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Greg Cooper
Writing | Humanities & Social Sciences | Study Skills
Individualized tutoring in the Greater Boston area for students in grades 7-12
Drawing on 20+ years of experience as an educator, my goal is to provide targeted, practical mentorship designed to help students sharpen their writing, stay organized, and take independent ownership of their learning.
Writing
Essay organization
Research papers
Presentations & speechwriting
College application essays
Reading & Analysis
Critical thinking
Reading comprehension
Textual analysis
SAT Reading & Writing
Study Skills
Time management
Organization & notetaking
Planning & prioritization
Studying strategies
History/Social Sciences
Writing DBQs
Research skills
Historical analysis
Media literacy
Although I focus on the skills and topics above, this is not an exclusive list. Please contact me if you'd like to explore other areas of tutoring and mentoring, or have any other questions for me.
Who am I?
Who am I?
I have been teaching history and social sciences classes to middle- and high-school students for more than 20 years. Most recently, I taught government and history at a boarding school in Connecticut, though the bulk of my career was at an independent school in Miami, Florida. There, I taught a wide range of AP, Honors, and College Prep humanities and social science classes; I also developed several new courses and served as an Academic Dean, helping to craft new research and writing curricula, with a focus on media literacy.
I have experience working with students on both fundamental skill-building as well as advanced academics, and I enjoy helping students with essay writing, organizational and note-taking strategies, public speaking and presentation skills, and time management. I also work with students on the skills necessary for success on standardized tests, particularly verbal, reading, and writing sections.
I hold a BA in Political Science from Brown University and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In addition to teaching, I enjoy reading, running, and hiking; I also have an extensive vinyl record collection, and love discovering new music.
How do I approach learning?
How do I approach learning?
The best teachers help students develop the skills to become independent learners. While I can certainly assist with discrete assignments and test preparation, my goal is ultimately to help students build skills for long-term success. Learning how to read carefully, think critically, organize ideas, and communicate effectively will ultimately translate into more discrete gains like better test scores and grades, but they will also transcend those more immediate goals.
I approach every student with the understanding that we all think differently and approach our work from a unique perspective. My first goal is always to understand an individual student’s needs and learning style, and to assess relative strengths and areas of growth. By assessing those things that make each of us unique learners, we can really put each student's strengths to work, as we seek to chart a meaningful path forward.
Boston Public Library: one of my favorite spots in the city!
From my students:
From my students:
Argumentative Writing
What has stuck with me most is the writing. The essays I produced with his guidance were some of the most formative works I did before college. He didn't just teach me to write. He made me want to. And he showed me that effective communication isn't something you finish learning; it's something you keep working on.
- Jake W., class of 2018
He was crucial in helping me grow as a writer. He was always available to meet and discuss essays, helping me develop my own style while learning to write academic papers. He was very clearly invested in the success of every student, not just with regard to their grade, but in terms of their development as a scholar and critical thinker. He put in countless hours of effort and time into our growth.
- Leticia C., class of 2022
Critical Thinking
I remember him sharing a particularly strong passage or highlighting a nuanced perspective that someone had explored in an essay. It wasn't about identifying the one "right" answer; it was about demonstrating the many thoughtful ways you could arrive at one. For him, learning is a process rather than an end result. This was what I really learned from him. More than any specific lesson or assignment, he taught me to be curious, to think independently, and to embrace the process of figuring things out.
- Cole M., class of 2015
Individualized Instruction
He never let me take the easy way out; he always pushed me to improve and deepen my understanding. His willingness to challenge his students comes from a profound belief in their abilities, a confidence which each and every one of us has benefitted from enormously. Throughout those challenges, he acts as a mentor and collaborator, taking the time to discuss ideas, provide extensive feedback, and generally ensure he can meet you where you’re at while still pushing you forward.
- Ivy M., class of 2018
The time I spent with him one-on-one was really what taught me to write. He constantly asked questions about my arguments and the reasoning behind them, making me a sharper, more analytical thinker.
- Sam G., class of 2022
Confidence & Growth
His goal isn't just a recitation of facts or knowledge, but rather to make sure we understood and could articulate deeper concepts. He cares deeply and individually about his students' development and success. He believed in me even when I didn't always believe in myself, recognized my strengths and weaknesses accordingly, and acted as a mentor to me. Anyone would be lucky to have him in their corner.
- Henry S., class of 2018
Active Learning
He is one of the best teachers and mentors I've ever had. His approach with students is inclusive, kind, and genuinely fun - he has a way of making students want to show up and learn. Whenever I struggled with an assignment or concept, he always took the time to sit with me and talk it through with genuine patience and excitement. There are few people more passionate about their work, and that intentionality truly gets the best out of students.
- Addy W., class of 2020
Lifelong Skills
I'm a practicing medical oncologist and finished high school more than 15 years ago. Time and medical training has all but erased most of what I learned back then, but I remember just about everything I learned from him. Most importantly, I learned to think critically, and how to engage much more deeply with what I was learning. I'm so grateful for all that I learned from him and think any student would be extremely lucky to have him as their teacher; not only would they excel academically in the short term, but in the long term, they would gain a greater aptitude for critical thinking that is practically priceless.
- Ellery A., class of 2011
Ready to discuss your student's goals? View my FAQs & Contact Info.
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