Biography

In 2021, IvyBound’s founder Ruddy Moore noticed a disturbing pattern in his math students’ total SAT scores: the wide disparity between the Math and English subject scores which he felt did not reflect his students’ real potential. Having seen the improvements in Quality Academics’ CSEC English exams under Chantal’s tutelage, Ruddy invited her to offer the SAT English classes. She began teaching SAT English in January 2022 and has helped many students to improve their SAT scores and to gain acceptance to several top-tiered schools of their choice.

Education and Experience

Chantal holds an undergraduate degree (honours) in English, Economics and Politics from the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.). She has also audited courses in the Master of Arts in Teaching (U.W.I.) which she feels honed her skills in customizing effective teaching strategies. She has eight years’ teaching experience, first at Holy Childhood High in the 1980s and since 2019 at Quality Academics where she now teaches CAPE Communication Studies, along with CSEC English and Literature.

Chantal attributes her expansive knowledge of the use of English to her 25+ years’ service in senior management positions with media entities such as TVJ, CVM TV, The Jamaica Observer, Nationwide News Network, and CPTC where she served as CEO. From writing proposals to global funding agencies to negotiating contract terms with the World Bank, from writing political speeches to advertising creative briefs, Chantal’s experience with the English Language has run the gamut. “English is a complex, highly subjective and nuanced language that is not easily mastered by the average high school student,” she recently shared. “Our Caribbean education system prepares students to write highly predictable pieces that place too little emphasis on the development of their critical thinking skills”. It is this gap, Chantal opines, that needs to be addressed as the SAT English paper, essentially, tests students’ critical thinking skills.

Teaching Style

The new Digital SAT English exam incorporates more subjective, nuanced, and creative English passages, some dating as far back as the 1800s; these are designed to test a greater variety of thinking skills. So, this year, greater emphasis will be placed on predictive reasoning based on evidence in texts. This technique is critical as many students have major deficiencies in vocabulary and in understanding the subtle meanings of words and phrases.

The syllabus will be divided into two broad areas: the standard rules and conventions of the English Language, which guide the syntax, grammar, and punctuation of all sentences in the formal variation of the English Language, and the creative and technical use of language to achieve purpose.

In support of the new digital format, students will regularly use their devices to complete tests.