Smart and Talented Youth
Deserve Personalized Education
You Set the Goals
I Help to Meet Your Needs
Welcome to Sage. My name is John D. Burton. I founded Sage as the culmination of over 40 years of experience and research into what is valuable and effective in education. With two decades as a teacher, more than a decade advising businesses, and a decade of higher education, I have the opportunity to bring my skills and understanding to students and families in-person: either one-on-one or in groups of two to four. I work with both homeschool and in-school students.
Sage Educational Philosophy
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Is Sage Right for You?
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Sage’s Services
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Sage Homeschooling
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Curriculum Expertise
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Sage Safety
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Sage Service Fees
Each Session Is in Person for One Hour
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Learning occurs best in person, individually or in small groups, in a safe, calm environment with limited distractions. My attention to each student and the trust I build with them is essential to helping the student develop independent attention, reasoning, and understanding. Students learn best when challenged but not overwhelmed. Building skills and understanding requires time, courage, and imagination. My role is to provide support, understanding, and advice. Consulting closely with the student’s family and any other family advisors can be critical in helping me understand what I am seeing and what is helpful as I work with the student. Students and their families should be central to determining the goals and scope of the students’ education. If I cannot help meet some of those goals, I will provide my best advice as to how else they could be met, including references to other educators and advisors.
Sage serves a variety of learners, including students in public and private schools and college, those engaged in homeschooling, and anyone else who wants to enhance and expand their skills and understanding. I do my best work with students for whom one or more of the following is true: They . . . previously enjoyed learning, but have lost that joy are gifted and talented and need greater challenges to stay engaged are gifted and talented but don’t see any value in their current curriculum have a high IQ but relatively low processing speed have difficulty sitting still or focusing, including those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have high functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have nonverbal learning disability (NVLD) are being treated for anxiety, depression, or trauma
I offer the following services one-on-one or in groups of two to four:​ A unique program of study for each student that meets their educational and life goals Academic support, including tutoring Adjust lessons as the student progresses Test preparation, including for School quizzes, tests, and exams Advanced Placement (AP) Exams PSATs SATs GREs HiSETs GEDs Supplementary content Coaching families on how to support learning Coaching other educators
I focus on the following curriculum areas: Mathematics from Arithmetic through Calculus Writing Physics Government and Constitutional Law U.S. and European History Fundamentals of Business and Economics Personal Finance Corporate Finance
Background Checks: The Child Care Licensing Unit of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has reviewed an FBI (which includes fingerprinting) background check and a New Hampshire state background check for me. As a result, I am eligible to work at state licensed child care programs in New Hampshire. I have lived in New Hampshire since 2002.  Location of Services: Sage’s educational services for children take place either at a child’s home with their parent or another adult authorized by the parent to supervise the child, or in an appropriate public place. I am CPR and First Aid Certified. Crisis Prevention Institute Certified: I am certified in the Crisis Prevention Institute’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention®. I am also a CPI certified instructor. Learning Environment: I consult with parents and students and make recommendations as to the learning environment in which Sage's services take place. Transportation: Sage does not provide transportation. Insurance: Sage carries professional liability insurance for its services.
Homeschooling can be the best educational choice for many families. I am confident that my in-person, individualized approach helps students develop valuable skills and understanding more effectively and quickly than they can in most institutional educational settings. Here are the highlights of my work with homeschoolers: I work with families and their children to develop a unique program of study that meets their educational and life goals and is challenging, but not overwhelming. I work directly with each student and see their growth first hand.  There is little need for repeated written quizzes, texts, and exams.  Instead, to the extent that it fits into their goals, I use assessments as a means of teaching test-taking skills appropriate to that student. Students practice their skills under my supervision, allowing me to provide immediate feedback.  The need for repeated, unsupervised practice (homework), which often leads to bad habits and misconceptions (which later must be unlearned) is significantly reduced. As the student progresses, we can easily and quickly adjust lessons and goals.