About the Program
Unlock Your Academic Potential
Join Project Prospero and embark on a transformative journey to enhance your reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Our program is designed to prepare you for the academic challenges of college and beyond. With expert guidance and a supportive community, you’ll gain the confidence and skills needed to excel.
Meet the Coordinator
Mr. Marc Feldmann
Mr. Feldmann has been a teacher in the same urban district for over 30 years. He taught in many places early in his career. He started as a teacher in New Mexico for the rural Spanish and Native Jicarilla Apache. When he moved back East, he substituted for a year and was offered a position in the same district he is in now. He has taught primarily High School English, but he also taught Middle School during a budget crisis. He has taught in an alternative school, and because of that he has a unique perspective that he has brought to his teaching practice at the flagship High School he has taught at for almost 10 years. He has taught inclusion and team-taught class, as well as some MLL’s. He has enjoyed his time in the classroom immensely, and when it comes to academics, he has been highly effective in helping students develop the skills they need to survive and succeed. He has run the English club for 7 years, and been involved with the school newspaper as well, and he is looking forward to the seminar he is attending (virtually) at St. John’s college on Greek Drama. If he is not reading or helping kids, you can find Mr. Feldmann behind a DAW or MPC making dancehall or reggae instrumentals. He has always had a passion for literature, writing, music, and helping kids find a path that works for them in school and in life.
Now for him, one path is ending but another entirely challenging path is beginning. Even though he has stage 5 kidney disease, on dialysis and waiting for a transplant, technology is as such that he can continue to fully teach and tutor students. The dialysis schedule makes it impossible to stay on as a full-time teacher, but online learning has opened new possibilities. He has seen other students not make it in college because they weren’t prepared. He took this topic on as a personal mission, and now a part of a company of exceptional teachers, he can make this a reality. Stay tuned to his blog because with so much experience he has observed a lot and has a lot to say about a lot of things related to school.
And just for the record, even though Mr. Feldmann is in serious condition, he, and all the teachers will make sure it has little to no effect on the running of our class.
Why This Course?
Discover the unique advantages of our program that set it apart from typical tutoring services. At Project Prospero, we are committed to providing an enriching educational experience that goes beyond the basics. Our course is meticulously designed to enhance critical thinking, reading, and writing skills, ensuring students are well-prepared for the challenges of college-level academics. Join us to explore how our approach can make a significant difference in your educational journey.
Our Unique Approach
Empowering Students Through Personalized Learning
At Project Prospero, we believe in a student-centered approach that emphasizes active engagement and critical inquiry. Our curriculum is designed to foster a deep understanding of literary texts while honing essential writing skills. We tailor our teaching methods to meet the individual needs of each student, ensuring that they not only excel academically but also develop a lifelong love for learning.
Our program stands out by integrating comprehensive skill-building exercises that prepare students for the demands of higher education. We focus on enhancing analytical abilities, improving writing proficiency, and cultivating a nuanced appreciation of literature. By the end of our 7-week course, students will be equipped with the tools necessary for success in college and beyond, ready to tackle complex texts and articulate their thoughts with confidence.
Why Choose Project Prospero?
Without giving away all our “secret sauce” as far as preparing students for college, I can confidently say that our approach is probably not so popular in many schools. For in many schools, when a student gets “stuck” the teacher immediately swoops down with a scaffold, sometimes many scaffolds, and I’m not talking about Special Education students or others who may legitimately need a scaffold. Worse, they may just give them the answer and leave it at that, deluded most of the time that the student will figure out or study how and why that is the answer. Or conversely, the teacher may just let students figure problems without any new information to do so and tell the students to “teach themselves”. We don’t believe in either approach, and here’s why:
Both teachers don’t seem to be doing their job, though the first one is working much harder than the others. What we believe is that struggle is productive. Many students turn away or quit when faced with difficulties instead of pushing forward to get through it. Also, for many reasons, students don’t see themselves as readers and writers. That is what is at the heart of Project Prospero, helping students see themselves as readers and writers and getting them through the struggles, but not giving them scaffolds or “the answer” unless they truly need them, making them responsible for their own learning.
We are not purveyors of “one and done”. Students rewrite and refine many times til they, are ready to submit. We have high standards and expectations and make sure, for example, that students explicitly know the parts of an academic essay and can analyze their own writing to see if they have them. Sometimes this is a difficult process, especially if students are used to just giving an answer and if it’s wrong are left alone and/or be given the answer or have the skill done for them. Sometimes students get angry at the teacher for not playing that game. All of our teachers are invested in student success and will not play that one. We will support students as much as they need it. Most of the time students are thankful that they are now can-do things with skills that they couldn’t do before, but that journey isn’t always easy. We’re willing to take it and see it through. Many times, teachers do not, and this slows down or stops learning. Perhaps that is the main thing that defines our methods. We productively will guide but not assume the burden of learning. Neither will we be deterred by resistance. Either a student can perform a skill well or not. Either a student understands something or not. That is the measure. Not to say we are not compassionate and will protect each student’s mental health, but at Project Prospero we are all working on the same things and having the same struggles. This is a source of shared experiences that leads to empathy and even friendships as students navigate the course together. Group classes thus become an opportunity for students to struggle together and learn together, helping each other out in ways that an older academic teacher might not be able to conceive. Any way a student can absorb and perform the skills we teach, whether it is through the instructor or a peer, we view as worthy of reinforcement
Skills and Benefits
Comprehensive Skills for Academic Success
Skills Development
Critical Thinking Mastery
Enhance your ability to analyze and evaluate complex texts, preparing you for advanced academic challenges.
Advanced Writing Techniques
Develop sophisticated writing skills that will enable you to articulate your ideas clearly and persuasively.
Literary Analysis Expertise
Gain a deep understanding of literary works, fostering a nuanced appreciation and interpretation of texts.
Ready to Transform Your Learning?
Don’t miss the opportunity to elevate your academic journey with Project Prospero. Our expert instructors are ready to guide you through a transformative experience that will prepare you for college and beyond. Whether you’re looking to improve your grades or develop a deeper understanding of literature, our course is the perfect fit.
Contact us today to learn more about how Project Prospero can help you achieve your educational goals. Enroll now and take the first step towards academic excellence!