Parent Review
Personal Statement Coaching
-Harjit, Lancaster, PA
Working with Joanna Goodman has been such a wonderful experience for my son and for us. From the very beginning, she has been patient, supportive, creating a comfortable space for my son to share his thoughts and ideas openly. Joanna didn't just edit essays-she took the timeto really get to know him, to understand his strengths, his passions, and the unique experiences that have shaped him. With her thoughtful guidance, she has helped him organize his ideas and craft a personal statement that truly captures who he is. Joanna has an amazing way of drawing out the best in her students--she asks the right questions, gives gentle but insightful feedback, and always motivates with positivity. What could have been a stressful process has turned into a journey of self-discovery for my son. We are so grateful for the time, energy, and care Joanna has invested in helping him put together applications that reflect his authentic voice.
"[Joanna] exhibited a rare combination of charm and knowledge, and the students responded to her with an energy I'd never seen."
Grace Schulman
Former Distinguished Professor of English
Baruch College
Areas of Instruction
Middle school through graduate school
English/Literary Analysis
Research Writing
AP English Language
AP English Literature
SAT Reading and Writing sections
ACT English
Verbal expression and synthesis of information
Reading comprehension (imagining, predicting, questioning, associating, summarizing, paraphrasing, inferencing)
Paragraph building (organization of thoughts; paragraph unity, coherence, and cohesion)
Essay construction (including essays that persuade, argue a point, describe an event or scene, narrate, compare or contrast)
Writing correct sentences (types of sentences, sentence variation, grammar, punctuation, syntax)
Creative Writing!
Private/individually designed courses, retreats, camps. All ages.
Teaching Methods and Philosophy: An Overview
As an award-winning educator and writer, I've worked with students in middle school through graduate school and have served as an assistant professor at both Penn State and Franklin & Marshall. Regardless of grade level or skill set, I aim to create an environment where learners develop trust in me and in the writing process, gain comfort expressing themselves, and accomplish their academic goals with pride. Adapting my teaching methods to effectively align with individual student learning styles while inspiring confidence and motivation are my highest priorities and I believe my most meaningful contribution to education.
Before tutoring begins, I meet with parents (if desired) to get a full picture of their child's specific needs. I also speak informally with students to gain insight into who they are and what drives them. These consultations are free of charge.
Each session includes follow-up summaries of the material covered and progress made, with students and parents encouraged to reach out between sessions for clarification or additional support. Also, all students are provided with a dedicated site where they can access helpful, personalized resources, reminders, and tips at their convenience.
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"Joanna Goodman has a unique way of inspiring new material, and of encouraging all her students, at all levels of ability and experience."
Linda Miller, Teacher Center Director
Bronxville/Eastchester/Pelham/Tuckahoe Teachers' Consortium
"[Joanna} trusts her instincts with the students and they with her. She creates an atmosphere in her class that encourages and facilitates a real exchange of ideas and feelings...She has a talent to immerse her students in dialogue, actively engaging them in an immediate and real learning process."
William Mclellan
Professor of English
City University of NY
"Ms. Goodman is an exceptionally talented teacher. This [introductory college composition] was one of the best classes I have ever seen."
Claude Taylor
Professor of English
City University of NY
"Joanna has shown herself to be a gifted teacher and the kind of teacher we look for and esteem at F&M...Students seek her out, actively, because of the way she challenges them-upends them, you might say. What she leads them to is discovery of language. I've often thought, walking by her office, that she must have taken on several independent projects at once, so frequently are students sitting with her, the written page in front of them, heads down, working on some piece of writing with attention."
Patricia O'Hara
Professor of English
Franklin & Marshall College