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• About : Dan Lerman has spent 18 years getting students unstuck. A PhD in Cognitive Science, degrees from Duke, Georgetown, and Columbia, and a knack for teenagers.
• Now : What Dan Lerman is focused on now: the Tutor Dojo, SAT boot camps in London and New York, turning 40, and speaking at the Tikvah Marom Summit.

Best Posts

Start here. The handful of posts that best capture what Dan Lerman writes about, from tutoring and cognitive science to comedy and the Office Haggadah. If you only read a few, read these first.

• Big Life Update: Chief Cognitive Scientist at Advantage Testing : Dan Lerman joins Advantage Testing as Chief Cognitive Scientist, sharing why he sees tutoring as a true profession and how the firm builds skill.
• The Free Press: The War on Knowledge : Dan Lerman shares his Free Press article on the decline of knowledge in schools and why factual learning still matters, with the full piece below.
• How I got Mentioned on Conan's Podcast : Dan Lerman tells how dropping off hats at the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend studio led the DILFs of Larchmont to a full opening segment on the podcast.
• Becoming A Confident Learner : Dan Lerman explains cognitive confidence, how self-belief shapes intellectual growth, and practical steps to build confidence as a learner.
• Qualities Of Great Educators And Coaches : Dan Lerman shares three qualities of exceptional educators after nearly two decades teaching: empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard.

Comedy

Comedy is my second career, or maybe my first one that I came to late. Either way, this is where I write about it. "DILFs of Larchmont: Microcomedy and Shopify Store Announcement" asks the question: what do the DILFs of Larchmont do when they finally get five uninterrupted minutes to themselves? The answer involves a Shopify store.

• The Larchmont Comedy Series Is Back! : If you've been to our show before, you know. If you haven't, it's comedy in a backyard with people who will become your friends. And after 6 months off,…
• The DILFs of Larchmont Made It Onto KTLA : Dan Lerman recaps the DILFs of Larchmont dad group's KTLA television segment, filmed at Tacos Tu Madre and aired on the For a Good Time feature.
• The Next Comedy Phenomenon Has Arrived : Stamptown is heading to Netflix, taped live at the Netflix Is A Joke Festival. I saw this cult Edinburgh Fringe hit firsthand, here's why it's unlike anything.
• [ARCHIVED] DILFs of Larchmont: Microcomedy and Shopify Store Announcement : Dan Lerman shares the DILFs of Larchmont microcomedy series, what the dads do with five free minutes, and news of a Shopify store launching soon.
• Laughs on Larchmont: The Recap : Dan Lerman recaps Laughs on Larchmont, a sold-out comedy crawl that raised about $1,500 for Hilarity for Charity and a local neighborhood group.
• [ARCHIVED] Laughs on Larchmont: A Comedy Crawl for a Cause : Dan Lerman and his wife launch Laughs on Larchmont, a Los Angeles comedy crawl with three shows at unexpected venues for a good cause.
• DILFs of Larchmont: LA's Most Exclusive Dad Club : Dan Lerman tells the story of the DILFs of Larchmont, a Los Angeles dad group that embraces middle age, grilling, and a mention on Conan's podcast.
• How I got Mentioned on Conan's Podcast : Dan Lerman tells how dropping off hats at the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend studio led the DILFs of Larchmont to a full opening segment on the podcast.
• Larchmont Comedy Show Entertains Over 300 Neighbors : Dan Lerman recaps the first Larchmont Blvd Comedy Show, which drew over 300 neighbors and raised $2,500 for LAFD Fire Station 52.
• A Wednesday Night in Larchmont : Dan Lerman shares the Larchmont Buzz feature on his and Kim's Backyard Comedy Series, the private comedy show running a block off Larchmont Blvd.

General

The stuff that does not fit anywhere else. Kids, concerts, creative projects, basketball redemption arcs. "Reflections on the Eve of a Second Child" starts with an admission: in some ways, I am embarrassed to be writing about this. Having a child is not unique. But the feelings before it happens are worth putting down.

• Reflections on the Eve of a Second Child : Dan Lerman reflects on the eve of his second child: the ways life gets tougher, the ways it gets better, and a few predictions about number two.
• I Saw Alanis Morissette in Vegas! : Dan Lerman writes about seeing Alanis Morissette at her Vegas residency, the vulnerability she shared on stage, and why the night moved him to tears.
• K Academy: My Quest for Basketball Redemption : Dan Lerman returns to K Academy, Coach K's basketball camp for players 35 and up, hoping to redeem a humbling first run that ended with a broken rib.
• Turning Creative Dreams into Reality: My Artist's Way Accountability Group : Dan Lerman builds an accountability group around Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, with a $100 penalty per missed week to keep creatives finishing it.
• My Most Viral TikTok : Dan Lerman shares his most viral TikTok along with a bonus funny video from his Practical Professor account.
• Meeting Warren Buffett : Dan Lerman shares the most memorable lines from seeing Warren Buffett at the Berkshire Hathaway meeting, on America, reading, AI, and loving your work.

Haggadah

Everything related to The Office Haggadah, a project that keeps surprising me with where it goes. "GOLDA Guide: The Office Haggadah" covers another feature of The Office Haggadah, this time on the GOLDA Guide. Every time it gets picked up somewhere new, I am genuinely thrilled. "Bringing 'The Office' to Your Passover Seder" is about our feature in The Jewish Journal. Getting press for a parody Haggadah is not something I ever planned for, but here we are.

• GOLDA Guide: The Office Haggadah : Dan Lerman talks with GOLDA Guide about The Office Haggadah, his childhood Passover memories, and the backyard second-night Seders that inspired it.
• Bringing "The Office" to Your Passover Seder : Dan Lerman shares a Jewish Journal feature on The Office Haggadah, the Scranton-themed second-night Seder he created with Dave Cowen.
• Parody Haggadahs for Seder : Dan Lerman shares his parody Haggadahs, sitcom-inspired takes on Passover that blend the teaching of tradition with the laughs of modern TV.

Tutoring

Tutoring, education, and my work in cognitive science. This is the serious side. "It's Official! The Professional Tutoring Program (PTP) is Live" announces the launch of a project I built with Columbia University. The Professional Tutoring Program had been in the works for a while, and seeing it go live was a big moment.

• It's Official! The Professional Tutoring Program (PTP) is Live : Dan Lerman launches the Professional Tutoring Program, a first-of-its-kind university-backed tutor training built with Columbia University.
• The John Curley Show: The James Bond of SAT Tutoring : Dan Lerman joins The John Curley Show on KIRO Newsradio to talk about his James Bond moniker and the war on knowledge in education today.
• Big Life Update: Chief Cognitive Scientist at Advantage Testing : Dan Lerman joins Advantage Testing as Chief Cognitive Scientist, sharing why he sees tutoring as a true profession and how the firm builds skill.
• The Free Press: The War on Knowledge : Dan Lerman shares his Free Press article on the decline of knowledge in schools and why factual learning still matters, with the full piece below.
• SAT Boot Camps in London : Dan Lerman has run a summer SAT boot camp in London for nine years, returning each July to teach British students and enjoy the city with his wife.
• The Future of the Tutoring Industry : Dan Lerman speaks at the National Test Prep Association conference on why tutoring, an ancient practice, is finally moving toward professional standards.
• The Nick Halaris Show : Dan Lerman joins The Nick Halaris Show to talk about elite tutoring, the pressures of modern education, and building cognitive confidence in students.
• Tutor Training Is Finally Here (And About Time, Right?) : Dan Lerman launches Advanced Tutoring Techniques at Columbia, plans TutorCon in NYC, and works toward a full tutor certification program for the field.
• My First Ever Tutoring Class at the University Level : Dan Lerman creates Advanced Tutoring Techniques at Columbia University's Teachers College, a first-of-its-kind class on how to tutor well.
• Becoming A Confident Learner : Dan Lerman explains cognitive confidence, how self-belief shapes intellectual growth, and practical steps to build confidence as a learner.
• [ARCHIVED] Supreme Court Strikes Down Affirmative Action : Dan Lerman breaks down the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision ending race-conscious college admissions and what the change means for applicants.
• Ivy League's New Priority: Athletes, Experts, and Super Fans : Dan Lerman recounts a lunch with three Ivy League admissions officers and the unexpected pathways they say can boost a student's chances.
• Qualities Of Great Educators And Coaches : Dan Lerman shares three qualities of exceptional educators after nearly two decades teaching: empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard.
• The League of Exceptional Tutors : Dan Lerman explains why tutoring lacks any real training path and shares his ideas for a certification program through the League of Exceptional Tutors.
• Marquis Who's Who Recognizes Daniel Lerman, PhD, for Pioneering Education and Premium Tutoring Services : Daniel Lerman, PhD, is selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who, recognizing his teaching career across St. Paul's, Saint Ann's, Oxford, and Columbia.
• I Got A PhD in My Spare Time For Less Than $20,000 : Dan Lerman explains how he earned a PhD in Cognitive Science in his spare time for under $20,000, using passion, employer funding, and scholarships.
• The SAT Makes a Comeback : Dan Lerman breaks down Dartmouth's move to make SAT scores mandatory again, what it signals for reading skills, and which schools might follow.