All of
Grace’s current tutoring subjects are listed at the left. You
can read more about
Grace’s qualifications in specific subjects below.
ADD/ADHD
In addition to my B.A. in Psychology, with 30 semester credits in Neuro and Behavioral Psychology, I am a certified Parents as Teachers provider, an organization that provides in-home training for families desiring academic and developmental activities for their children. For 15 years I have worked with a broad range of clients in both identifying and treating ADD/ADHD symptoms in school age children.
College Counseling
I have a B.A. in Counseling Psychology from Vermont College and am currently enrolled in a MSW program. I have ten years experience counseling pre-college and college students, and have successfully assisted students in identifying and changing lifestyle, building effective decision making and study skills, and sexual identity disorders.
Elementary (K-6th)
With 14 years experience as a reading specialist, general tutor, and elementary substitute teacher, I have accumulated many resources and techniques specifically designed to assist K-6th grade students in their studies.
Music History
I am a founding teacher in the National Music Certificate Program, the American counterpart to the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. Additionally. I am in the final stages of being a Certified Associate of the Conservatory, both in teaching and performance, This certification requires advanced knowledge of music history, which I continually use in my teaching.
Phonics
Phonics, the building block of word formation, can be a difficult road to navigate if connections are not established with the reader's experience. My phonics approach combines traditional phonics with the study of syllables, spelling, and word origins to help readers achieve stronger results.
With 23 years experience using my system with students of all ages, social-economic cultures, and behavioral or impaired learning patterns, I enjoy great success watching my readers develop their own interest in and love of reading.
Piano
Having taught piano for over 25 years, I currently maintain two studio locations. In addition to being the choir accompanist for a local school district, I am a Church pianist as well. I am currently completing the final steps of becoming a Certified Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada, in both performance and teaching, and am a founding teacher in their American counterpart, the National Music Certificate Program.
Reading
Certified in Reading Reflex, as well as Parents as Teachers, my ability to build reading fluency and comprehension through phonics and decoding skills has successfully helped students of all grade levels improve reading scores as well as build a love of reading. I particularly enjoy one-on-one interaction, assessing skills and building on inherent strengths to overcome reading challenges such as dyslexia and visual coordination.
Special Needs
My experience includes working as an interventionist for a school district with families assessed as special needs, working as an Assistant Children's Pastor in a large, multi-cultural church which included addressing of and assisting with special needs children, as well as ten years tutoring children with disorders such as Autism Spectrum, Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, and prenatal drug and alcohol exposure.
Education:
Early Childhood Development Certificate, University of Tennessee
Certified Parents as Teachers Parent Instructor, birth to age 3, 3 to 6, including special needs endorsement
B.A. in Counseling Psychology, Vermont College, with advanced studies in music therapy, pediatric palliative care, and play therapy
Study Skills
From note taking to memory skills and test taking, study skills mean different things for different students. Regardless of what your goals are, I can assist you in building stronger study skills.
My approach involves identifying your goals, analyzing the roadblocks, and providing you the necessary skills to overcome. Using this approach, I have helped many elementary students become better test takers, and high school and college students improve time management, course selection, and grade point average.