Special Educator Teaches Strategies for Self-Tutoring

After 25 years of educational therapy practice, with a Master of Arts in Special Education and a Ph.D. in psychotherapy (MFCC), I design a unique plan to accommodate the strengths of a student. My teaching model integrates visual, auditory and tactile strategies to enhance academic skills. The Orton-Gillingham approach for reading, along with current evidenced-based programs are chosen to match the pattern of weakness and strengths presented from prior testing results. A student learns to self-advocate for continued success in future academic pursuits. This multi-sensory effort and support system propels a faster rate of learning.

An educational therapist is often needed when a Learning Disability, Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorders (my practice is limited to highly functioning, sometimes called Asperger's Syndrome) has been diagnosed. My expertise is in Visual and Auditory Processing Disorders, including short-term sequential and working memory. The perceptual processing of visual and auditory information is an essential basis for remediation for all academics. Simultaneously, I work on transferring these strategies to classroom, homework and future study skills.

A special educator supports a wide variety of academic strategies, including computer reinforcement, to bear upon any learning difficulty. I have tutored over 500 students through the years and I enjoy the uniqueness that a student presents.

It is a rewarding experience to work with students who respond to creative ideas to improve their learning skills. I require the best in myself to help each student obtain his or her highest potential. Self-esteem is continually enhanced within the interactive relationship with a professional educational therapist.

Connie's Subjects

Science:	psychology
English:	English, grammar, reading, SAT reading, vocabulary
Test Preparation:	CBEST, COOP/HSPT, ISEE, LSAT, SAT reading, SSAT
Special Needs:	ADD/ADHD, Aspergers, dyslexia, phonics, special needs
Elementary Education:	elementary (k-6th), elementary science, grammar, phonics, reading, spelling, study skills, vocabulary
Corporate Training:	grammar
Homeschool:	elementary (k-6th), English, reading, SAT reading, study skills

Vocabulary

To enhance vocabulary skills, I start about a year below grade level to fill in any gaps in word comprehension prior to starting at a students' grade level. I also check the parts of speech to determine if they know how to use words in sentences. A visual drawing is given with each word (part of speech)and a short definition for easier recall. Making an association with a closely related word is essential for recall (e.g., 'respond' is related to 'responsible' and 'responsibilities').
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Grammar

My background in teaching English, phonics, vocabulary, and grammar strategies to 1st-8th graders in public and private schools for more than 20 years has led me to provide a comprehensive approach to tutoring grammar. I have also taught teachers and other adults in grammar skills when studying for the CBEST and SAT.

English grammar is taught in accord with CA standards in Language Arts by grade level. Students learn the parts of speech and how words function in sentences and paragraphs... Read More

Reading

A review of all phonics sounds along with sight vocabulary is tested before tutoring begins regardless of age or reading difficulty. I use the Orton-Gillingham method of re-teaching each single consonant and vowel, then move to blending vowels and consonants before starting the vowel-consonant combinations. A three-prong approach requires the auditory-visual and tactile strategies be combined with each aspect of reading. I follow the CA. Standards, suggestions from an IEP and my own list to verify... Read More

English

My focus in English is based on the CA Standards for each grade level. I review these standards in reading, writing, listening and speaking to remediate any gaps in education, prior to the current grade level. Reading fluency refers to word analysis, syllabication, phrase and paragraph reasoning skills. Written fluency includes sentence structure, parts of speech, grammar, punctuation and knowledge of the four basic kinds of writing paragraphs.

Reading, written, listening and speaking... Read More

LSAT

I have recently tutored several students in my private practice, (some from UCLA, others from USC) in preparation for the LSAT, all of whom passed with high scores. I have previous experience from 5 years ago, and now with these recent students, my tutoring methods in Special Education are well suited for excellent strategies in building a successful study program for students studying for the LSAT. A major strategy was to analyze the question and answer sections of practice tests on specific... Read More

Elementary (K-6th)

As an educational therapist, I have 25+ years of experience working with K-6th graders in language arts, math, social studies and science. In language arts, the following subtopics are included: phonemic awareness, phonics, sight words, reading, reading comprehension, spelling, English rules, grammar and writing tasks. I use the Orton-Gillingham method along with the SRA paragraph readers and other evidence-based programs for application to classroom requirements. I present a step-by-step approach... Read More

Phonics

I have 20 + years of experience teaching phonics. Today, the term phonics, includes more than just learning sounds. There are many phonic levels, such as, alphabet knowledge, sound-symbol association, word concepts and meanings, rhyming, whole to part patterns, print and word recognition, and developmental steps. Each of these areas are usually accomplished between the ages of 3 and 8 years. Some students may have gaps in their learning that need to be addressed. Others do not learn best by using... Read More

Study Skills

As an educational therapist, I combine listening, written, and visual-verbal techniques to bring about successful study skills. My background in Special Education (Master's Degree) provides me with a wealth of strategies to accommodate different learning styles for elementary, secondary and adult students. Elementary students are often eager to learn new steps in a process. Secondary students may need a wide variety of strategies to chose among before setting goals. Adults may have had success... Read More

Special Needs

My specialty is educational therapy. An educational therapist has specialized training to ascertain reaching academic goals. I work with K-8th graders in reading, phonics, spelling, grammar and math. Specifically, I use visual, auditory and tactile strategies throughout the process of learning. Early readers or non-readers, are my preferred area of expertise. I also teach math strategies to students who may not enjoy math. I consider my work to be an opportunity to teach a child how to become... Read More

ADD/ADHD

ADD/ADHD is one of my specialties as an Educational Therapist. During my 25+ years of working with students ages 5 to 14, students with Learning Disabilities also had a mild, moderate or severe degree of ADD or ADHD. My knowledge from psychology as a MFCC in CA. and having completed my doctorate in ADD/ADHD, helps me to contain some of their concerns. I suggest self-designed quiet movements, and other accommodations for them to become their own advocate in a classroom. I also work with parents... Read More

Aspergers

I have worked with many students from ages 6 to 14 who have been diagnosed as having mild, moderate or severe attributes of Asperger's Syndrome. My Master's Degree is in Special Education from UCLA and I completed a post graduate fellowship at Cedars-Sinai. I also was trained at a Counseling Center. Most of my students have an I.E.P. and I follow the CA. Standards. I have the patience to find a student's strengths and weaknesses and then design a plan that fits a student's needs best. I know how... Read More

CBEST

The CBEST is an overview of knowledge gleaned from high school. Many teachers decide to take it after years of little test taking practice. I teach an overview and the specific subtests to review and enhance a student's knowledge. We all need to practice, as some academic areas need work. I took the CBEST recently and passed just to keep up with my skills. I use the CBEST handbook and workbook which allows a student to write and take tests between sessions to have more practice. It is comprehensive,... Read More

COOP/HSPT

As an Educational Therapist with 25+ years experience working with students individually, I bring an extra amount of knowledge to the task of test taking for the COOP/HSPT. Recently some of my students passed very successfully with tutoring and by completing extra assignments between sessions. I use the COOP/HSPT workbook to ascertain weak areas and strengths. I teach strategies for each section and complete at least three practice tests. An increase in self-esteem is noted when a student has... Read More

Dyslexia

I am an Educational Therapist with 25+ years of working with students, ages 4 to 18, who may have been diagnosed with Dyslexia. This is my area of expertise. I believe that the teacher needs to find the best way a student learns. I give parents and students self-administered quizzes to determine their best learning method. This quiz is based on Howard Gardner's work at Harvard University that delineates 8 different learning styles.

A treatment plan is designed to meet individual needs... Read More

ISEE

I have been teaching strategies for each part of the ISEE for over 20 years. First, I buy and give the student the most up-to-date study guide. We take the initial test which tells the areas of strengths and areas of weakness and a plan is organized to match the needs of the student. I also ask the parents to bring an up-to-date report card or prior testing to verify areas of academic need.

I have the student work on a weekly basis outside of the tutoring hours on his or her strengths... Read More

SSAT

I have worked with many students taking the SSAT over the 25+ years I have been tutoring. I am an Educational Therapist with a Master's Degree in Education from UCLA. I teach strategies for each part of the SSAT, with emphasis on the math quantitative portion requiring reasoning skills. This is not the math found in classroom or homework. The written section is often an important adjunct. I use the SSAT workbook for the Lower and Upper Forms of this test and ask for follow-up work between sessions... Read More

Spelling

As an Educational Therapist in Special Education, I am trained to attach the correct group of vowel and consonant blends to learn to spell correctly. Spelling requires the ability to encode or match the exact sound to the alphabetic letters called sound-to-symbol association in proper sequence using phonics and sight words. The strategies consist of learning a process to practice and retain the memory of the 44 different groups of sounds in the English alphabet. This process of combining the auditory... Read More

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Education

California State Univ. Dominguez Hills (Psychology) UCLA - GSE&IS (Master's) California Graduate Institute (PhD)

Hourly Fee

Standard Hourly Fee: $80.00

With Prepaid Discount: $68.00 - $76.00

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Travel Policy

Connie will travel within 5 miles of Los Angeles, CA 90025.

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Connie W.