I am located in Central Standard Time (Chicago) in the United States. 

Individual tutoring sessions are available throughout the week. During the traditional school year (September-May), this also includes some weekend times and evenings. 

In your request, please indicate some days and times that your learner is available as well as how often you would like to meet during the week. I can offer a discount for multiple weekly sessions or for sibling groups. 

Please contact me directly to arrange sessions using a ZOOM platform. 

Online tutoring instruction is customized to each student's strengths and needs.  It can help students improve study habits and develop critical thinking strategies.  It encourages students' independence by building confidence and success in academic areas as well as social-emotional growth.  Tutoring is open to any learner. I enjoy working with students with disabilities, especially students who love learning but have not had good experiences in a formal school setting. 

INDIVIDUALIZED CONTENT

I base my instruction on the needs of the student pulling from online resources designed to help struggling or disengaged learners.  We may use online activities, work with a printed packet, play games, or use a journal to meet the learner's goals. I can also meet individual needs based on homeschool curriculum needs or IEPs (Individualized Education Plans). Students may also bring their own homework with their questions and concerns. 

LESSON PLANNING

Each class is scheduled for 45 minutes of instruction and may include additional homework or home practice as requested.  Students who need a shorter class time may request sessions of 25 minutes each which will be pro-rated. Students will be expected to have their video and audio on the entire class. Please find a quiet area in the house to have a class. Students should have a dedicated notebook and pencil for every class.  Parents may be nearby but should remain offscreen. 

READING COMPREHENSION

Reading comprehension is the ability to take written information and understand its meaning. It is based on two connected strategies: decoding words (phonemic awareness and phonics) and connecting how words work within a sentence. 

In this type of tutoring, learners will build vocabulary while decoding more complex words. We will focus on strengthening fluency. Fluent readers know how to read smoothly, at a good pace, and use proper tone. Comprehension includes making connections between concepts such as how details relate to the main idea or what is the author's purpose for the text. We will use a variety of strategies to improve comprehension which in turn leads to better writing. 

PHONICS

Phonics instruction teaches the relationship between the letters of the written language and the sounds of the spoken language. By specific and directed instruction, learners develop the ability to read nearly any English word and understand how words come together. 

WRITING

Becoming an engaging writer is a process. Learners will be taught syntactic awareness - that is, how sentences are formed and why some just "sound right" and others don't. They will learn how to correctly punctuate a sentence and how to structure a paragraph, essay or longer paper. 

As mentioned in my profile, I am a former Special Education teacher with a Masters in Teaching and a Masters in Social Work. My family includes autistics, other neurodivergencies, as well as physical disabilities and chronic issues. I also have ADHD. I have extensive experience in offering flexible teaching strategies to best fit the needs of the student while presenting the core content. If something is not working for a student, I will try another way. I see all behavior as communication and seek to understand rather than control the experience. 

Activities may be modified as needed for students needing additional wait time, using alternate communication devices, those who have difficulty accessing printed material or difficulty in writing. 

For those with reading challenges: material may be read out loud or be presented visually in charts, graphs or pictures. Graphic organizers will be offered to help remember strategies. 

For those with writing challenges: recommended math notebook includes graph paper which is best for lining up numbers. Answers may also be presented verbally or in pictures. Answers may be dictated and then copied into own notebook to "show" progress.

For those that need extra processing time: material is scaffolded for a variety of learners. Calculators can be used when the focus is on building strategies. Teaching style follows the "I do, we do, you do" method. Students are guided in the "we do" stage and do not need to demonstrate mastery in order to progress. I seek for students to show progress, not perfection. 

If you have any questions about how your learner might best access the content, please let me know. We are in a partnership for your learner's educational journey.