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About
Rothblatt: |
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My name is Amy, I am a mother of two, and live in the South Loop in Chicago. I grew up in Hyde Park, where my father was a professor at the University of Chicago; my mother was an editor of an urban planning magazine.
I got my bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in Communication Arts. After that, I took 2 years of photography classes at Columbia College in Chicago, and then spent 20 years as a professional free-lance photographer. I specialized in photographing events (many of which were at local colleges and universities), and portraiture of all kinds: both on location, and in my home studio, which I still shoot in today.
After taking several years off to help raise my two kids, who are now 9 and 13 years old, I decided to get my real estate license, which I did, in order to maintain my flexible, free-lance lifestyle. I recently also began a career as a preschool teacher, and newspaper reporter.
My 13 year old son was diagnosed with a series of learning disabilities at the age of 4, while in his second year of preschool, by which time I had my daughter, who was an infant. I needed to spend time with him, taking him to neurologists, psychologists for evaluation, and occupational therapy twice a week. I also helped him work on his gross and fine motor skills at home, and constantly read to him and stimulated him intellectually. (I know understand that he is an auditory learner; he always loved books and story tapes as an infant and toddler. He is still a voracious reader, and loves to write fiction!)
Although he does still have ADHD (but is no longer hyperactive) and is on medication, which has worked wonderfully for years, keeping him focused, he also still shows evidence of nonverbal learning disorder, which was part of his initial diagnosis in preschool: as was sensory motor integration.
In his case, he had hyper tactile sensitivity, while also having a lack of tactile sensitivity that is very hard to understand and explain. He spent seven years going to occupational therapy to help him with these issues, and had a very dedicated OT, who helped him develop strategies for staying "grounded," being aware of his body,
and helped role play with him a bit socially.
Nonverbal learning disorder affects body awareness, the ability to decipher body language and the nuances of behavior, and social skills. My son has attended several social skills groups, which have helped him to a degree, and over the past few years has shown signs of OCD (or obsessive compulsive disorder).
However, with all of this help (from me, his OT, his medication, and his elementary school), he has been very successful in school academically, and is now applying to the selected high schools in Chicago.
I feel that the time I spent with him, both at home, with doctors, teachers, and at school as his advocate, to make sure he received what he needed and be better "understood," has been a huge contribution to his academic success. He is still not great socially, is exhibiting typical teenage behavior and is a bit withdrawn, but I have always had tutoring for him, which had great value, and tried to help him study when he was younger.
He has developed quite good study habits, and, while he is not a straight A student, he gets mostly As and Bs, rarely anything lower, and is frequently on the honor roll: at this point, without my help.
I feel that I could be an asset to any family who has a child with special needs and, although I am not a certified teacher, I have taught preschool, have 10 credits in education, and am now applying to get my teachers' certification, to be a special education teacher.
I have been living this for years, have devoted time, love and effort to help my son, and have read and experienced quite a bit about living with someone who needs organizational help (which includes staying focused and prioritizing)and I have helped him learn to proof and study for tests.
I feel that I could make a contribution to someone who may have a child with similar issues. (I do feel, however, that it is imperative to get the support of the school,
and whatever help is needed. My son has rarely needed academic help, but got an alphasmart, or special laptop, to type his notes and assignments. It has helped him process information tremendously, as he does not have to spend time tediously forming letters in hand-written notes; his hand-writing is not very legible, and is all over the place--i.e. has not really grasped how to organize the hand-written word.)
I would like to be considered as a tutor,
on some sort of part-time but regular basis. My strengths are in reading, English, writing (I also write for a newspaper), but know other subjects at the elementary level as well: French, math, and am a good critical reader (could help study for tests in science, social studies, etc.)
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope that having my help would be useful to some of you. |
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Sunday:
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9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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Monday: |
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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Tuesday: |
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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Wednesday: |
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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Thursday: |
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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Friday: |
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Saturday: |
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Find other tutors in Chicago, IL
English - Microsoft word - proofreading - reading - special needs - study skills
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