Manassas Tutors for Learning Disabilities

I am a reading specialist and work with students who fall below grade level in a K-2 public elementary school. I am trained and enjoy working with students in a fun and multi sensory way, particularly children who need help retaining letters, sounds, vowel patterns, and sight words for reading and spelling. I am familiar with the DRA and QRI testing that is used in public schools so understand what the testing levels mean and what kind of books would be right for your child. I desire to help your child become a better and stronger reader, enjoy books, and grow in their reading stamina and reading independence. I have also worked with students with learning disabilities in a K-8 private Catholic school as a resource teacher. I love teaching reading and working with children who need a little extra help! I look forward to meeting you and your child and helping your child to make and master reading goals and grow in their self confidence.

Hi! Welcome to my site! I am excited to be in my third year at Cougar Elementary School as a reading specialist working with Title I students in first and second grade. I have enjoyed my various past experiences of student teaching Title I reading to grades 4-6, teaching reading at an elementary Montessori School to grades 1-3, and as a Resource Teacher, working with students with learning disabilities from grades K-8. I received my Bachelor s Degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, (Go Crusaders!), a Master s Degree in Reading Education, and a reading specialist license from Marywood University in my hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. I became a reading specialist because I loved to read as a child. It made me believe that reading can take you anywhere you want to go." I desire to instill the power of reading into my young readers, help them to become good readers, and to love reading! I recently got married and enjoy spending time with my husband, who is a teacher too. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, being in nature, and exercising, especially practicing yoga. I also enjoy following the Washington sports teams! My teaching philosophy is as follows: * Administers a qualitative reading inventory to find child's independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels. * Teaches research proven reading skills and strategies to strengthen a child's reading ability. * Uses a child's interests to develop creative and engaging lessons. * Follows the child to develop an intrinsic motivation for reading. * Introduces books based on child's interests. * Incorporates music into reading lessons to enhance concentration and motivation. *Uses the model of Zone of Proximal Development to support a child during reading. * Exposes a child to different genres of literature and types of reading materials. *Gives a child many opportunities to practice, practice, and practice reading. * Makes reading fun with hands on reading activities. * Shares strategies with parents to practice fluency in the home. I look forward to working with you and your children. I look forward to working with you.

My goal will be to make learning fun using a multi-sensory approach! I have over 20 years working with children with autism, ADHD, executive functioning problems and learning disabilities. Identified the needs of learners and if necessary adapted course content and delivery style to meet their needs. I can help assist with homework and other class assignments while helping your child develop academic strategies to improve self-sufficiency.