Marlene A

You were well-prepared and organized, guiding learners through the essay-writing process with clarity and purpose. Your explanations of structure, tone, and personal storytelling demonstrated a strong understanding of college essay expectations. You effectively explained how to use specific examples to show rather than tell. To improve further, you could include a brief example essay excerpt to help visualize each point. Overall, your preparation and knowledge of the topic made the session informative and easy to follow.

Tutor · 3 days ago

Thanks

Learner · 3 days ago

TYSM

Learner · 5 days ago

Thanks

Learner · 8 days ago

You fostered a supportive and confidence-building learning environment throughout the session. You emphasized authenticity, descriptive writing using all five senses, varied sentence structures, and smooth paragraph transitions, helping learners enhance both the craft and impact of their essays. By introducing creative essay forms and structures, you gave learners freedom to explore their voices while staying aligned with college essay expectations. Your approachable style, clear instructions, and practical resources motivated learners to complete their first rough drafts confidently. One suggestion to enhance future sessions could be to allocate a short group-sharing moment after drafting blocks, where students can voluntarily share a sentence or paragraph for peer feedback, reinforcing collaborative learning and encouraging multiple perspectives.

Tutor · 9 days ago

You came extremely well-prepared for this session, with a clear and organized agenda that guided learners from the icebreaker to drafting time, reflection, and finally homework. You shared all relevant resources early, including the workbook, sharebook, and supplemental links like “The Power of Punctuation,” which allowed learners to access materials easily and follow along independently. You clearly demonstrated a deep understanding of the essay writing process and the Common and Coalition app requirements, explaining the 650-word limit and the expectations for creativity, authenticity, and descriptive writing. Your explanations of essay formats—traditional five-paragraph essays, narratives, letters, vignettes, and social media post styles—were thorough, giving students multiple creative options to express themselves. One suggestion for improvement could be to occasionally provide brief written examples of each format on the shared screen, which might help visual learners quickly grasp the differences in structure and style.

Tutor · 9 days ago

The learning environment was very calm and welcoming as you would ask students how their progress was going, what felt easy or difficult regarding drafting, and whether they needed assistance with any of the steps in the process. The learners confidence was greatly helped by the clear expectations of what needs to be in a college essay and the timed writing blocks helped them draft the specified target aspects of their essay.

Tutor · 9 days ago

You did a wonderful job preparing the slides and explaining all the aspects regarding the college essay process by using your own words and not just reading off the slides. The analogies and anecdotes you used were very on topic and likely kept the audience very attentive. Your years of experience in teaching and education shows through the exceptionally high quality of the lesson. The workbook and sharebook appear to be very well planned out and tailored for this lesson. Access to the slides on those docs also helps learners revisit past lessons, a very useful tool. The timed blocks of writing also gave the students in class practice, strengthening their writing skills for the subsequent drafts and final essay.

Tutor · 9 days ago

tysm

Learner · 10 days ago

...sometimes when you fall, your dream's gonna catch you, and when you get up, you are gonna get your dream! Star 9306

Learner · 11 days ago

tysm

Learner · 11 days ago

Thanks so much! I really got around and locked in when I started writing-- something I couldn't do for a long time.. You have been a marvelous host and a great positivity and happiness bringer) Thank you once again!

Learner · 12 days ago

The session was amazing! Thank you so much for your kindness, and for being yourself! I absolutely loved it! So nice meeting you! From Star 9306 to Star 171025.

Learner · 12 days ago

Nice Sessions

Learner · 15 days ago

You have such a great personality!

Learner · 16 days ago

Good Class. Helps me a lot.

Learner · 17 days ago

Thank you for the interactive lesson! You made it fun

Learner · 18 days ago

Thank you for the session and being so sweet and kind!

Learner · 18 days ago

Thank you for this session, it was amazing and you are great person!

Learner · 19 days ago

Thank you for the session it was very explanatory

Learner · 19 days ago

Great session! I appreciated the help you have provided me.

Learner · 27 days ago

Thank you so much for this session and for all the support!

Learner · 29 days ago

Thanks for the session, I feel as though I know so much more than I did before.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

I felt like today I learnt a lot more than I have ever before, it was an amazing experience and I hope that to continue learning as such.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

You created a welcoming environment by encouraging learners to reflect on what mattered to them and by celebrating progress during activities. This helped build confidence and made the session feel supportive. How to do better: You could strengthen connections by asking learners to share personal priorities or challenges in choosing colleges. That would help you connect the workshop content more directly to their individual goals.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

You were well-prepared with slides and clear activities that guided us step by step through building a college list. The icebreaker and benefits slides gave a strong foundation for why the task was important, and the activities helped make the process less overwhelming. How to do better: You could improve by providing a few quick examples of how different students might choose colleges (e.g., based on size, location, or cost). This would help learners see how to apply the process to their own unique situations.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for the session!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

You kept learners engaged by providing icebreaker questions and inviting participation throughout the drafting time. You also encouraged learners to explain their writing strategies, which made the session interactive. Adding more peer-to-peer sharing could strengthen engagement even further.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

Thanks

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for the session! It was very informative and offered lots of support :)

Learner · 1 mo. ago

It was really helpful and easy to understand. She makes it interesting to learn about.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thanks!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

You were well-prepared to run the session smoothly and presented the material in an organized and thoughtful way. Your explanations of application methods, early decision, and consortium applications showed a strong understanding of the admissions process. The use of slides and structured content made the information clear and easy to follow, and the reflection activity helped establish a strong foundation for the session.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

Such an enthusiastic and down-to-earth person!! Generally made the session so fun and engaging, and her bubbly personality and humour just makes my day! It makes the application process just a bit less daunting and she explained each brainstorm and prompt clearly! The most positive vibes I have ever felt as a person, you are a great person to be around :)

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

You demonstrated flexibility by giving the learners multiple ways to approach the chart activity and by checking in with them during the process. The use of practical tools, like sorting and categorizing supplemental prompts, allowed the learners to work at their own pace while still contributing to group discussion. An area for improvement would be to directly call on quieter learners more often to ensure that everyone stays equally included.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

You actively engaged the learners by using an icebreaker, “Ask me anything about being in college,” which encouraged participation right away. You asked learners to drop questions in the chat and to review their supplemental question charts, which made the session more interactive. This consistent encouragement helped the learners stay engaged and supported their deeper understanding.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

You responded to direct questions and addressed them adequately.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

At the end of the session, you wrapped up with your warm “Big Mama” energy, personally thanking learners like Leonidas, Leila, Karen, and others. That personal recognition clearly showed you value their presence and contributions. You could see how much they enjoyed the session, and your approach likely helped them feel more at ease with the process. Ending on such a positive, engaging note reinforces their confidence and makes them more eager to return.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

Thank you again!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you again!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you for this session! It was very informative and I am getting more comfortable with the application process!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you for this session! I've made a ton of progress in preparing for each aspect of the application process.

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thanks you for the session!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

This session was very helpful! I was struggling with the descriptions part of my application, but this session helped me start from somewhere.

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you again! This session was incredibly helpful!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you for this sessions, I love how interactive you’re!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Her encouraging tone and constructive feedback created a safe environment for students to guess and make mistakes. She celebrated correct answers and improvement, which built confidence and encouraged participation.

Tutor · 2 mo. ago

The tutor began with a clear plan, reviewing common SAT grammar rules and introducing strategies with examples. The explanations were concise, correct, and targeted to frequent test pitfalls. She anticipated misconceptions (e.g., comma usage, subject-verb agreement) and clarified them with direct instruction and practice problems.

Tutor · 2 mo. ago

Thank you so much marlene! Having you here to guide us with the essay really gives me a peace of mind :)).

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you for this session, Marlene! It was very helpful.

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thanks for being welcoming and encouraging

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Helpful

Learner · 3 days ago

Thank you fur lightening my day

Learner · 3 days ago

It was really fun today; the time felt unreal and passed on so fast! Shining brighter and brighter, star 93006.

Learner · 5 days ago

You were highly adaptive to learners’ needs during the session, providing individualized guidance whenever students encountered challenges. For example, when a student asked whether a humorous essay topic about a hippo incident was appropriate, you addressed it with practical advice and light humor, putting the learner at ease while maintaining educational focus. You offered multiple strategies to overcome writer’s block, including freewriting, sketching outlines, and revisiting prior exercises, and encouraged students to reach out in real time via chat, audio, or video if they needed support. One suggestion for further improvement would be to create a brief “quick tips” slide summarizing these strategies so students could reference them during drafting without interrupting the session flow.

Tutor · 9 days ago

You engaged students actively throughout the session, keeping them involved from the icebreaker to drafting and reflection. You encouraged responses via audio, video, or chat and asked thoughtful questions such as “What felt easiest to work on?” and “What challenges are you facing in drafting?” which promoted reflection and critical thinking about their writing process. You created a low-pressure environment by emphasizing that perfection was not expected, which helped learners feel comfortable experimenting with their ideas. Your humor, patience, and encouragement made the session lively and interactive, and students felt safe to share questions or concerns. One suggestion would be to periodically check in with quieter participants directly to ensure all learners are equally engaged, as some may hesitate to respond in larger groups.

Tutor · 9 days ago

Knowing that the learners needed to write at a college level for institutions, you gave these students specific advice such as incorporating their unique human experiences into their piece. Additionally, you also made the effort to emphasize that the first drafts don't have to be perfect, one should simply write on a topic and see where it takes them before making corrections.

Tutor · 9 days ago

You welcome the learners to ask questions, especially when it comes to feedback.

Tutor · 9 days ago

Thank you for your positive energy and your support

Learner · 10 days ago

thank you!

Learner · 11 days ago

Thank you for today's lesson and I'm happy I got some help in how to approach my issue in writing all my main points too fast.

Learner · 11 days ago

Thank you very much!

Learner · 11 days ago

It was so amazing and you answered all my questions so well and gave me such a feeling of gratitude and happiness and reassurance

Learner · 12 days ago

Thnkxxxx.

Learner · 13 days ago

Thank you!

Learner · 16 days ago

thank you

Learner · 17 days ago

Thank you for the session. I enjoyed it.

Learner · 18 days ago

It was fun

Learner · 18 days ago

She is so sweet, simplifies the information sufficiently, and gives wonderful advice.

Learner · 19 days ago

It was a super fun session and it kinda eased the pressure I was putting on myself a bit.

Learner · 19 days ago

Thank you!

Learner · 27 days ago

Thank you so much for the sessions! I was somewhat terrified of my essay going into this, but I was able to open up in large part thanks to your help and welcoming attitude. Thank you for taking the time to help us and guide us through this process.

Learner · 29 days ago

Thank you!!!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for the session!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

You adapted well by re-explaining steps when technology slowed things down, and you reminded us how to access the tools so no one was left behind. How to do better: You could improve by checking in more often with individual learners, asking if they were able to add schools to their lists or if they needed help narrowing options. That would ensure everyone was keeping up.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

You kept learners engaged with reflection questions, prompts, and time to explore tools like BigFuture. The interactive activities encouraged us to think critically about what mattered most in our college search and share our ideas. How to do better: You could make it even more engaging by inviting learners to share their answers in real time or in small groups. Hearing more perspectives would make the session feel more collaborative.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

Thank you so much for the session! My wifi made it hard to participate but I can tell that you're a great teacher. I hope to participate more in future classes.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you very much. I wish you all the best and I hope that you feel better.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

You built confidence by encouraging learners to take ownership of their writing and reassuring them that first drafts don’t need to be perfect. You also created a comfortable and supportive learning environment where students felt free to write without pressure. Inviting learners to share one small success from their draft could deepen that sense of connection.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

thanks

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Hello! Thank you for the session and the support. This was very informative and helped alleviate some of the intimidation I felt about starting the activities section of college applications. It was very helpful, so thank you!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Great session, I found everything was just right; something did feel off, don't know what, it was probably just because it is the first session.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for this session Ms. Marlene! It was very helpful, and I appreciate your thorough explanations.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

You engaged learners by encouraging participation and reflection. In the College List session, the opportunities to think about my goals and challenges made me feel more involved in the process. In the College Essay session, the freewriting activity helped me reflect on what I want my application to communicate about me. These strategies kept the sessions interactive and allowed me to actively apply what I was learning. You also created a comfortable environment that encouraged learners to share their thoughts and questions.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

Thank you so much! You are very kind and patient. Take care, and see you next session! <3

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for your kindness and support! I’m excited for the rest of the course.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you so much for the session! I really liked how friendly and open you were, I felt very comfortable sharing my ideas.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

You created strong connections with the learners by sharing real-life college insights and keeping the tone approachable and encouraging. The icebreaker and group activity fostered a collaborative environment, which gave the learners the confidence to ask questions and share their work. The supportive atmosphere you created made the learners feel comfortable exploring a challenging and sometimes stressful part of the admissions process.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

You were well-prepared to run the session and provided clear visuals and explanations that helped the learners understand supplemental essay prompts. Your slides, including the categories chart and step-by-step spreadsheet examples, showed that you had a strong grasp of the material and were ready to guide the learners smoothly. The pacing and structure gave the learners a clear path to follow from brainstorming to organizing their prompts.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

You do a great job creating a comfortable learning environment by being open, honest, and willing to share your personality. I especially noticed this when you talked about living on campus compared to your daughter’s experience — highlighting both the independence you valued and the distractions she faced. Sharing those personal details made the pros and cons feel more real, and it likely helped learners feel welcomed into the conversation. By letting them see your authentic perspective, you fostered a sense of community that encouraged them to listen and engage more openly.

Tutor · 1 mo. ago

Thank you again!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you again so much! I'm excited to know that the essay really good.

Learner · 2 mo. ago

thanks

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you so much for the session! I learnt a lot and you are so sweet and kind to learn from. Have a great day

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you so much! I accidentally got kicked out of zoom, sorry about that

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you for hosting this session!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

This session was a great introduction to the college application! It wasn't fast paced, but it wasn't slow, either. I felt comfortable asking questions and speaking!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you so much for this session! You're so easy to talk to and interact with!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you so much for this session! It really helped me self-reflect and come up with some material I could use in the future.

Learner · 2 mo. ago

When students hesitated or answered incorrectly, she broke down the rule again, rephrased explanations, and used additional examples until the concept clicked. She adjusted pacing based on how quickly the group grasped each rule and ensured everyone could participate in practice questions.

Tutor · 2 mo. ago

She maintained interaction through guided questions, asking students to apply grammar rules to example sentences and inviting them to reason through answers. While learners responded to prompts, more follow-up questions could have deepened their explanations and reinforced rule-based reasoning.

Tutor · 2 mo. ago

Thank you so much for this session!

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you so much for teaching this workshop! I can tell already it will be incredibly helpful for me.

Learner · 2 mo. ago

She's very lively and excited to help

Learner · 2 mo. ago