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Dyslexia Specialist & Orton-Gillingham Instructor ~ The Word Nerd
Nancy O.

694 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Hourly Rate: $65

About Nancy


Bio

Nancy, the self-described Word Nerd, is a retired elementary educator who spent a thirty-three-year career working with students, teachers, and parents as a special & general education teacher, a learning disabilities teacher consultant and dyslexia specialist. She earned a master’s degree in education and four New Jersey teaching certificates: elementary education, special education, LDT-C, and supervisor. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2008 and Support Professional of the Year in 2019...

Nancy, the self-described Word Nerd, is a retired elementary educator who spent a thirty-three-year career working with students, teachers, and parents as a special & general education teacher, a learning disabilities teacher consultant and dyslexia specialist. She earned a master’s degree in education and four New Jersey teaching certificates: elementary education, special education, LDT-C, and supervisor. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2008 and Support Professional of the Year in 2019 by her district. Additionally, she holds certificates as Dyslexia Practitioner, OG Teacher, Wilson 1 and in Assistive Technology from Stockton University. Check out her website: https://nlowordnerd.wixsite.com/the-word-nerd.

Nancy is also trained in mindfulness. She understands that in order to learn, students need to be calm and stress-free. When it is difficult to learn, it is often frustrating for students; it can be difficult to remain positive and persist. Employing mindful strategies helps students remain calm and reduce anxiety that can surround learning , therefore, enabling them to be better able to learn and retain.

Since retiring, Nancy has become a master gardener and master composter in Ocean County. Additionally, she worked with the NJ Agricultural Society as the director of Learning through Gardening, a program of the that granted vegetable gardening supplies and resources so that elementary students could learn about where food comes from. Check out her YouTube channel: Nance the SmartyPlants!

Nancy is a lifelong learner and she believes that given the correct tools, everyone can read and has devoted her life to helping others learn.

Background check available upon request.


Education

Pennsylvania State University
Elementary Education
MARYGROVE COLLEGE
Masters
Rutgers University
Graduate Coursework
  • Licensed teacher

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $65
  • Rate details: *Rates for subject specific topics may vary...please let me know if you have any extenuating circumstances....my goal is to help students learn to read.
  • Lesson cancellation: 12 hours notice required
  • No background check

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Dyslexia

Dyslexia

I am a certified NJ educator holding instructional certifications in: elementary education, special education, learning disabilities teacher consultant, and supervisor. I also hold certifications in as an Orton Gillingham practitioner, Wilson 1, and assistive technology. I have more than ten years of experience, identifying, diagnosing and establishing plans of remediation for students with learning disabilities, including but not limited to dyslexia, as well as a variety of other disabilities including ADHD, autism, and other developmental delays. I have provided a variety of professional development in the areas of dyslexia, handwriting, and autism spectrum disorders.
Elementary (K-6th)

Elementary (K-6th)

I hold a NJ kindergarten and elementary education certificate. I taught elementary grades: kindergarten, first, second, third and fourth grade: all subject areas, for the first fourteen years of my career.
Handwriting

Handwriting

Based upon current research, the lost of art of handwriting is perfect for students to learn to help with letter reversals and speed up writing. Students who have learned poor letter formation in print may benefit from learning how to write in cursive. I have been teaching cursive writing to students for over thirty five years.
Phonics

Phonics

Learning these vital building blocks are important for most readers and spellers and will help to "unlock" words! I am known as the Word Nerd for a reason, I love words inside and out and can teach you to, too... and even if you don't end up loving them too, at least you will have the "tools" to unlock unfamiliar words.
Reading

Reading

Through multisensory methodology, Nancy has an extensive history of teaching children at all skill levels how to read (and spell) for over thirty years especially focusing on sound/letter relationships, phonemic awareness, word attack skills. She also teaches teachers and other educational professionals about dyslexia and how to teach children to read.
Special Needs

Special Needs

I hold a Teacher of the Handicapped Certificate in the state of New Jersey. I worked with special needs children from preschool to eighth grade. I taught self-contained, resource room, and in-class support for students with a variety of special needs including ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and behavioral challenges. I have experience in evaluating skills and writing and teaching to meet goals and objectives.
Grammar
Vocabulary
Nancy O.'s Photo

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Ratings and Reviews


Rating

5.0 (301 ratings)
5 star
(297)
4 star
(4)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Clearly experienced educator! 5 stars!

Nancy is an incredibly talented tutor and worked very well with my child, holding his waining attention span like a seasoned professional. We are using her on an ongoing basis.

Montana, 96 lessons with Nancy

Knowledgeable and friendly

We started the tutoring process to determine if my 11 year old daughter had dyslexia and to improve her reading before entering 6th grade. Right away I could tell Nancy was knowledgeable, and she assured me my concerns were valid and that we could work together step by step. Through online meetings, Nancy was able to get a feel of where my daughter was and made her feel comfortable. Looking forward to meeting with her in the future.

Kyra, 3 lessons with Nancy

Great Teacher

She's incredible. Thanks to her, my son is excelling in school. She does a fantastic job of ensuring that he is fully engaged and attentive.

NaChina, 107 lessons with Nancy

Amazing Tutor!

I’ve been working with Nancy for a few weeks now, and honestly—she’s one of the best tutors I’ve ever had! She’s super patient, really takes the time to make sure everything makes sense, and is so detail-oriented. You can tell she really cares and puts in the effort to help you succeed. I’ve already learned so much from her, and I feel way more confident thanks to her support. I’d 100% recommend Nancy to anyone looking for a thoughtful, reliable, and all-around amazing tutor!

Alanka, 23 lessons with Nancy

A five star teacher!

Nancy is an excellent teacher! My lessons have followed a structured and comprehensive course presented in a style that is easy to follow and understand. I am developing an understanding of the mechanics of English in a context that allows me to apply what I have learned in 'real life' situations. Highly recommended!

Rich , 23 lessons with Nancy

Knowledgeable Tutor

My daughter was recently diagnosed with dyslexia. Nancy did her own evaluation so that she can get a better understanding of what is going on with my daughter . She made me feel comfortable about my daughter’s plan . Thanks Nancy .

Leticia, 25 lessons with Nancy

Knowledgeable, kind, and patient dyslexia tutor

We are so grateful to have found Nancy as a tutor for our 15-year-old daughter, who was recently diagnosed with dyslexia. From the very beginning, Nancy has been incredibly kind, patient, and understanding, making our daughter feel comfortable and supported. Her humor and warmth have made the tutoring sessions something our daughter looks forward to, which is a huge change from her previous struggles with schoolwork. In just a short time, we’ve seen a remarkable improvement not only in our daughter’s academic skills but also in her confidence and self-esteem. Nancy has a unique ability to tailor her teaching style to our daughter’s needs, helping her grasp concepts in ways that make sense to her. She encourages progress without pressure, creating an environment where learning feels achievable and even enjoyable. It’s clear that Nancy is passionate about helping her students succeed, and we’re thrilled to see how much of a positive impact she has had on our daughter’s outlook on school. We couldn’t recommend her more highly to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, and fun tutor for a child with dyslexia. I would also like to note that Nancy is very reliable. In contrast to past tutors, she has never missed a session and is very communicative! We all lead busy lives, so this is much appreciated!

Susie, 60 lessons with Nancy

Very kind, patient and knowledgeable

Nancy has worked with my daughter since October/2024. She did a thorough initial evaluation to determine where they needed to start with their learning and is able to help her growing her reading skills each session. We have seen great progress since they have been working together. We have occasionally had to reschedule or had something come up and Nancy is able to accommodate schedule changes and is great to work with. We are very thankful we have found her to help increase my daughter’s reading skills.

Tansy, 63 lessons with Nancy

Very kind, patient and knowledgeable

Nancy has worked with my daughter since October/2024. She did a thorough initial evaluation to determine where they needed to start with their learning and is able to help her growing her readings skills each session. We have seen great progress since they have been working together. We have occasionally had to reschedule or had something come up and Nancy is able to accommodate schedule changes and is great to work with. We are there thankful we have found her to help increase my daughter’s reading skills.

Tansy, 63 lessons with Nancy

Excellent Phonics Tutor

We are extremely grateful for the time and dedication Ms. Nancy has invested in working with our daughter. From the very first session, it was clear that Ms. Nancy is not only highly skilled in teaching phonics but also genuinely cares about our daughter's progress and learning experience. The lessons are always well-structured and tailored to our daughter's needs, ensuring that she feels both challenged and supported at the same time. Ms. Nancy creates a positive, encouraging environment that helps foster a love of reading and learning. Our daughter looks forward to her sessions, which is a testament to the tutor's ability to engage and motivate. What stands out most is Ms. Nancy's patience and ability to break down complex concepts into manageable steps, making learning phonics both fun and effective. We've already seen significant improvement in her reading and word recognition skills, and we're confident that her foundation in phonics will set her up for success as she continues to grow as a reader. We highly recommend Ms. Nancy to any parent seeking a dedicated and effective phonics tutor. We're grateful for the impact they've had on our daughter's learning journey!

Veemal, 102 lessons with Nancy
Hourly Rate: $65
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