NEW STUDENT CURRENT RATE: $54 per hour (as of January, 2025)
Beginners ==> Phonics and forming words
Young Learners ==> Spelling practice, word definitions, word usage in sentences
Older Learners ==> Vocabulary development, dictionary and thesaurus Usage
Kindergarteners through adult level students improve their English skills by developing better word power. As a parent of a very young child, you may hear this referred to as phonics, word building, or sight words.
Elementary students then begin learning more words and start having spelling tests and even spelling bees. I challenge students to know the word well enough to use it in a sentence.
Upper elementary through even college level continue developing their vocabulary. Teachers and professors will expect the students to know the meaning of many words and to use tools such as the dictionary and the thesaurus. High school students begin preparing for college entrance exams. Many words have multiple meanings, so it takes practice even in using some of the most basic words.
I am here to help students along each step of the way!
Students who improve in the area of reading often experience growth in most of their other academic subjects too. We cannot skip the foundational skills of reading. I highly encourage learners to take this part seriously. Often lessons end up exploring subjects beyond English Literature as students request for help in studying for various tests and understanding textbooks. Reading again proves foundational.
Kindergarteners through early elementary focus on reading fluency, meaning smoothly pronouncing the words and moving through the sentences. Gradually, I encourage students to not depend on the pictures found scattered through the stories, rather to create these images in their minds. Students who have mental images of the stories begin comprehending sooner and move on to higher levels like chapter books and beyond.
Upper elementary readers (or sooner, depending on the student) focus on increasing their understanding of the stories. At this stage, students must become more comfortable explaining, and sharing their own thoughts and guessing the author's rationale too. Independently (without constant reminders) students should look up unknown words or discern the meaning during their reading process. Of course, these self-governing skills do come with practice and maturity along the way. I work with my students to help them ask the right questions while reading and develop these skills.
Middle school and above go even deeper. They learn how to analyze the text. Upper level students tie in real historical accounts to fictional writings. They seek to discover why an author set out to convey thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and more. Reading comprehension has more complexities as teachers and professors require such analysis and insist on explaining figurative expressions and embedded symbols.
I enjoy partnering with my students and helping them develop better reading skills. Together we explore writing sections, often searching up and uncovering the biography of authors and revealing interesting details about historical timelines. (Some authors could not simply state in clear text how they felt for fear of getting killed, so they wrote in hidden meanings.)
Beginners ==> ABCs, neatly writing words, and forming sentences
Young Learners ==> parts of speech, writing sentences, writing paragraphs
Older Learners ==> essays, reports, narratives (stories/books), portfolios, resumes, etc.
I see writing as an art. Sadly, many people have lost the zeal for expressing themselves in written form. I work with students to help bring out their creative voices, thoughts, and views. Along the way, I also help them improve in grammar, sentence structure, and overall writing mechanics. I hope to encourage students to start with a word and keep developing to write reports, essays, and for some even books.
Beginners ==> Clear pronunciations of words, speaking more clearly
Young Learners ==> Prepare for speaking in front of their class
Older Learners ==> Persuasive speaking, expressing viewpoints, engaging audience
Even the youngest students need help with speaking in a classroom. These kids need to pronounce each word clearly in order for others to understand them. Many homes do not speak solely English, and the children benefit by working with me, a native American.
Young Learners often have assignments that require standing up in front of their class and talking. They share book reports, poems, and other presentations. It does take practice to comfortable speak with confidence and use hand and body motions properly without fidgeting.
Older Learners also engage in presentations. At the higher grade levels, students must make sure to follow the requirements that the instructor or professor gave to the class. The presenter must interact well with the audience, convey interesting details, and especially drive home the main purpose of the talk. Visual aids or tools might add value. Some even present in a debate style format. In these cases, the viewpoint of the speaker must have a great backing; the student must provide references.
I provide assistance to kindergarten through adults who need to practice interviewing. or business presentations.
Study skills include a whole variety of tips and ways for students to become more comfortable in an academic environment. Some of the most popular include SQ3R, Cordell note taking, thought mapping, outlining, personal shorthand/shortcuts, and careful listening.
I work with my students individually to assess which study skills might best fit the needs.