Unlock English. Unlock Confidence.
English Grades Stuck in the 80s?
Move to Consistent 90% Grades with a 20 Year English Teacher
Structured 1:1 online academic coaching with John Wiskin, an OCT-certified high school English teacher with 20 years of classroom experience. (OCT #58668)
For students in Grades 9–12 who are tired of feeling like they’re just “not good at English.” I help students understand what teachers are actually looking for, build the skills behind stronger writing and analysis, and develop the confidence to earn consistent 90%+ grades.
The Problem
Your child is working hard.
Their English mark isn’t moving.
Parents always tell me the same story:
Assignments come home with vague comments like “develop ideas more”
Essays are revised carefully but still land in the low to mid-70s
Report cards mention the need for more “analysis” and “critical thinking” without explaining what that actually looks like
Over time, something frustrating starts. Students begin to assume they’re missing something invisible.
And parents start both wondering "How can someone working this hard feel so stuck?" and "Will English stop my child from getting into the university of their choice?"
After 20 years in the classroom, I can tell you that both questions are understandable and both are far easier to solve than most parents realize.
The System
Tutoring fixes assignments.
Coaching builds performance.
The problem with traditional tutoring is that most tutors simply help students complete assignments. Homework help is fine, but it doesn't build skills and help students excel.
Tutoring often focuses on:
finishing homework
reviewing content
explaining what the teacher said
My Academic English Coaching Program focuses on:
daily homework so skills are developed for class
progression through 13 core English skills to master reading, writing and thinking
multiple feedback sessions for every assignment
weekly support and contact with the tutor
This isn’t occasional homework help because I know that homework help alone won't get students to those consistent 90% grades.
My Academic English Coaching Program is a systematic skill development guided by my 20 years in the English class. I understand how English is actually evaluated and how to build the necessary skills, in the proper order.
Students don’t just improve one assignment. They learn how the system works to earn top grades.
How Academic Coaching moves beyond tutoring and "homework help."
Parents often ask me how my academic coaching is different than traditional tutoring.
Most tutoring stops when the session ends.
This system doesn’t.
Although I do meet with each student for a weekly, private one-hour session, here’s what sets academic English coaching apart:
1. Ongoing Feedback Between Sessions
Students can submit their assignments between sessions for structured feedback.
Students can ask me questions any day so improvement continues weekly (not just during the hour we meet).
This ensures daily progress towards high grades.
2. A Clear Skill Progression System
High School English isn’t random.
There is a progression which I call the UNLOCK Method.
This coaching method follows a structured framework of 13 key skills, with over 200 daily lessons, to unlock skills such as:
Specificity and sentence control
Deep analysis and thinking
Evidence and quotation integration
Cohesive paragraph structure and essay architecture
Exam-level execution under pressure
And more...
Each student works through that system to improve their English skills every day.
3. Twenty Years of Classroom Experience
After two decades in the English classroom (in one of the highest rated secondary schools in Ontario) there are very few problems I haven’t seen.
Weak thesis?
Surface-level analysis?
Vague commentary?
Time-management collapse?
Problems get solved immediately because there isn't a problem I haven't seen and solved.
No trial and error. No wasted time and money.
4. Parent and Student Alignment
Lastly, I realise that coaching isn’t isolated.
Clear communication ensures parents understand:
What skills are being worked on
What student progress looks like
Where improvement is happening
Everyone moves in the same direction and supports your child in their progress.
Results & Social Proof
Real shifts in marks, mindset, and confidence.
He has been an exceptional teacher who helped me understand and appreciate the English language. His enthusiasm is contagious and he makes every class engaging and fun.
— Tiffany, former grade 9 student
He has been an exceptional teacher who helped me understand and appreciate the English language. His enthusiasm is contagious and he makes every class engaging and fun.
— Tiffany, former grade 9 student
It was very relieving having a teacher that actually does prioritize his students before the work. He has helped me discover more of my potential and what I’m capable of.
— Brain, Grade 10 student (ENG2D)
I love how John took his time to "connect" with my son during Grade 12. I know that helped my son to reduce the stress and anxiety of being final year of high school. Also he felt the support. Goals are achievable when you put efforts in. And he recommended a book for "Growth Mindset" for him to read which helped us, parents and students. Plus he is so efficient with email when I have questions or concerns. He is a superb teacher!
— Stephanie, parent of Grade 12 student
We have been incredibly fortunate to have Mr John Wiskin as a private tutor for our son as he entered into high school at the times of pandemic. His dedication, expertise, and personalized approach have significantly improved our son's English skills and confidence.
Also, John connected well with our son to meet his learning style and keeping him engaged.
We highly recommend him to any parent seeking a professional and dedicated English tutor.
— Rachel, parent of grades 9-11 student
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Both of my daughters were taught by John from G9-G12, and he has been an exceptional English tutor throughout these years. Their grades have consistently been above 90 and they have excelled in writing essays. His teaching methods are very effective and engaging, ensuring that every lesson is tailored to their needs and level of understanding. John's patience and dedication have made learning enjoyable for my daughters. I highly recommend John to anyone looking to enhance their English！
— Zoe, Parent of two former students
MEET YOUR COACH
Hi. I'm John Wiskin.
With 20 years of experience as a certified high school English teacher, I’ve seen that every student has the potential to earn 90%+ in English with the right structure and guidance.
I’ll help you get there.
What You Get
What your child walks away with after every session
Each session is designed to create measurable improvement, not just finish an assignment.
Students leave each session with:
Precise feedback identifying exactly what’s lowering the mark
A clear plan targeting the changes that lift performance
Concrete examples of high-level work
Stronger structure and sharper analysis
Skills that transfer to future essays and exams
Clear next steps for independent improvement
This is structured performance development. Not surface-level editing.
The Shift
From “finishing homework” to understanding how English is actually marked.
When students see exactly what strong work actually looks like, and how teachers think while marking, and work through daily lessons they stop guessing and start improving strategically.
Clarity Over Guesswork
Students stop guessing what teachers want and understand exactly how their work is evaluated.
From Effort to Strategy
Hard work becomes targeted improvement instead of endless rewrites.
From Plateau to 90%+ Performance
Marks rise because structure replaces guesswork.
Is This a Fit?
Who coaching is for. And not for.
Clarity up front means better results. Here’s who tends to thrive with academic coaching.
This is for students who:
Are in Grades 9–12 (Ontario focus)
Want to move grades into the 90s
Aiming for university or competitive college programs
Are willing to think, revise, and practice and not just “get answers.”
Feel anxious about English and want structured support
This is not a fit if you:
Want homework help the night before it’s due
Want me to write or heavily edit essays for your child
Won't regularly attend sessions or do the work
Look for the low‑cost option, not depth of support
Invest in Lasting Academic Progress
Teacher-led academic coaching that turns effort into results
Each 60-minute session is designed to create clarity, direction, and visible improvement.
Not just help in the moment, but skills that continue to raise performance across assignments and courses.
This isn’t simply one hour of tutoring.
It’s structured academic coaching, with daily practice, grounded in my 20 years of classroom experience.
Questions Parents Ask
FAQ
Are you a real teacher?
Yes. My name is John Wiskin, and I’m a certified Ontario English teacher with 20 years of classroom experience.
I currently teach at Markville Secondary School, and I earned my Bachelor of Education (Intermediate/Senior English and History) from Niagara University in 2009.
I’m a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT #586668), and I also run the YouTube channel "Unlocking High School English", where I help students understand how to earn top grade in high school English.
Can you guarantee an increase in my child’s grade?
No ethical teacher can guarantee a specific mark.
What I can promise is clear, expert guidance that aligns with how high school English is actually assessed, plus practical steps your child can apply immediately.
Students who attend regularly, complete their work, and apply feedback typically see meaningful improvements in both grades and confidence over a term.
I can say that 85% of the time I have either raised students grades by an average of 10% or maintained averages in the 90s.
My child will get 1:1 tutoring and daily homework?
Yes. I do all of the work of a traditional tutor, meeting for 1 hour every week.
But over the years I've realized that one hour per week isn't enough to consistently raise and maintain high grades. Therefore I give 10-15 of daily homework (which I mark) and allow for feedback opportunities between lessons.
What if my child is very anxious or resistant to tutoring?
Many of my students start out feeling discouraged or defensive. Sessions are calm, predictable, and focused on small wins.
We start by building clarity (i.e. showing that English is a set of skills that can be learned) and we celebrate progress, not perfection.
You’re welcome to stay nearby for the first few sessions if that helps.
How quickly will we see results?
Most students feel clearer and more confident after the first session.
Grade improvements typically follow once students apply feedback consistently across assignments over a term.
Early clarity is usually the first and most noticeable shift.
Will this help beyond English class?
Yes. Skills like clear thinking, structured writing, and evidence-based analysis carry into other subjects, especially history, social sciences, and senior-level courses. Many students notice improvement in how they approach assignments more broadly.