Shawn Di Blasi Tutoring Services

Good news update!

* One of my students has gone from a D-C average to a B average since she started working with me.

* Another student working on SAT test prep has gotten a 90 point increase in math practice test scores since working with me!

Let me know if your child could use this kind of help!

A recent success from a parent of one of my students!

"Shawn has helped her tremendously; she currently has an A in Math and we cannot thank him enough and all your support. We are definitely going to reach out in the future if she needs help again. Thank you so much!"

Reach out today if your child also needs help!

Currently hiring tutors! DM for details.

(Student's name removed for privacy)

This wonderful young lady has gone from HATING the very subject of math, to inventing her own creative equations for fun!

One of the biggest hurdles we have to get over with many students is dread of the subject!

If you have a student who hates math (or any other subject), send us a message. There is still hope!

We're excited to help you start the new school year off right! I still have spots available for in-person tutoring in the Nashville area, as well as online tutoring anywhere in the USA.

Contact me today to get onto my schedule!

Want to help your child practice their math facts? I just made an online app for 0-12 facts. It works on computer or mobile, AND it let's you re-drill problems you missed earlier. It's still a work in progress, but I'd welcome your feedback!
https://bit.ly/4lN7Z0u

"She brought me to tears last night!"

This is what a student's father told me this morning as he dropped off his daughter for her lesson.

"She's doing work she's never been able to do before, and it's only been three weeks! She's able to teach me how it's done and she's getting everything right. And she WANTS to learn more! I can't thank you enough. I'm not an emotional guy, but when she showed me what she was learning...I mean it. I was in tears."

Contact me if you would like this kind of help for your child.

“Portrait of Mr Shawn”
June 2025
Graphite on Paper

Tip of the Week: RELAX!

When a student is trying to learn something new, it can be a bit confusing. Part of being confused is being distracted by the many parts involved. Whether you're trying to conjugate French verbs, assemble an engine, solve an algebra equation, or even break a wooden board with a roundhouse kick, there are lots of bits to keep in mind at the same time.

As we get better at this task, we get the hang of where our attention needs to go, and when. As we are LEARNING, not so much.

Let's have a look at it from two different perspectives.

First, as the student, do your best to limit outside distractions, interference, stresses, etc. If you can, have a distinct space where you study, even if it's in a particular chair in the corner of a room. Make sure it is known that when you're in that space, you need to be left alone. If someone is not bleeding, burning, or otherwise dying, it can wait. For yourself, build the habit of "leaving your problems at the door." We all have stuff that hangs on our minds throughout the day. Make the agreement (if only with yourself) that you will leave those stresses behind for the duration of your study period. Also, keep phones, music and other distractions away as well. Believe me, they don't help!

Snacks, interestingly enough help some people and not others. See what works best for you. I've had students that thrive when there's a bowl of nuts or pretzels nearby, chomping on them as they burn calories (and YES, learning does burn calories). For other students, snacks are a distraction and just become another layer of "stuff" that gets between the student and the subject matter.

Secondly, let's look at the parent or teacher addressing the student. Yes, you too must learn to have a relaxed demeanor when teaching a student. There may be 800 things your child has done in a single day that have left you on edge, your nerves frazzled. But that is NOT the energy to bring to your child when they are attempting to learn something. They are already having to confront all the moving pieces of the subject they are studying. They can't also handle the stress you inadvertently pile on top of the heap. If you want to, record a lesson and play it back. When your student makes a mistake, and listen to how you correct them. Are you relaxed? Is the student? Would you want to be corrected in that way? It can be a bit humbling.

Your attitude toward the student need to remain relaxed. You can, of course, disagree with a wrong answer, but make sure the student knows it is the ERRORS you are both attacking, not the student. You are on the same team. Make sure your student can feel it.

I will tell you a secret. At some point or another I inevitably give this speech to each of my students:

"You are going to make mistakes. You are going to make LOTS of mistakes. THIS (lesson) is the place to make all these mistakes. This is where we find out why the mistakes happen and with the right information and practice we make fewer mistakes. But don't be fooled, mistakes are immensely important for the learning process and if you don't make any mistakes, It's doubtful that you're learning very much. If you make (and learn from) enough mistakes while you're working with me, outside the lesson, you'll make way less. When you were a baby, learning to walk, you fell down. A LOT. Now, you don't fall down as much. You learned how to balance and use your body to stand, and walk, and run. You needed to make those mistakes so you can do all those things you're able to do now."

And it's true. You need to make a lot of mistakes while you're learning. People who are afraid to make mistakes learn slower, on average, than those who take those mistakes, learn from them, dust themselves off, and go after it again.

So, give yourself a break, and let yourself make some mistakes you can learn from!

A little note from one of my students!

I've been in education for 25+ years and a full-time tutor for 5. Every so often, a student reminds me why I do this.

A 1st grader was referred to me—her mom was being pressured to medicate her, but wanted another option. At our first lesson, the student was resistant, distracted, and used to running the show.

In less than two weeks, with patience and kindness, things have changed—dramatically.

She began grasping phonics, understood math in new ways, and started asking for homework! She's calmer, more open to learning, and even her parents say she’s excited about reading at home.

We reached her just in time, and I couldn’t be more proud.

I had the pleasure of meeting a new student a few days ago. I always know that I have actually connected and built a rapport with my younger students if they give me a piece of art like this. I love it when my students trust me with one of their masterpieces!