David A. Kates, Writing & Research Tutor

02/22/2024

Wrote this article for the faculty issue of Saint Louis Priory School's newspaper, The Record: "Why I (No Longer) Eat Meat":

Over the years, I have been asked why I am vegetarian and eat mostly vegan. It’s hard to know where to start. I’ve been vegetarian for nearly twenty-five years. Each year, I seem to find another reason–environmental, animal rights, personal health–to not eat animals. The longer that I’ve b...

04/19/2020

**20% off Online Tutoring during this time of social distancing, starting at $25 per hour**

I can help elementary, middle, high school, and college students with:

- Grammar, Diction, and Writing Clarity and Organization
- Reading, Phonics, Comprehension
- Study Skills and Time Management
- Social Science, History
- Internet, Database, and Library and Archival Research
- Private School, College, and Graduate School Admissions Essays
- Test Preparation, including the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)

I have been lucky to regularly tutor elementary, middle, high school, college, and graduate school students - with a range of learning challenges - in reading comprehension, writing, study skills and executive functioning, college-essay writing, and test preparation.

As a tutor and school librarian, I have worked with dozens of students on their writing, information literacy skills, and reading comprehension.

04/18/2020

**What I’ve Learned from Tutoring Online**

3. Give a Good Deal!

I’ve lowered my tutoring rate (about 20 percent) because: a. I don’t have to commute, and b. I know occasional technology issues are inevitable (that could take up tutoring time or hamper instruction/learning). Also, students generally prefer to read physical books vs. ebooks because long-term online reading can be harder to analyze and can tire the eyes. For some reason, ebooks seem to be tougher to read that have been screenshared (perhaps because of buffering). I sometimes end up reading screenshared long passages and ebooks to students. Storytime!

04/15/2020

**What I’ve Learned from Tutoring Online**

2. Be adaptable!

Technology, of course, is very powerful. It has allowed most of us to work remotely (and successfully) during social distancing. But I have run into a number of technology issues with my students. One student wasn’t able to use a browser that’s compatible with a tutoring platform. At various times, students’ audio and video failed to work, whether it be wifi buffering or a setting issue. The key is willingness to use an alternative online tutoring platform.

04/13/2020

**What I’ve Learned from Tutoring Online**

1. When working with early elementary students, “let them drive.”

I was most concerned about tutoring a kindergarten student online. During in-person sessions, I had trouble keeping him engaged and cooperative with the lessons, particularly reading. To my delight, he’s probably done the best “virtually” of all my students. Why? Well, I send the links we will use to his parent ahead of the lesson. Then, the kindergartener controls the games, videos, and ebooks (and screenshares them with me). He can drive! This allows him to do kinesthetic activities: clicking, drawing, pasting clip art, and typing. Another reason that he is more focused on his work is that a parent or older sibling helps him open and share the teaching sites. And he appears to be on his best behavior with family….

08/26/2019

College Essay Writing tutoring in St. Louis or online: $35/hour or $30/hour for 3 or more sessions

03/26/2019

Welcome to my writing, research, and reading tutoring page! I tutor all levels of students (elementary, middle, high school, college, graduate school, ESL) and most types of writing (application essays, academic papers, theses). If you'd like to get in touch with me, please use Messenger. Don't forget to like or follow me so you can stay up to date on my tutoring services. Thanks for visiting my page and I hope to hear from you soon!

Send a message to learn more

03/26/2019

"David helped me rework my college essays and effectively explained the goals I should have during the writing process." -- Aaron M.

My goal is for happy, successful, and de-stressed students.