Search
Maryann J.'s Photo
Maryann J.'s Photo
Maryann J.'s Photo
Maryann J.'s Photo

Maryann J.

PhD in Education Specializing in Success for Struggling Young Readers

PhD in Education Specializing in Success for Struggling Young Readers

$35/hour

5.0 (15 ratings)

  • 23 hours tutoring

About Maryann

Bio

My 10 years as a reading specialist (grades k-3) in the Boston Public Schools were the most rewarding years of my career-despite 20 years as a classroom teacher. I remain determined to assist any struggling young reader who desires to become a lifetime member of "the literacy club". Being literate empowers and opens up worlds of knowledge and enjoyment. Illiteracy handicaps and limits opportunities. Literacy opens doors and widens horizons. I believe I was placed on this earth to help...

My 10 years as a reading specialist (grades k-3) in the Boston Public Schools were the most rewarding years of my career-despite 20 years as a classroom teacher. I remain determined to assist any struggling young reader who desires to become a lifetime member of "the literacy club". Being literate empowers and opens up worlds of knowledge and enjoyment. Illiteracy handicaps and limits opportunities. Literacy opens doors and widens horizons. I believe I was placed on this earth to help every youngster who wants desperately to read but can't seem to get a solid launch. Reading is not simply calling words or sounding out. Reading involves understanding what you read. It's a two part process. You decode with the endpoint always being to make meaning. I also strive to engage students so that they fall in love with books !!

I begin with a thorough assessment in five literacy areas including writing. I assess various aspects of decoding as well as comprehending. I then develop a blueprint for instruction based on that assessment. I use real books, not worksheets as the reader develops his/her skill. From the outset of instruction, I encourage independence and enjoyment of the reading act. You learn to read by reading, so there is lots of rereading. I have both worked with hundreds of young struggling readers and assisted K-3 classroom teachers acquire strategies for helping their non-readers. Success stories are plentiful and move me to tears when I think about all the young learners whose literacy was launched. Anna, a six year old entered first grade knowing only 2 letters, a and o. Sixteen weeks later she was reading on grade level! Benita, a second language learner, began in September, painfully shy and reticent. In December, she was confidently reading on grade level to any one would listen to her! Research-based methods used with students were learned from a renowned New Zealand researcher, the late Dr. Marie Clay. My former professor and mentor, Dr. Irene Fountas, is a co- author of the Benchmark Assessmen

Read more

Education

Queens College
Elementary Education
UMass Boston
MEd
Lesley University
PhD

Policies

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Subjects

Elementary Education

Elementary (K-6th),

Elementary (K-6th)

I received BA degree in elementary education from Queens College and returned to grad school for a MED degree in Elementary Reading. I taught elementary grades 1 and 2 for six years before becoming a K-6 reading specialist for 14 years. I have tutored reading to students in grades k-5.
Homeschool,

Homeschool

I have served in two different ways to meet the needs of homeschooled students. In some cases, I tutored students in reading, writing, and phonics who had serious health issues were homebound, and lost lots of time out of school. Boston School District selected (and paid) a pool of successful classroom teachers who did this after school hours. In other cases, homeschool was an intentional choice but parents desired a degreed, experienced reading educator to teach their child following the common core curriculum.
Phonics,

Phonics

My undergrad degree in Elementary Ed required a course in which 50% dealt with phonics principles and practices. My Masters degree is in Elementary Reading covering K-12 research and practices. I have tutored dozens of children as a reading specialist and focused on analytic as well as synthetic approaches. I trained numerous K-3 teachers in 30 elementary schools (Boston Public) with research based phonics methods as well as facilitated national workshops for IRA, MRA (statewide) and NCTE. I have led phonics seminars for various local school systems' teachers' groups (NC, VA, NJ, IN). I teach undergrad and grad college level (traditional and online courses) in reading that are about 25% phonics content (Wheelock College/MA; St. Augustine's Univ./NC and Barton College/NC).
Reading,

Reading

I served as a Reading Specialist in a large urban district for over ten years. I then became a system wide Reading Coach responsible for helping classroom teachers- in 30 schools- provide high quality instruction for struggling readers. In both these roles, I assisted dozens of non readers in achieving grade level achievement in 12-20 weeks, My research-based approach uses "real" reading books, writing and concentrates on remediating weak areas while simultaneously building on strengths. All instruction is based on a comprehensive set of assessments--encouraging strategic self-reliance from the initial lesson.
Spelling, Vocabulary

English

Reading,

Reading

I served as a Reading Specialist in a large urban district for over ten years. I then became a system wide Reading Coach responsible for helping classroom teachers- in 30 schools- provide high quality instruction for struggling readers. In both these roles, I assisted dozens of non readers in achieving grade level achievement in 12-20 weeks, My research-based approach uses "real" reading books, writing and concentrates on remediating weak areas while simultaneously building on strengths. All instruction is based on a comprehensive set of assessments--encouraging strategic self-reliance from the initial lesson.
Spelling, Vocabulary

Homeschool

Elementary (K-6th),

Elementary (K-6th)

I received BA degree in elementary education from Queens College and returned to grad school for a MED degree in Elementary Reading. I taught elementary grades 1 and 2 for six years before becoming a K-6 reading specialist for 14 years. I have tutored reading to students in grades k-5.
Reading,

Reading

I served as a Reading Specialist in a large urban district for over ten years. I then became a system wide Reading Coach responsible for helping classroom teachers- in 30 schools- provide high quality instruction for struggling readers. In both these roles, I assisted dozens of non readers in achieving grade level achievement in 12-20 weeks, My research-based approach uses "real" reading books, writing and concentrates on remediating weak areas while simultaneously building on strengths. All instruction is based on a comprehensive set of assessments--encouraging strategic self-reliance from the initial lesson.
Spelling

Most Popular

Elementary (K-6th),

Elementary (K-6th)

I received BA degree in elementary education from Queens College and returned to grad school for a MED degree in Elementary Reading. I taught elementary grades 1 and 2 for six years before becoming a K-6 reading specialist for 14 years. I have tutored reading to students in grades k-5.
Reading

Reading

I served as a Reading Specialist in a large urban district for over ten years. I then became a system wide Reading Coach responsible for helping classroom teachers- in 30 schools- provide high quality instruction for struggling readers. In both these roles, I assisted dozens of non readers in achieving grade level achievement in 12-20 weeks, My research-based approach uses "real" reading books, writing and concentrates on remediating weak areas while simultaneously building on strengths. All instruction is based on a comprehensive set of assessments--encouraging strategic self-reliance from the initial lesson.

Special Needs

ADHD,

ADHD

As a Reading Specialist, and mentor of Special Needs teachers, I was trained to work with ALL students who struggle as literacy learners. This includes those diagnosed with ADHD. I have successfully taught and witnessed phenomenal progress by such learners when instruction is targeted, interactive and specific. It's important to assess and then teach based on their strengths, and not solely focus on perceived areas of weakness/disability. So my instruction begins with the question "What does this learner already know ?"
Phonics

Phonics

My undergrad degree in Elementary Ed required a course in which 50% dealt with phonics principles and practices. My Masters degree is in Elementary Reading covering K-12 research and practices. I have tutored dozens of children as a reading specialist and focused on analytic as well as synthetic approaches. I trained numerous K-3 teachers in 30 elementary schools (Boston Public) with research based phonics methods as well as facilitated national workshops for IRA, MRA (statewide) and NCTE. I have led phonics seminars for various local school systems' teachers' groups (NC, VA, NJ, IN). I teach undergrad and grad college level (traditional and online courses) in reading that are about 25% phonics content (Wheelock College/MA; St. Augustine's Univ./NC and Barton College/NC).

Summer

Elementary (K-6th),

Elementary (K-6th)

I received BA degree in elementary education from Queens College and returned to grad school for a MED degree in Elementary Reading. I taught elementary grades 1 and 2 for six years before becoming a K-6 reading specialist for 14 years. I have tutored reading to students in grades k-5.
Reading

Reading

I served as a Reading Specialist in a large urban district for over ten years. I then became a system wide Reading Coach responsible for helping classroom teachers- in 30 schools- provide high quality instruction for struggling readers. In both these roles, I assisted dozens of non readers in achieving grade level achievement in 12-20 weeks, My research-based approach uses "real" reading books, writing and concentrates on remediating weak areas while simultaneously building on strengths. All instruction is based on a comprehensive set of assessments--encouraging strategic self-reliance from the initial lesson.

Examples of Expertise

Maryann has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 2 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Maryann ’s answers ›

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (15 ratings)
5 star
(15)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Show reviews that mention

All reviews expert patient and encouraging encouraging wonderful patient

Featured review

Excellent tutor

Maryann is amazing. She is very knowledgeable and caring. Kids needs more educators like her. I really appreciate everything she has done with my son. I highly recommend her.

Mariela, 2 lessons with Maryann

What an awesome tutor !!!!

Our son started tutoring with Dr. Maryann Wilkey on 11/28/20 & just in these short period my husband & I have seen a change ,his confidence level is getting better & he's not getting frustrated while reading. If I had friend's with little one's I would definitely recommend her.

Derrica, 6 lessons with Maryann

Knowledgeable

Maryann helped my son understand how to break long words down for easy reading. I can see a rise in his level of confidence as he reads at home. The tools that she has provided to my son are what helps create a strong foundation.

Cindy, 2 lessons with Maryann

Wonderful tutor!

Maryann J is a wonderful tutor. She is very knowledgeable and helpful. I appreciate the materials and ideas she gave us to work at home with our son. I highly recommended this tutor.

Teresa, 2 lessons with Maryann

Reading Specialist: A Teacher's Teacher

Dr. Maryann J. is a teacher's teacher. She teaches teachers how to teach reading. In fact, she is hired by school districts to teach how to teach reading. She is an answered prayer as our son is a struggling reader and a year behind in his expected reading level. My husband and I wanted a Reading Specialist, not a tutor but an expert, a diagnostician who can evaluate & determine our son's current reading level, enhance his reading strengths and attack his weaknesses with research and evidence-based strategies. Since doing corrective work w/ our son in November, our son has raised his reading to 3 levels, from level B to level D based on the Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy Instruction. Dr. J is a wonderful teacher and am glad that we found a Reading Specialist locally. There are not that many in the area. She is compassionate, patient, encouraging, and empowering to our son and to us parents in helping our son reach his fullest potential.

Geraldine, 10 lessons with Maryann
Contact Maryann

Response time: 5 hours

$35/hour

Maryann J.'s Photo

Maryann J.

$35/hour

  • No subscriptions or upfront payments

  • Only pay for the time you need

  • Find the right fit, or your first hour is free

Contact Maryann

Response time: 5 hours