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Guiding students to academic success and writing mastery.

About Me

I am a San Francisco-based educator and national journalist of 20-plus years, specializing in writing instruction.

I taught in San Francisco-area high school and middle schools for 15 years and have run Socratics Mentoring private instruction for 20 years.

I’ve reported on education for The AtlanticNew York Times and Washington Post and also written for National Geographic Traveler, Oprah Daily and a variety of literary publications. (See my writing website)

I teach writing for UCLA Extension, have also taught for Stanford Continuing Studies and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education and received teacher fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and U.S. Fulbright program.

I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and received my B.A. from Yale University.

Services

(for middle and high school students)

Writing Process

  • Brainstorming, text analysis, outlining, drafting, editing, grammar/ mechanics correction, polishing, publishing.

Executive functioning

  • Organizing, time management, planning, self-tracking. becoming efficient.
  • Study strategies and work habits.

Content Subjects

  • English
  • History
  • Spanish through Advanced Placement
  • Math through advanced algebra.

High school and college applications

  • Application essay writing
  • SAT, ACT, SSAT, HSPT

FAQs

What age range do you work with?

I focus on high school, but also work with middle school students with an eye to helping them develop high school level skills.

Do you have a particular methodology?

Yes. My instruction combines the use of research-based teaching practices customized to the learning style of the individual student. I am directive when needed, but overall, I take a relational coaching approach that makes the student a partner in the work. By gaining understanding of their own thinking process, the student takes charge of their learning.

Do you have expertise supporting students with identified learning challenges?

Yes. I have worked for several decades with students who have dyslexia and other learning challenges, including ADHD. I keep up on current research and read psychoeducational testing reports parents provide about their children. I collaborate with a school to accordingly customize support for students.

How do you develop a relationship with my child?

Learning always happens within a supportive relationship. I aim to build rapport and confidence as well as skills, so that whenever a student walks out of a session after an hour, they will feel positively about how the partnership has led them to success.

How does your being a professional journalist help you teach writing?

I apply my expertise as a practicing field reporter and literary critic engaged in the craft of research, reporting and editing for a variety of publications including The Atlantic, New York Times and Washington Post. I’ve also written for National Geographic Traveler and Oprah Daily. Writing a book essay for Oprah Daily can actually be similar to writing an essay for an English class. Writing a research article for the Washington Post can be similar to writing a history or government paper.

Where do you meet students?

For students in the Bay Area, we meet at my office, at a student’s home or by Zoom. Clients who live in other areas of California and other states I meet with by Zoom.

How can I know how well my child is progressing?

I do ongoing informal assessment and keep communication with parents about progress, sometimes sharing with them the work the student is doing. I also monitor how well students are reaching their goals. I regularly communicate with schools about formal progress and classroom grades.

Do you work in collaboration with teachers and schools?

Yes. I keep in touch with learning specialists and individual teachers to identify concerns, monitor progress and align my teaching with school curriculum and an instructor’s teaching approach.

Do I have to make a minimum commitment?

No. Parents can hire me to work with their child for a single trial session or for one stand-alone project or we build a relationship over a school year. Some clients continue to work with me over several years.

How often do you meet with students?

Commonly, I meet an hour a week with students and sometimes more intensively in a situation requiring remediation. I also will meet more often on a particularly demanding project. I also give students editing feedback between sessions. They’ll share a Google doc, for example, and I’ll make comments within the next day.

When do you meet with students?

After school, evenings, Sundays and sometimes during the day if a student has a free period.

Do you have references I can speak with?

Yes. You are welcome to speak with both learning specialists and parents I have worked with.

How is the best way to find out if I want to work with Erik?

Send me a note of possible interest and we can talk by phone or Zoom to explore possibilities. From there we can set up an initial session with your child. You’re welcome to meet with me and your child together the first time to set goals and get on the same page. You can do a trial session or two, see if it’s a good fit and if so, we can set up a regular meeting time.