evidence instead of letting it stand alone.
“I got feedback.
I don’t know what to change.”
Translate teacher feedback into a concrete revision. Practise a skill that can transfer to the next assignment.
“The diploma feels
like a different task.”
Prepare for English 30-1 reading and writing demands with focused practice, planning, and discussion of assessment expectations.
How it works
A conversation.
A focus.
A next step.
A parent or guardian gets in touch
Share the course, the main area of difficulty, and possible times. A short first message is enough.
We discuss fit and availability
Agree on a useful starting point and arrange the session directly. An inquiry does not reserve a session or commit you to payment.
The student practises the thinking
Work through a passage, plan, paragraph, or piece of feedback. The student does the reading and writing, with guidance they can use again.
Before you inquire
Good questions
from parents.
Who provides the tutoring?
Instruction is provided by the experienced Alberta high-school English teacher behind Reading in the Margins: approximately 20 years of classroom teaching, current IB literature experience, department leadership, and experience with Alberta diploma marking and assessment development. Instructor identity and session arrangements can be discussed directly before you commit.
Can you help with a current assignment?
Yes, as a way to teach reading, planning, argument, or revision. The student remains the author. Sessions do not include writing assignments for students or promising a particular grade.
Do we have to book a package?
No package is required for the initial inquiry. Sessions are $70 CAD per 60 minutes and arranged individually, subject to availability. Payment and scheduling details are agreed before a session.
Can current classroom students book?
Students currently taught or assessed by the instructor are not accepted for private tutoring. This preserves the boundary between school assessment and private instruction.
What should we include in the first message?
The course, the kind of support you are looking for, and possible times. Please leave out grades, medical information, student numbers, school records, and assignment attachments until we have discussed what is needed.
Start with one question
What would help
your teenager most?
A parent-facing inquiry is the first step. We will discuss the focus and availability before anything is booked.
Prepare a tutoring inquiry