ACADEMIC ALCHEMY
Academic Coaching, Mentor, Student Advocate,
Homeschool Support, Education Manager
&
Education Consulting
ALL SUBJECTS
Inspired by Nature
Mundo translates to “World” in Spanish —
All academic pursuits are an effort to understand the world around us.
Alchemy is the creative endeavor to transform something mundane into something precious and valuable.
The tutoring and mentoring I offer is more than a promise of higher test scores and better grades. It is a holistic, multi-sensory approach to education: meeting your child where they are, acknowledging the context of their lives and their unique perspective.
“Stacey is an ideal educator: she is passionate about learning and meets each child where they are. She brought a consistently calm and centered presence; she was patient and very attuned to what would bring just the right amount of challenge. If you are looking for an educator who is not geared toward just passing tests, but who sees learning as an end in itself, who will see your child as a whole person, and who will be a professional yet fun and warm addition to your lives, you have come to the right place!”
“Stacey Anderson thinks beyond traditional classroom education limits. She thinks outside the box, and has helped my son who doesn’t conform to the traditional school model. Stacey provides a safe space for him to express himself, and she is always looking for an angle to access the part of my son that wants to learn. She can see beyond his negative feelings about education, to really access his learning needs and foster the things that excites him.
Stacey looks at each child as a unique person, and besides teaching them academics, she takes the time to understand each child so that she can fully access their potential. I have so much gratitude for Stacey, who has been working with my 13 year-old son for over a year. I hope the relationship she has with my son will continue to grow and deepen, so he always knows there are adults who are safe and who care.”
“We are so lucky to have found Stacey as a tutor for my son. He’s really smart when it comes to numbers, but he gets bored easily with the concept of doing homework. It’s hard to get him to stay focused and really learn to enjoy math. After a few sessions with Stacey, he was excited about math and learning. She is very patient and kind and gives gentle instruction and encouragement. Not only did they spend one hour a week doing tutoring sessions, but they also worked in time for nature walks, which involved hands on learning about edible plants and how to identify them, as well as which ones to avoid. Having Stacey’s support has been a wonderful addition to our homeschool learning experience. I would highly recommend her to anyone interested in having some extra assistance with teaching their child. We look forward to meeting with her again next semester!”
“Stacey has been a huge piece of my student’s life and educational puzzle as his very dear tutor! He has received a high quality education and kept himself a love of learning and a self-motivation to be envious of! ”
If you believe natural curiosity and inquisitiveness should be nourished and celebrated in the pursuit of academic mastery, you are in the right place. This is the foundation of my philosophy as a teacher. The nature of a developing mind is that it is always growing and adapting. One instructional approach that worked on Monday might not work on Thursday. Learning inherently involves some amount of struggle, but it also demands success for there to be continued investment from the student. This requires guidance, clear communication, and a balance of challenging, new content and review.
Some children disengage with their assignments because they are bored and not challenged… the material seems irrelevant. Some children disengage because they are overwhelmed and overstimulated.
My goal as a teacher and mentor is to make abstract academic content digestible and meaningful to the literal mind of a developing child or teen.
Childrens’ and teens’ minds are naturally attuned to learning: they are brilliant investigators when they are inspired. The abstract world of academia can often seem irrelevant or simply meaningless… blind procedures with no context… and can easily lead to disinterest or feeling shut down.
I work well with students who are “neurodivergent” : ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, and Asperger’s. I have yet to meet a child who is not innately brilliant in their own way.
Students often need additional support outside of school when life presents unexpected transitions and circumstances. Whether it’s a move, a divorce, a death in the family, starting a new school, or the general existential crisis that pervades so many of our lives… my goal is to offer your child a compassionate, supportive learning space.
A child’s experience of falling behind or getting bad grades takes a toll on everyone. Better grades at school offers everyone more peace of mind. There is nothing worse than seeing a child struggle and “feel stupid”. If your child is falling behind their peers or feeling like they aren’t making progress, let’s make a plan together.
If you’re homeschooling and you need help teaching your child because you’re meeting a lot of resistance, I am here for you.
I am here to lend my skills as a teacher and mentor. I am here to support the work you’re doing in a way that honors your unique child.
In my 15 years as an educator, I have learned the art of creating an individualized, customized path of learning. I start with a whole-brain approach, working with the social emotional context of the child or teen before engaging with challenging curriculum. Many children need to set their nervous systems at ease before they are able to focus on learning and problem-solving.
You know your child’s unique needs and I have the resources to support those needs. Sometimes all it takes to find the hidden key to their learning obstacles is to meet them where they are and connect learning to having fun.
