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Tess M. for tutoring lessons in Campbell CA Over 200 tutoring hours WyzAnt Tutoring Tutor Tutor United States

Tess M.

All Elementary/Middle School - ADD/ADHD - ABA Therapist

Campbell, CA (95008)

Travel Radius 25 miles
Hourly Fee $50.00
Save up to 15% (i)
  56 ratings

Your first hour with any tutor is always 100% refundable!

I love working with elementary and middle school age kids and have been a private tutor for the last eight years. I take pride in my ability to motivate and inspire young minds to get the most out of school and enjoy their time there. I employ a fun, yet firm, approach and will create or purchase any additional learning aids as needed. As good study habits are the key to success in school, I encourage my students to develop habits and routines that will serve them throughout life.

When I meet with you we'll discuss the educational challenges your child is experiencing, any IEPs in progress, and how we can achieve those goals. I offer a daily report for your review in which I list all assignments and any additional work we perform to achieve our educational goals.

ABA Therapist - If your child has some problem behaviors my best approach is to work with them incrementally, with modest goals initially, to achieve compliance in completing tasks. I increase demands as the child's cooperation improves. I employ the proven scientific principles of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). I recommend that you limit the amount of time spent on video games, particularly just prior to our sessions. You will see results in terms of better grades and enjoyment in learning. Several children I have worked with are now college bound! My goal is to make your child a life-long learner.

A little more about me:
I helped found and currently serve on the Board of Directors of an ABA school called The Mosaic School, located in Wantagh, NY. I ran a drop-in after school tutoring program in Port Washington, NY, at a local teen center.

Look at my 5-star reviews! You've tried the rest, now go with the best! Tess the Tutor!

Tess's Subjects

Math:
Music:
Art:
English:
Computer:
Language:
  • French
History:
Special Needs:
Elementary Education:
Business:
Corporate Training:
Homeschool:

Algebra 1

This class is a study of the language, concepts, and techniques of Algebra that will prepare students to approach and solve problems following a logical succession of steps. Skills taught in the course lay groundwork for upper level math and science courses and have practical uses. Algebra I is offered 8th through 12th grade. The majority of students take Algebra I as 9th graders.

Typical topics in this course include:

A. Introductory Concepts
1. Simplify and evaluate... Read More

American History

A lifelong student of American History, I use the foundation I established in grade school and high school to continually deepen my understanding of the events and people that have shaped this great country. Understanding the basic facts about American History is important. A deeper understanding comes when one looks at various interpretations of events and finds relationships to personal experience. I look forward to teaching and sharing my unique knowledge of the American experience.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary building is often overlooked as a language art skill. It is one thing to review and learn to spell all the words on a weekly list, but the most important step, that of incorporating the words into one's personal vocabulary, is often not emphasized enough. I offer my students incentives for using their new vocabulary words in their daily speech and writing. Proper use of a dictionary is another important tool for building vocabulary which I make sure my clients understand well.

Grammar

The rules of English Grammar can be confusing, but having a good foundation is vital to communicating well, whether in speaking or writing. I do a fair amount of writing and I still keep my copy of Gregg Reference Manual handy. I regard it as 'my definitive reference for the rules of grammar.' Let me help you navigate through these rules so you can become a better communicator!

Geometry

I use Geometry extensively in my design work. I like to explore the relationships Geometry uses to describe our physical world. A good grounding is Geometry is very useful in everyday life. If you are trying to make it through a Geometry class then I have the tools to help you succeed.

Prealgebra

In my experience as a tutor, Prealgebra is the pivotal math course which separates those who will go on with their studies in mathematics. If your child has some holes in his math education then we can work together to fill them. Algebra and other math courses build on the concepts offered in Prealgebra. Don't let your child be left behind. I have plenty of excellent math workbooks with supplemental exercises to help your child master this important subject.

Reading

My reading approach with clients depends on their individual needs. After discussing the student's reading challenges with the parent/s I can employ any or all of these strategies:
1 First, have the student read aloud passages from current reading material and check their comprehension.
2. Determine student's current reading level (grade level)
3. Evaluate the student's reading posture; assessing attention issues, sitting posture, study environment, etc.
4. Employ different... Read More

Proofreading

Working as a marketing communications manager, one of my roles is to proofread all material that goes out to the public, for print and the Web. In teaching proofreading I help my writer clients to understand the standard rules of punctuation, active or passive voice, rules of grammar, how to use proofreader's marks, and using these tools to achieve their writing objectives.

If a student or other client wants to retain me to proofread a term paper or other report I will mark up hard... Read More

Spelling

I like to use flash cards to help my clients master spelling. I always carry flash cards in my tutoring kit. For each word on my clients' spelling lists I make sure they master proper pronunciation, understand meaning, and can use each word in a sentence.
If my client continues to have difficulty with spelling I resort to fun spelling games and drills.

Elementary Math

Elementary math is one of the most important foundational areas in elementary education. All too often students find themselves falling behind in grasping important concepts while their teachers move on to topics which build upon those concepts. I make sure my clients fill those gaps in their understanding so that they can continue to progress. I use flash cards for math facts and I take a very methodical approach to helping my students master word problems. I have seen most of my students improve... Read More

Elementary Science

I love helping my students understand science! Elementary science is one of the most important foundational areas in elementary education. Starting with homework assignments, I assess how well my clients understand the material they are being presented in school. Making the learning both fun and informative is my aspiration. I like to supplement school learning with all the wonderful resources for learning available on the Web. My goal is to make my client a lifelong learner!

Elementary (K-6th)

I specialize in working with clients in this age group. I have been offering tutoring in all elementary subjects for the last seven years. Starting with approved textbooks and homework assignments I work closely with my clients to make sure they have a full grasp of the concepts they are expected to learn. If the client requires additional help in a subject (or as described in an IEP) I provide additional learning aids as needed. I employ a firm, yet fun, approach to learning, very directed in... Read More

General Music

I have been playing guitar since I was seven years old and took private guitar lessons at a local studio through my senior year of high school. I also headed a church folk group for three years. I have a thorough understanding of the fundamental parameters or elements of music including rhythm, harmony, melody, structure form and texture. As a member of chorus thoughout school and a student of piano, I have a firm grounding in music theory including the language and notation of music.

Phonics

I teach my young clients how to connect the sounds of spoken English with letters or groups of letters (e.g., that the sound /k/ can be represented by c, k, ck, ch, or q spellings) and teaching them to blend the sounds of letters together to produce approximate pronunciations of unknown words.
For the client that is experiencing difficulty in pronouncing specific kinds of words I employ the use of flashcards illustrating these sounds that we practice until the client gains proficiency. I... Read More

Study Skills

Study skills are best taught each session by demonstrating what works with the client. I assist my clients by helping them set up a good environment for completing their school work, free of distractions. Add to that ideal approaches for completing assignments and tackling challenging material. I also show my clients how to do effective searches on the Web. My goal is to make my clients life-long learners and good study skills are key to that objective.

Adobe Photoshop

I have worked extensively with Photoshop (and Illustrator) since it was first released in 1990. I use it regularly to do photo correction from my digital cameras and scanned photos. I use it in combination with Illustrator for advertising, executive presentation, booklets, and websites.

Drawing

I have given art and drawing classes at various venues throughout my career (Lafayette Art Museum, The Mosaic School, and Port Washington Teen Center, to name a few). I have taken many courses in sketching and drawing (including figure drawing) throughout high school and college. Add to that my additional experience and working knowledge of the mechanics of drawing including two- and three-point perspective and computer-based design. I also understand the principles of color theory. I am a fine... Read More

Photography

I minored in Fine Art in college and took many traditional photography classes including documentary photography, 2D and 3D photographic design, and several Special Projects in Photography seminars. I have adapted my understanding of composition, layout and design, photo correction and other techniques to digital photography and have been using Photoshop since it was first released in the early 90s.

Public Speaking

Public Speaking is a valuable skill to have, whether you have the need to speak in front of your class, work colleagues, or simply offer a toast at a social function. As a long time member of Toastmasters, an organization devoted to learning public speaking skills, I worked to overcome my natural shyness and developed the skills of organizing and delivering well received speeches of various lengths.

Good preparation is the key to success. Let me help you to be a successful speaker.

Painting

I minored in Fine Art and currently work in the following media: acrylic, oil, and watercolor. Over the years I have adopted some very practical techniques for getting my images to canvas or paper so I can spend more time using my paints to depict color and light. I have a thorough understanding of color theory, a must for anyone who wants to control the colors in their work. I also foster an understanding of layout and design that makes paintings more engaging and pleasing to the eye. I also... Read More

ADD/ADHD

I helped found and serve on the Board of Directors of the Mosaic School for Autism and Foundation. I have worked with several children with ADD/ADHD and Aspergers at the Mosaic School and in private tutoring practice. I use the scientifically proven principles of ABA (Advanced Behavior Analysis) to work with my clients who have attention issues. Several of my former clients are now college bound.

Art History

Art History is one of my favorite areas of study and I maintain a library of over 200 books on the subject. I have taken 18 credits of art and architecture history in college and continue to do research. In addition, I have made it a point to visit the great art museums of the world in my travels, including some of my favorites: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, The deYoung and Asian Art Museum in SF, The Louvre and Musee D'Orsay in Paris, the Uffizi in Florence, The Vatican Collection in... Read More

Aspergers

I helped found and serve on the Board of Directors of the Mosaic School for Autism and Foundation. I have worked with several children with Aspergers at the Mosaic School and in private tutoring practice. I have also worked extensively with my two nephews who have autism, one with Aspergers. I also have access to two BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) with whom I can consult.

Read all subject qualifications »

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Tess's Hourly Rate

Hourly Fee: $50.00

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Background Check Status for Tess M.

Passed

Tess M. passed a background check on 1/13/2012. You may run an updated background check on Tess once you send an email.

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