Since 1994, an educational therapist who has helped students with learning differences, including dyslexia and ADHD succeed
academically by providing one-on-one tutoring, assessments, reading services, and IEP advocacy services for parents.
In addition, educational consultancy to professionals and homeschoolers.
I have worked with students from preschool to college and even adults. I do testing to determine the cause of learning struggles and explain the results so that parents and their students can understand the specific cognitive weaknesses that are causing learning problems. I write reports for university students to petition for Disabled Student Services, and for testing modifications and accommodations for SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT exams.
I know how to help students challenged with learning disabilities (Dyslexia) and/or attention deficit disorder (ADHD.) I provide the additional support they may need beyond what is provided by their regular ed teachers and the limited resource specialist services offered by the public schools and some private schools.
I tutor students who just need school and homework help to more easily complete their regular education assignments, both daily work and long-term projects. This is especially helpful for teens who may be reluctant to work with their parents as they strive for independence.
I provide individualized instruction to improve word decoding skills, reading comprehension, and written language skills using research-based methods. I currently use the Barton Reading & Spelling System --the best program I have found in over 30 years. I also remediate math skill deficits. I have taught math in elementary, middle and high school - I love algebra and geometry!
I can serve as an education advocate to communicate your student's learning needs to his or her teacher and school. I can provide information regarding the learning services available from the public schools, parental and student rights, and other community resources.
I can advise homeschoolers regarding curriculum and instruction methods individualized for their students. I have provided reading & math instruction for homeschoolers and high school independent study students on a weekly basis and guided homeschooling moms through their curricula.
A tutor is a person who has demonstrated personal mastery of a particular subject like reading (word decoding) or arithmetic. Many "tutors" have no formal training in the art and science of teaching and learning.
An "educational therapist" has training in the art and science of teaching and learning. This training specifically includes the areas of cognitive disabilities like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and weak executive functions (including ADHD.) Ed therapists are trained to administer and interpret standardized and curriculum-based tests They provide counseling to students and their parents regarding how to optimize student intellectual potential in and out of the classroom.
I have degrees in mathematics and psychology; 3 CA teaching credentials, a Master's degree in Special Education; and training in 6 Orton-Gillingham based reading curriculums.
I also have 40+ years' experience teaching and working with children--with the last 20 years as an educational therapist in private practice—and have taught in both public and private schools in regular and special education, and worked with students from preschool to university and adults. I've also served community college students in the Office of Disabled Student Programs and Services, and volunteered for the San Diego County Learning Disabilities Association chapter (LDA-CA) for 12 years, including as chapter president for 2 years and on the state board of directors as Vice-President and Governmental Affairs Chair to the CA Department of Education.
I also have worked for TASK, located in Anaheim, the federally funded parent training project teaching Special Ed Law and the IEP process. I have special expertise in working with students with IQ's in the top quartile (>75th percentile). This population often has been denied special education services by the public schools because "they were not performing 2 years below grade level."
Finally, I have tested and provided counseling for college-bound, university, law school students, an Officers Candidate School applicant and a state real estate license applicant. Today under the Americans with Disabilities Law all persons with documented disabilities have a right to reasonable accommodations in school, work places and public facilities.
I have worked with hundreds of students and reviewed the testing reports on most of them. I have never found two exactly alike in their profiles, each has been unique. Hence, my first task is always to gather information as soon as possible so I can design an intervention plan that meets each student's learning needs.
Research has verified that the method for optimum learning outcomes is one-on-one instruction. I identify the exact concepts that the learner needs to master in order to progress and present them in a way that matches his unique cognitive profile.
I take into consideration the student's developmental age, previous learning, language, auditory, visual and fine motor skills, and his ability to focus and sustain attention. As I work with the student, I pay close attention to the student's responses and adjust my instruction to insure learning mastery and a positive experience for the student. All my instruction is driven by how the student responds.
My approach always includes multisensory presentations and instructional pacing controlled by the student's ability to fully process the information.
Finally, I work to empower the student and his parents by helping them to understand both the strengths and weaknesses of the student and how they can adopt specific strategies going forward to enable the student to be successful.
