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Experienced Elementary Tutor and Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner
Margaret P.

5.0 (283 ratings)

409 hours tutoring

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Hourly Rate: $60
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About Margaret

Bio

I am Peg Poplar. I received my Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in Special Education over 30 years ago. In September of 2004, I completed my Masters Program and earned the following specialist certificates: Reading Specialist and English as a Second Language. After a year in their rigorous training program, I earned my Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner Certificate in January of 2024.
As a new teacher, I wanted to use the “best practices” for teaching my students how to read. Thankfully, I was...

I am Peg Poplar. I received my Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in Special Education over 30 years ago. In September of 2004, I completed my Masters Program and earned the following specialist certificates: Reading Specialist and English as a Second Language. After a year in their rigorous training program, I earned my Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner Certificate in January of 2024.
As a new teacher, I wanted to use the “best practices” for teaching my students how to read. Thankfully, I was able to enroll in an Orton-Gillingham Reading training program. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham developed a multisensory systematic phonics-based approach that still is the most effective way to help students with significant reading disabilities. Working in small groups of 2-3 in my learning support classroom and in 1:1 tutoring sessions outside of school, I have used their techniques to help 200+ nonreaders become readers! I have tutored several preschool-aged children to improve phonemic awareness skills before they entered kindergarten. I was able to get them school-ready and they are successful readers today!
In 1:1 and small group settings, I have tutored students (ages 6-13) in reading comprehension, math, and writing. To address reading comprehension needs, I work to improve visualization skills before teaching strategies for self-monitoring and increasing reading engagement. In math, we work on math concepts at the concrete level to build true understanding before moving to the abstract. To improve writing skills, I begin with the fundamentals of written English so that the writer has a solid knowledge base from which to grow more sophisticated skills. My goal is that my student comes away with improved skills and confidence and a newfound love of the subject we worked together in!
I offer free consultation sessions. I address any questions or concerns promptly (within 24 hours) so lines of communication stay strong.

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Education

Millersville University
Education
Millersville University
Masters
  • Licensed teacher

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Approved Subjects

Elementary (K-6th)

Elementary (K-6th)

I have my teaching certificate in the state of Pennsylvania. I have taught Special Education in a public school for 30 years. I am now retired but still have a great love for teaching. I earned my Wilson Reading Program certificate recently but also have a Reading Specialist Certificate and an ESL Certificate. I am trained in the teaching of early literacy, reading comprehension, writing, and math.
Elementary Math

Elementary Math

As a special education teacher for 30 years, I have taught math in small groups and in regular classrooms (whole group). I believe strongly in the conceptual approach to math instruction. Math concepts must be taught sequentially first at the concrete level (using manipulatives), then at the representational level (using pictures and models), and finally abstractly (using symbols in algorithms). I also encourage the learner to make regular connections of math to real life experiences. Life makes sense (generally) and math should make sense!
Grammar

Grammar

I have taught writing to children with special needs and to students who are neurotypical. I use a program that systematically teaches the fundamentals of sentence writing, so basic knowledge of written English is ensured for each student. After bolstering basic skills, I teach more sophisticated writing skills such as organizing to convey thoughts most effectively, how to choose words accurate to a topic, development of voice, use of figurative language, etc.
Phonics

Phonics

I have taught using Orton-Gillingham techniques to many students in my 30-year career as a special education teacher. I have my Reading Specialist Certificate and my Wilson Reading Program Certificate. I am a very strong believer in systematic phonics. My students learned to read because I taught them using the systematic phonics approach. I've never had a student who did not respond to this instruction, and I want to continue to help struggling readers learn to read.
Reading

Reading

I have taught reading in my learning support classroom for over 30 years. I am a Wilson Reading-trained tutor for those who have significant decoding struggles and my interest in the process of reading comprehension has resulted in a strong skill set for teaching students how to most effectively understand what they are reading.
Writing

Writing

As a learning support teacher, I have taught writing in both small group and in whole classroom settings. I am a believer in teaching the fundamental/basic rules of written English. Once the fundamentals are mastered, then we can begin to develop the more sophisticated writing skills such as finding our voice, organizing our thoughts to most effectively convey our message, choosing vocabulary effectively and accurately, using evidence to support claims, making use of figurative language as a way to effectively develop description, etc. I love watching a writer grow in confidence as writing skills improve!
Vocabulary
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Ratings and Reviews

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5.0 (283 ratings)
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Reviews

Great teacher.

Margaret is a fantastic tutor! Skylar is learning so much. Her grades are improving and she is feeling more confident!

Erica, 71 lessons with Margaret

Great teacher.

Margaret is a fantastic tutor! Skylar is learning so much and feeling more confident during her tests. I truly appreciate her.

Erica, 71 lessons with Margaret

My sons’s reading score went up 73 points!

I can’t express how pleased regarding my son’s progress. After taking his 2nd assessment at school, this is what his teacher wrote: “Kymani has experienced significant growth. I wanted to let you know about today's I Ready Test he went up 73 points bringing him to a second-grade level. This is amazing and have not seen it happen that often. In class, I have also noticed his growth in small-group reading. I have placed him in a higher group. His reading has become more fluent and comprehension has also grown. Keep up the great work. We are very proud of him.” This we owe to Mrs. Margaret!

Cherri, 22 lessons with Margaret

My sons’s reading score went up 73 points!

I can’t express how pleased regarding my son’s progress. After taking his 2nd assessment at school, this is what his teacher wrote: “Kymani has experienced significant growth. I wanted to let you know about today's I Ready Test he went up 73 points bringing him to a second-grade level. This is amazing and have not seen it happen that often. In class, I have also noticed his growth in small-group reading. I have placed him in a higher group. His reading has become more fluent and comprehension has also grown. Keep up the great work. We are very proud of him.” This we owe to Mrs. Margaret!

Cherri, 22 lessons with Margaret

Amazing and helpful tutor

Mrs. Poplar is very knowledgeable in helping our son with foundational reading skills. She makes the sessions fun, provides encouragement and patiently guides our child each session. Our son loves his weekly sessions and we have seen a new confidence with reading and school in general since we have started tutoring with Mrs. Poplar!

Derric and Adrienne, 54 lessons with Margaret

Great teacher.

So grateful to have a laptop back so that sessions can be smoother and easier! I’m hoping this makes it easier for the future!

Erica, 71 lessons with Margaret

My son loves her!

My husband and I are incredibly pleased with my son's reading tutor. From the beginning, she took a careful, individual approach, assessing his skills and identifying specific areas to strengthen. Her explanations are always clear and easy to follow, which has really helped my son understand and enjoy his reading lessons. She has remarkable patience and insight and I can tell she genuinely cares about his progress. I'm grateful for her positive impact thus far!

Cherri, 22 lessons with Margaret

Great teacher.

Skylar is feeling more confident and enjoying reading more. She is testing better too now that she can read the questions better.

Erica, 71 lessons with Margaret

Teaching with passion

I am grateful to find Margaret. She spent time learning what my son needed and preparing material to teach him. It is beyond what I am hoping for. She is very good with kids. My son has too many extra activities. He is tired when he is in class. Ms. Margaret made learning fun, such as by playing games. She also encourages my son to get snacks to charge his energy. My son really likes Ms. Margaret.

Baowen, 16 lessons with Margaret

Great teacher.

Skylar is happy and more confident after each lesson. Thank you for helping her I really appreciate it. Can’t wait to see what she can do!

Erica, 71 lessons with Margaret
Hourly Rate: $60
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