Reading & Essay Writing Tutor | Patient, Step-by-Step Instruction

Carmela F.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

After graduating with a B.A. in Psychology in the fall of 2022, I completed an extensive internship in a classroom serving adolescents ages 14–18 with autism and related diagnoses. During this time, I assisted colleagues with lesson planning, locating educational videos, and developing classroom materials focused on social skills, daily routines, time management, and strategies for managing cognitive demands. I also helped provide a structured and predictable learning environment that kept students engaged without becoming overwhelmed. For example, I often began classes with a PowerPoint lesson on the topic, followed by videos that provided visual examples and discussion questions to check for understanding. Topics included social greetings, personal space, conversational skills, and time management. Upon completion of the internship, students reported that I made them feel safe and that I was easy to connect with, which I consider one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience.

Essay Writing

While earning my Psychology degree, I worked with high school students (ages 14–18) who were struggling with essay writing. I begin each session by having students read their work aloud to identify areas of confusion or weak structure. From there, I guide them through a step-by-step writing process: refining the thesis statement, ensuring each paragraph supports that thesis, and developing clear topic sentences with relevant supporting evidence from assigned texts. I also help students organize their ideas into structured paragraphs with strong transitions and concluding sentences. During revision, students reread their work to check for clarity, organization, grammar, and mechanics (spelling and punctuation). By breaking writing into manageable steps and reinforcing structure, students are able to improve both the clarity and organization of their essays, often showing noticeable progress within a session.

Executive Functioning

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Nazareth University of Rochester, where I studied cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and self-regulation. I have supported students ages 14–18, including those at risk of failing. I assisted them with developing executive functioning skills such as organization, task initiation, and time management. I work especially well with students who struggle with procrastination, using patience and structured guidance to break tasks into manageable steps and build momentum toward completion. I was often sought out to help students in high-pressure or last-minute situations, where I encouraged them to prioritize effectively and stay focused. I tailor my approach to each student, creating strategies that align with their individual strengths and needs to support long-term independence.