Certified OG Reading Specialist | Dyslexia, ADHD, and ESL

Kali W.

ADHD

For nearly two years, I've been tutoring a diverse range of students, with a particular focus on tailoring my approach to meet individual learning styles and needs. My experience includes creating engaging and structured lessons that break down complex concepts into manageable steps and fostering a supportive and patient learning environment. I utilize visual aids, interactive activities, and positive reinforcement techniques to enhance focus and comprehension, and I have significant experience working with students with ADHD and Autism. Currently, I am pursuing additional certifications as a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) and a Certified Special Education Teacher (CSET) to further enhance my ability to support all my students. I've helped numerous students improve their academic performance and build confidence in their abilities.

Algebra 1

I have 8+ years of experience teaching math across multiple educational platforms, including extensive work with middle and high school Algebra 1 students. I teach linear equations, inequalities, functions, graphing, systems of equations, exponents, polynomials, and introductory quadratics while reinforcing any missing pre-algebra foundations along the way. I’m especially experienced with students who understand a procedure when it’s modeled but struggle to apply it independently. I emphasize patterns, step-by-step reasoning, and multiple problem-solving strategies so students can build both confidence and independence.

Common Core

I have extensive experience teaching the Common Core curriculum online, creating engaging and effective learning experiences for students of all levels. My expertise lies in breaking down complex concepts into manageable and relatable lessons, ensuring a deep understanding of the material. I utilize interactive technology and personalized strategies to cater to individual learning styles, fostering a supportive and dynamic online environment. I've helped numerous students achieve academic success and build a strong foundation in Common Core principles.

Dyslexia

I am a certified Orton-Gillingham instructor with significant experience teaching this multisensory, structured literacy approach. My expertise lies in providing individualized instruction to students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties, helping them develop essential reading and spelling skills. I utilize hands-on activities and systematic lessons to build a strong foundation in phonics, phonemic awareness, and morphology. Through Orton-Gillingham, I empower students to overcome their learning challenges and achieve reading success.

Elementary (K-6th)

I am Kalinah Wh. (but I go by Kali), and I am passionate about education and empowering students to achieve their academic and personal goals. Through my experiences, I have developed a profound understanding of diverse learning styles and the importance of personalized instruction. The not-so-recent pandemic has put many students at a disadvantage, highlighting the need for personalized support and adaptability in learning environments. This reinforced my commitment to helping students navigate these new challenges. My journey began just before the pandemic when I first started as an ESL tutor in Chevy Chase, MD. It was then that I discovered my passion for teaching and the rewarding experience of helping students overcome language barriers. Working with diverse learners, I developed skills in fostering effective communication and engagement. This experience inspired me to expand my tutoring services to include other subjects, allowing me to support students in achieving their broader academic objectives. I believe that effective tutoring goes beyond just academic support; it's about building confidence and fostering a love for learning. I strive to create an engaging and supportive environment where students feel comfortable expressing their challenges and triumphs. My academic background in Education/Psychology equips me with the knowledge necessary to assist students in overcoming obstacles in their studies. I am dedicated to continuous learning and I stay updated with the latest educational resources and teaching techniques. I look forward to helping students unlock their full potential and recover their academic ambitions in this new educational landscape.

Elementary Math

I have 8+ years of experience teaching elementary math across multiple educational platforms, from early elementary through the transition into middle school. I teach number sense, operations, multiplication and division, fractions, decimals, percentages, geometry, measurement, word problems, and early algebraic thinking. Pattern recognition is a major part of my instruction—I teach students to recognize relationships and patterns in numbers rather than relying solely on memorized procedures. I also prepare students for state assessments and math competitions, with an emphasis on problem-solving, reasoning, mental math, and accuracy. I work extensively with students who have learning gaps or need concepts presented differently, using visual, hands-on, and step-by-step strategies to build a strong foundation for higher-level math.

Elementary Science

I teach elementary science through curiosity, investigation, and real-world application, helping students understand science rather than simply memorize facts. My instruction can incorporate life science, Earth and space science, physical science, ecosystems, weather, matter, energy, the human body, and the scientific method. I encourage students to ask questions, recognize patterns, make predictions, interpret observations, and explain the reasoning behind their conclusions. Whenever possible, I connect science to experiments, projects, nature, and everyday experiences to make abstract concepts more meaningful and memorable.

English

I have 8+ years of experience teaching English Language Arts across multiple educational platforms, working with elementary, middle, and high school students. My instruction integrates reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, writing, literary analysis, and written response skills rather than treating them as isolated subjects. I help students learn to analyze texts, organize their thoughts, support answers with evidence, and communicate their ideas clearly in writing. I also work with students who have learning gaps or need more individualized, structured instruction to strengthen their overall literacy skills.

ESL/ESOL

I am a TEFL-certified educator through the International TEFL Academy with 8+ years of teaching experience across multiple educational platforms. I work with children, teens, and adults at varying English proficiency levels, helping learners strengthen speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. My instruction includes both structured English-language development and conversational practice, with an emphasis on helping students use English confidently in real-world situations. I adapt lessons to each learner’s goals, whether they are developing foundational English, improving academic skills, expanding professional communication, or working toward greater conversational fluency.

Executive Functioning

I have extensive experience working with students with ADHD, dyslexia, IEPs, and other learning differences who need additional support with executive functioning. I help students develop practical strategies for organization, time management, task initiation, working memory, planning, prioritizing, sustained attention, and completing multi-step assignments. Rather than expecting one organizational system to work for every learner, I help students identify strategies that fit the way they process information and approach tasks. The goal is to gradually build independence, self-awareness, and academic routines students can apply across subjects and everyday responsibilities.

Grammar

I have 8+ years of experience teaching grammar as an essential part of reading, writing, and effective communication. I teach parts of speech, sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, verb tense, pronouns, punctuation, capitalization, clauses, phrases, sentence combining, and increasingly complex grammatical structures. Rather than relying solely on worksheets and rules, I connect grammar to authentic reading and writing so students understand how language functions in context. I also incorporate morphology and word structure to strengthen students' understanding of vocabulary, spelling, and written expression.

Prealgebra

I have 8+ years of experience teaching Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2 across multiple educational platforms. I’ve worked extensively with middle and high school students who reached algebra without fully mastering the foundational skills needed to succeed. I focus on identifying and closing those gaps while connecting concepts such as fractions, integers, equations, expressions, graphing, and functions to more advanced algebra. I break problems into manageable steps so students understand the reasoning behind the math and can apply those skills independently.

Reading

I have 8+ years of experience supporting developing, struggling, and advanced readers across multiple educational platforms. As an Orton-Gillingham trained educator, I provide structured instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, morphology, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. I have extensive experience working with students with dyslexia, ADHD, IEPs, and other learning differences, as well as students who simply have gaps in foundational reading skills. My goal is not only to improve reading accuracy, but to help students become fluent, strategic readers who understand and engage with increasingly complex texts.

Spanish

I have 8+ years of experience teaching Spanish to children, teens, and adult learners at varying proficiency levels. I teach Spanish 1–4 as well as conversational Spanish, with instruction in vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, pronunciation, and practical communication. I adapt lessons to each learner’s level and goals, using structured instruction alongside real-world conversation and application. My goal is to help students understand how the language works while becoming more comfortable using Spanish independently.

Spelling

I have 8+ years of experience helping students become stronger, more confident spellers by teaching the patterns and structure behind written language rather than relying on memorization alone. My instruction incorporates phonemic awareness, syllable patterns, morphology, prefixes, suffixes, roots, vowel teams, and spelling generalizations. As an Orton-Gillingham trained educator, I use explicit, systematic, and multisensory strategies that are especially helpful for students with dyslexia, ADHD, learning differences, or persistent spelling difficulties. I help students understand why words are spelled the way they are so those skills transfer naturally into reading and writing.

Study Skills

I have 8+ years of experience helping students develop the organization, independence, and learning strategies needed for academic success. I work on time management, note-taking, test preparation, breaking larger assignments into manageable steps, following multi-step directions, study routines, and executive-function skills. I have extensive experience supporting students with ADHD and other learning differences who may understand the material but struggle with organization, focus, planning, or independent completion. My goal is to give students practical strategies they can carry into every subject and eventually manage on their own.

Vocabulary

I teach vocabulary as more than a list of definitions to memorize. With 8+ years of teaching experience, I use morphology, Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, suffixes, context clues, word families, synonyms, antonyms, and multiple-meaning words to help students unlock unfamiliar vocabulary independently. I connect vocabulary directly to reading comprehension, spelling, and writing so students learn how to actually use new words in context. This approach is especially valuable for building academic vocabulary and preparing students to understand increasingly complex texts.

Writing

I have 8+ years of experience helping elementary, middle, and high school students become stronger and more confident writers across multiple educational platforms. I teach brainstorming, outlining, paragraph and essay structure, sentence development, grammar, organization, supporting evidence, revision, and editing. My experience includes narrative, informative, opinion, persuasive, and academic essay writing, with an emphasis on helping students clearly develop and support their ideas. I also work extensively with reluctant writers and students with learning differences, breaking the writing process into manageable steps that encourage greater independence and confidence.