Diane P. - Reading Specialist

Diane P.

ADHD

I have a daughter with ADD/ADHD and have helped her through 12 years of school battling executive functioning skills, attention problems, time management issues, and creating appropriate tools so she can be organized. She is now thriving in college and loves learning. In addition, I have been a public school teacher of students who have ADD and because of the screening process in my class, I have alerted the school to give the services students require with their ADD/ADHD.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

I presently work as a reading teacher in special needs school teaching students who are autistic. I teach them reading and help them learn how to interpret what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues. I have taught them how to read social skills such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and how to watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. I have also taught autistic children about empathy using psychodrama. I am a RI Certified, MA licensed elementary teacher, certified and licensed Reading Specialist, with 15 years public school classroom teaching experience.

Discrete Math

I took a graduate level course in discrete math and critical problem solving. Afterwards, I taught discrete math to my fellow teachers and facilitated workshops in discrete math for the school.

Dyslexia

I have a master's degree in reading from an accredited college in Boston. I have 147 formal hours of training in teaching dyslexic students how to read and have applied these reading strategies to my work as a reading specialist in a special education school in Boston.

Elementary (K-6th)

I have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and 16 years of experience teaching first and second grade. I have been a substitute teacher for 5 years in suburban school districts with 3 year-old classrooms through middle school. I am very adept at organizing and running a classroom or any small group of students who want to learn.

Needlework

I have been knitting, crocheting, weaving and quilting since I was 7 years old. I have made sweaters, vests, neckties, and afghans for family members since I was 7. I have read 20 books about needlecraft and have a large selection of references books in my personal library.

Phonics

I taught phonics for 16 years as a first grade teacher in Providence Public Schools. I also taught phonics through Carroll School, a school for dyslexic students. This was for a six week full time course.

Reading

I am RI certified. I am a MA licensed elementary teacher, a certified and licensed reading specialist, and I have 15 years public school classroom teaching experience. I have been trained in Orton-Gillingham and have experience tutoring dyslexic children, ELL children, children with a broad spectrum of language-based learning disabilities, writing, autism, special needs, gifted, and disabilities in math. Concepts are presented with multisensory, structured, and sequential approach to the learner. All concepts are reviewed frequently to ensure success.

Sewing

I have been sewing since I was nine years old. I have made everything from designer dresses, wedding dresses, jackets, coats, bathing suits, suits, blazers, dress shirts, skirts, pants, and many other garments. I was a bridal consultant working at the largest fabric store in New England before it went out of business.

Study Skills

I taught study skills to students for 7 years while working as a teacher in Middle School through adult. I currently teach reading and study skills students who are at high risk of dropping out of school in Dorchester, MA, a neighborhood in Boston. I have over 10 years of teaching study skills while I taught school in Providence.

Swimming

I have taught swimming to children for over 12 years while I was a certified lifeguard and WSI swimming instructor at an overnight camp in Maine. I directed the swimming lessons at a Girl Scout camp for 4 years as a certified lifeguard and certified WSI instructor in Rhode Island.