As we love putting the spotlight on our exceptional General Academic tutors, we would like you to meet Magui Torres. Magui is a dedicated tutor committed to fostering academic excellence in a way that is adaptable and fun for her students. Discover her unique tutoring style, her approach to personalized sessions, and her passions beyond the classroom.
What subjects and classes do you help our students with?
I tutor students in Math for 2nd through 8th grade, including Pre-algebra & Algebra 1, History for 8th grade, and ELA for 1st through 12th grade. I also tutor all grade levels of Spanish, including Pre-AP and AP Spanish.
What is your educational background?
When I was 14, I moved to Dallas from Mexico and attended high school there. I was a diligent student, and I scored a 1580 on my SAT. I recently graduated with a double BA in English Creative Writing and Arabic & Arab World Studies from Bucknell University, and I now live and work in Houston. I love poetry, and my Honors Thesis in Creative Writing at Bucknell was a poetry collection inspired by my migration from Mexico to Dallas.
Aside from tutoring, I work as a full-time translator, mostly translating English to Spanish and vice versa. I also volunteer with organizations, such as The League of United Latin American Citizens, LULAC, as a translator at immigration courts.
I am an experienced subject and test prep tutor, including helping with all levels of the ISEE, and I love working with our younger students in our Elementary Learning Program.
What is your favorite subject to tutor?
I have a few! Math, because I love seeing students solve a problem first with guidance and then on their own; their sense of achievement is priceless and definitely satisfying for them and me.
English, as I love giving students the tools to better express themselves in writing, speaking, reading, and listening.
And, of course, Spanish, which is my first language! In my own journey of learning and becoming fluent in English over the years, I know that when you learn a new language, you are also learning new traditions, new ways to express yourself, and exploring new cultures.
What does a typical subject tutoring session with you look like?
- I check in with the student to see how the day/week is going.
- We create a to-do list for the session; depending on how many subjects we will be covering during the session, allocate either 20-40 minutes (or the whole session) for the activities, homework, and projects that need to be done.
- At minute 55 we check our progress and create an action plan for any work that still needs to be done at home.
What does a typical ISEE tutoring session with you look like?
- I start by checking in about the homework from the previous session, and we go over any questions they have.
- Then we go straight into working on specific areas that they are weak on (ex.: half math, half reading comprehension, and a little verbal reasoning)
- 10 minutes before the end of the session: start assigning homework depending on what they need to work on that week
- Ex. lesson review, I usually assign 10-15 questions for each of the 4 sections
What’s your typical approach with working on executive functioning with elementary students?
- Greet them & ask them about their day – it’s especially important to build rapport and create a warm environment with younger students.
- Spell out everything that needs to be done for the day so that expectations are clear and the student knows what needs to be done for homework.
- Work on homework from their school, targeting anything that was confusing or unclear.
- I also structure a 5-minute break at the 30-minute mark of the session and have extra worksheets prepared for reinforcement of concepts as needed.
- Check in at the end. If homework remains, alongside my digital notes to parents, I write what needs to be done on a sticky note and put it on the outside of the student’s folder as an extra reminder.
How do you view your role as a tutor?
I see myself as both a tutor and a mentor to my students: as much as I teach the students material for the subject at hand, I also see the opportunity to mentor them in their study habits and approaches.
Tell me about one of your favorite sessions you’ve had.
I can specifically recall one I had with a 7th grader – she was concerned about a math test she had the following day. She wasn’t feeling great about the questions she had previously done, and did not feel like she was ready.
As we worked through the session, she started understanding the concepts (fractions-focused) and was excited to answer questions all by herself. We went over examples on the study guide and really catered to the specific areas she was nervous about, which boosted her overall confidence and knowledge.
By the session’s end, I created practice problems for her to solve on her own. Seeing actualized progress is so rejuvenating as a tutor, and it really shows how far extra help can go.
What is your favorite part of being a tutor?
I love interacting with students, and I learn something new every day because of them! Every student is unique, and every learning experience is as valuable for me as it is for them.
I recently met with a 2nd grade student who fully embodied the pure and unfiltered approach that younger students have. The student (like most younger students) was very curious about everything, was really interested in getting to know me, and wasn’t afraid to ask questions. I especially appreciate this about elementary-aged students, as they’re always questioning things and take nothing for granted.
Outside of tutoring for us, what do you like to do for fun?
I love traveling around the world, hiking with my dog, Bandy, cooking, writing and translating poetry, painting, and learning new languages. I am currently working on learning Italian and continuing to improve my Arabic.
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?
My grandfather, as he passed away when I was 2. I don’t have any memories of him, but my family always shares stories about him. He was such a great man, a great dad, and a great grandfather, and I wish he could share some of his life wisdom with me.
Tutoring with General Academic
General Academic’s subject and test prep tutors provide the structured support to accommodate your student wherever they’re at. We help our students with a wide range of materials, ranging from 1st through 12th grade subject prep, ISEE, and SAT. To get the ball rolling, give us a call at (713) 838-7774 or fill out our tutoring request form.
