Not your average tutor, an Educational Therapist

Marion T.

ACT English

I identify and focus on specific academic weaknesses, and teach specific test taking skills and strategies to enhance success. It's never too late to prepare for these tests, even if you only have a few weeks to get ready, I can help. Research shows that students who are familiar with the test and understand how to approach the different sections outperform those who do not. My experience with special needs students has led me to be a skillful diagnostician of learning problems in all children and to customize learning plans that work.

ADHD

In addition to having a daughter with ADHD, I am a certified special education teacher (LBS I) and have fifteen years of experience in the classroom working with students with ADD/ADHD.

American History

My undergraduate major was History and I taught American History for four of my twelve years of teaching.

ASVAB

I am a retired Marine and my husband is retired Navy so I am very familiar with the demands of the military. In addition, I have twenty years of experience teaching general education subjects and test taking skills.

Elementary (K-6th)

I am a certified elementary education teacher with 20 years of teaching experience. I am certified to teach kindergarten through 9th grade in the state of Illinois. Not only have I been a classroom teacher with responsibility for teaching all subjects, but I have also developed curriculum for both gifted and talented students as well as special education programs. Support in these programs included reading, math, science, social studies, study skills, writing and language arts. I created hands on experiences in all subject areas that reinforce skills children are required to learn at their grade level and beyond. I have worked with large classrooms, small groups and one-on-one. Throughout my career as a teacher I have tutored elementary aged students using a variety of materials and techniques, depending on the needs of the students and their families.

Elementary Math

I have taught fifth grade math and have five students currently who are in fifth grade math.

English

I have taught both junior high and high school English, and put an emphasis on writing in these classes.

Phonics

I am a certified special education teacher. I am trained to teach the Language! program by Sopris West and Wilson reading program for struggling readers, which includes a phonics component, along with other curricula for students with reading learning disabilities.

Reading

I am a certified teacher endorsed to teach reading. I am trained to teach the Language! program by Sopris West and the Wilson reading program for students with reading learning disabilities.

Special Needs

Over the past 15 years, I've worked with special needs and at-risk students in self-contained classrooms, resource rooms, general education classrooms and private tutoring. I have taught multi-grade, multi-subject self-contained classes, small groups, one-on-one, and in the general education classroom. I am an astute diagnostician of learning problems and highly skilled in developing strategies that allow my students to be highly successful. I believe that self-esteem and motivation are critical to the learning process, as is parental involvement. My goal is not just to help children, but to empower them. I have written over 200 IEP's, 504 plans, and accommodations and modifications to facilitate student success. I will work with your child's teachers, support staff and special services to ensure that your child receives a consistent, appropriate, and effective educational experience. I have taught and tutored students with learning disabilities, social and emotional disorders, and ADHD since receiving my masters degree in special education in 1993. I am currently a certified Learning Behavior Specialist I with endorsements in learning disabilities and social/emotional disorders. In addition, I am considered highly qualified by the State Board of Education to teach all academic subjects to students from kindergarten through 8th grade , both disabled and non-disabled. I am trained in Language! by Sopris West and the Wilson Reading System. I have also written reading and reading and writing curricula for elementary through secondary age children, served on reading program adoption committees, and participated in training teachers in writing IEP’s, goals and benchmarks. In addition, I have taken graduate level courses in assistive technology and have experience in the integration of technology into the classroom and selecting assistive technology for special needs students.

Study Skills

I've worked with middle and high school students who struggle with organization and study skills. In fact, my primary role as a high school resource teacher was to work with students, their teachers, and families on exactly these issues. As students advance in school, the number and complexity of assignments increases. At the same time, the amount of individual academic support decreases. This can create problems for students with marginal organization and study skills, despite past success. Study skills include the ability to take and use notes, to organize information in a way that is useful for homework and tests, and to plan and organize schoolwork and projects with the goal of enhancing academic achievement and reducing stress. These are skills that are critical, not only in high school, but for college and beyond. My role as a tutor is to analyze where the breakdown is occurring, and customize a plan that meets the individual needs of the student.

Writing

In this age of texting, instant messaging and email, the ability of people to write a well-constructed piece of work has diminished. High stakes standardized testing, college applications, Advance Placement tests and others requiring a timed written response sends many students into a panic. The remedy for this involves direct instruction in grammar, vocabulary, and different types of writing combined with timed practice writing. The process takes some time and effort but it will improve both everyday writing skills as well as test scores.