Alice Short
Associate Academic Mentor

I spent five years as a high school Philosophy teacher in the UK before transitioning to academic and test preparation tutoring in the Bay Area. I graduated with a BA in Philosophy from the University of Sheffield, and a High School Postgraduate teaching qualification from the University of Gloucestershire. I have worked with students from an elementary to high school level, and have focused on elementary and middle level mathematics, as well as elementary, middle, and high school writing skills. 

Working in a public school in the United Kingdom enabled me to work with a wide range of students with a breadth of learning needs; low literacy, autistic spectrum disorders, dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety disorders, and attention deficit disorders. I developed techniques to support all students in gaining nationally recognized qualifications that demanded both strong subject knowledge and extreme competency in constructing long written answers within strict examination requirements. Alongside this, I lead a team of teachers in training other educators in deploying current educational pedagogy in the classroom so that students were continually receiving the optimum teaching experience possible. These experiences have resulted in my expertise in tutoring elementary, middle, high school writing skills, ISEE lower level essay skills, and elementary and middle school mathematics. Additionally to this, I have led the development of a curriculum of essay writing materials specifically targeted at examination essays. 

My experience both with the Bay Area Learning Partners and high school teaching in the United Kingdom have instilled in me the significance of finding creative and personalized ways of reaching every student and helping them connect with profound and complicated ideas. I passionately believe that no concept is unteachable, and that every student has something meaningful to find in complex materials; be it philosophical texts, the great works of American and international literature, or mathematics. I strongly believe that it is the challenge of learning that makes it so brilliant. 

When I’m not tutoring the great young minds of the Bay Area I enjoy reading any book I can get my hands on; classic literature, sci-fi, pop science, horror - you name it and I will devour it. Moving to California from the UK has put me at the doorstep of some of the best landscapes in the world and I try to make the most of this by rock climbing, hiking, cycling, and being in and around water as much as time allows. 

Areas of Expertise

Elementary Level

Elementary Academic Reading and Literacy

  • Early Elementary Reading and Literacy K-2
  • Elementary Reading and Writing Grades 3-5

Elementary Level Academic STEM

  • Early Elementary Math K-2
  • Elementary Math Grades 3-5
  • Singapore Math

Elementary Academic

  • Early Elementary Reading and Literacy K-2
  • Early Elementary Math K-2
  • Elementary Reading and Writing Grades 3-5
  • Elementary Math Grades 3-5
  • Singapore Math

Elementary Test Preparation

  • CTP / ERB
  • Proctored Writing Sample
  • ISEE Primary Level
  • ISEE Lower Level
  • SSAT Elementary Level
  • SSAT Middle Level
  • Math Kangaroo
  • SCAT

Elementary Independent Study - STEM

  • Coding
  • Project-based math
  • Project-based science

Elementary Independent Study - Humanities

  • Project-based creative Fiction
  • Project-based creative Non-fiction
Middle Level

Middle Level Academic Humanities

  • Non-Fiction Reading Skills Middle Level
  • Fiction Reading Skills Middle Level
  • Social Studies and History Middle Level
  • Social Studies and History Middle Level

 

Middle Level Academic STEM

  • Math 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade
  • Singapore Math
  • Middle Level Science Skills

 

Middle Level Test Preparation  

  • CTP / ERB
  • Proctored Writing Sample
  • ISEE Middle Level
  • SSAT Middle Level
  • SSAT Upper Level
  • PSAT
  • AMC 8 / AMC 10
  • Math Kangaroo
  • SCAT

 

Middle Level Independent Study - STEM

  • Coding / Computer Science
  • Project-based math
  • Project-based science

 

Middle Level Independent Study - Humanities

  • Project-based creative Fiction
  • Project-based creative Non-fiction
High School Level

High School Academic Math

  • Pre-algebra
  • Algebra I
  • Algebra II
  • Geometry
  • Trigonometry
  • Integrated math
  • Precalculus
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Statistics

 

High School Academic English

  • English 9th grade to 12th grade
  • AP English Literature
  • AP English Language

 

High School Academic History

  • AP United States History
  • AP Psychology
  • AP United States Government and Politics
  • AP World History: Modern

 

High School Academic Science

  • Physics
  • Chemistry

 

High School Level Independent Study - Humanities

  • Project-based creative Fiction
  • Project-based creative Non-fiction

 

High School Test Preparation

  • PSAT
  • SAT
  • ACT
Executive Function

Executive Functioning / Academic Coaching

  • Time management and study schedule
  • Organization of physical and digital materials
  • Planning skills for short-term and long-term assignments
  • Note-taking and note review
  • Test preparation strategies
  • Focus, attention, and engagement in class