Elementary School
The elementary years are important years for mastering math, reading, and writing skills. Whereas all subjects in school are important, math, reading, and writing are the foundations during this time because they are the skills needed for success across all subjects.
In addition, learning the basics of high effort begins in elementary school. Important skills are:
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Learning to complete assignments on time
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Breaking down homework packets and long-term assignments into manageable steps throughout the week instead of waiting until the last minute
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Studying for several days before a test rather than only the night before
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Learning how they learn best and developing study strategies that match their individual learning style
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Building independence, responsibility, organization, and self-confidence
My Approach
Learning should be FUN!
Many students come to me feeling overwhelmed, nervous, frustrated, discouraged, or convinced that they simply "aren't good" at a particular subject. Often, the problem isn't ability. The problem is that the work feels too big, too confusing, or too difficult to know where to begin. This is where I excel in helping students feel comfortable just as they are, and seamlessly build on what they know towards competency and mastery..
My approach helps students break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Whether we are tackling a math assignment, reading passage, writing project, study plan, or long-term school project, I teach through challenges one step at a time, adjusting to incorporate skills the student needs.
When steps are broken down and made to be fun, with hands-on activities, positive encouragement, and high-fives, students aren't just learning to be successful in school. They are building memories that build their self-esteem and confidence. Someday, students may not remember every math problem they solved or every assignment they completed, but they will remember how they felt. Everything I do is designed with the child's future memory of themselves in mind. I want students to leave each session feeling capable, successful, and proud of what they can accomplish.
When students experience success one step at a time, they begin to see themselves differently. They become more resilient when work becomes difficult, more confident in their abilities, and more willing to tackle new challenges.
More Than Tutoring
Every child learns differently. Some students need help mastering academic skills. Others need support with confidence, organization, attention, motivation, or learning how to approach challenging tasks. Many need a combination of both.
My goal is not simply to help students complete today's homework assignment. I uncover learning challenges and identify needs that may not be obvious when students struggle. Then, we target those needs with a plan that includes any underlying skills that need strengthening, as well as current classroom skills.
During the elementary years, I work with students to strengthen academic foundations in math, reading, and writing while also developing the habits, strategies, and executive function skills that support long-term success.
Students may benefit from support in areas such as:
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Math concepts and math fact fluency
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Reading comprehension and reading confidence
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Writing organization and written expression
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Study skills and test preparation
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Organization and time management
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Homework routines and follow-through
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Attention and focus strategies
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Self-confidence and academic resilience
I regularly work with students who experience:
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Learning Challenges
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ADHD and ADD
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Anxiety
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Executive Functioning Challenges
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Gifted and High-Achieving
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Gifted and Twice Exceptional such as students who are gifted as well having ADHD and/or a Learning Disability
Subject Specifics
Math
Math is more than simply finding the correct answer to a problem. Math provides opportunities to practice logic, reasoning, problem-solving, organization, and attention to detail. Learning to solve math problems teaches patience, persistence, sequencing, accuracy, and critical thinking skills that students will use throughout their lives.
In the elementary years, mastering basic math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division is essential. For example, knowing addition facts through 20 and multiplication facts through 12 helps students confidently tackle more advanced concepts. Students who have strong math fact fluency are often more successful when learning higher-level skills because they can focus their energy on the new concept instead of basic calculations.
Students who struggle with math facts frequently become overwhelmed as math becomes more complex. Fortunately, this challenge can often be improved with targeted practice and support, leading to significant gains in both achievement and confidence.
While students practice math facts at school, additional practice at home is often necessary for mastery. School instruction moves quickly, and strong foundational skills make a tremendous difference. Please reach out for ideas and strategies that can help!
Reading
Reading is one of the most important skills a child will ever learn, which is why it should be part of a regular routine at home - not just at school.
During the early elementary years, students are "learning to read." They learn letters, sounds, sight words, decoding skills, fluency, and basic comprehension. Their primary focus is learning how written language works.
As students move into later elementary school, they begin "reading to learn." Now they must use their reading skills to understand new information, analyze ideas, draw conclusions, and think critically about what they read. These are skills they will use throughout school and throughout life.
Helping students become strong readers during the elementary years creates a foundation for success in every subject. Students who read fluently and understand what they are reading are better prepared for the increasing academic demands of middle school and beyond.
Why Read Daily at Home?
Reading is a skill that improves with practice. Just as athletes improve through repetition and musicians improve through regular practice, readers become stronger when they read consistently.
The human brain needs time and repeated exposure to develop the many skills involved in reading. As children practice, they become more fluent, build vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, and learn to create a mental picture of what they are reading. Reading also develops attention, memory, reasoning, and critical thinking skills.
Reading most days of the week at home gives the brain the practice it needs to grow. While students certainly read at school, school reading alone is rarely enough to develop strong reading habits and fluency. Students who read regularly outside of school tend to become stronger readers, more confident learners, and more successful students overall.
What If My Child Doesn't Want to Read?
The good news is that independent reading is not the only way children benefit from books.
Children also gain tremendous benefits from being read to by an adult. In fact, listening to a parent read a high-interest book can be one of the most enjoyable and valuable reading experiences for a parent and child.
Using different voices for characters, discussing the story, and asking questions such as "Why do you think that happened?" or "What do you think will happen next?" helps children actively engage with what they are hearing. These conversations build vocabulary, comprehension, reasoning skills, and a deeper understanding of stories.
Even older elementary students can enjoy picture books. Many picture books contain sophisticated vocabulary, rich themes, and advanced content while remaining visually engaging and less overwhelming than long chapters of text. (Yes, there are excellent picture books written for 4th and 5th graders! The West Oaks Library in Ocoee is a great resource for this because the reading level is posted on the book's spine in this particular library. This makes it easy to target picture books for upper elementary school when helpful.)
Parents can also combine different types of reading. For example, a parent might read a more challenging chapter book aloud while the child listens and follows along. This exposes students to vocabulary and ideas that may be above their current independent reading level. As students transition into chapter books, parents and children can take turns reading pages, sections, or chapters. Often, once a story becomes exciting, students become eager to continue reading on their own.
Audiobooks are another excellent option. Listening to books helps develop vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of stories, especially on busy days when there isn't as much time or energy for traditional reading. The Orange County Library System offers free digital audiobooks and digital books that can be accessed from home and used alone or paired together.
Reading time can even be paired with hot chocolate, a favorite snack, a blanket, or a cozy spot on the couch to create positive memories around books and learning. When reading feels enjoyable and connected to family time, children are more likely to develop a lifelong love of books.
The most important goal is not perfection. It's consistency. A variety of reading experiences from picture books to chapter books, reading with an adult, listening to audiobooks, or reading independently all count towards literacy.
If you would like help creating a reading routine that works for your child and your family, please reach out. I'd be happy to help.
Writing
Writing is much more than putting words on paper. Writing is the process of organizing thoughts, communicating ideas, solving problems, and expressing understanding. Strong writing skills help students succeed not only in language arts, but also in science, social studies, math, and every other academic subject.
In the elementary years, students learn the building blocks of writing. They begin by learning proper sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar. As they progress, they learn to write complete paragraphs, organize information, support their ideas with details and evidence, and communicate clearly to a reader.
Writing requires many skills working together at the same time. Students must generate ideas, organize their thoughts, choose appropriate vocabulary, apply grammar and spelling rules, and monitor their work for clarity. Because writing is such a complex task, it is common for students to need extra support and practice as they develop confidence.
Many students have wonderful ideas but struggle to get those ideas onto paper. Individualized support can help students learn strategies for brainstorming, planning, organizing, drafting, revising, and editing their work. With the right guidance, writing can become less frustrating and more enjoyable, leading to greater confidence and academic success.