Interpretation and synthesis of previous testing to determine current strengths and needs.
Screenings for prospective students to determine current curricular needs.
Academic Therapy in oral and written language for students with and without diagnoses.
Some students have not yet been assessed but are struggling academically, or there are significant concerns including a family history of learning concerns.
Some of the diagnoses addressed include:
Dyslexia which includes a multi-sensory approach to decoding/word reading and spelling.
Phonological and phonemic awareness training — sound awareness and manipulation at the auditory level.
Dysgraphia/Written language weaknesses
Dyscalculia/Math weaknesses
ADHD- inattentive, impulsive and combined.
Autism Spectrum Disorder — verbal and higher functioning.
Anxiety including school anxiety
Graphomotor issues
Speech and language weaknesses
Executive function weaknesses/basic study skills and organization
Concrete-Representational-Abstract math instruction for students up to a sixth grade level. Orton Gillingham based.
Support and guidance with IEPs, appropriate school interventions, school accommodations, and when testing and other referrals are needed.
I work with students ages kindergarten to middle school. I am available to work with adults on basic literacy skills.
What is Academic Therapy?
Academic Therapy addresses reading, spelling, comprehension, vocabulary, handwriting, written expression, and organizational strategies. Intensity of instruction is a critical factor when remediating a disability. For this reason, students' progress is maximized with a minimum of three sessions a week. Academic Therapy focuses on remediating a student’s weaknesses.
Academic Therapy is not simply tutoring. Academic Therapists are highly trained in specific approaches designed for students who have specific reading and writing disorders. Tutors, however, do not always have the intensive training of a therapist and the focus of their sessions are typically associated with a specific subject matter, more general approach to building up weak areas, or on completing homework.
Services not offered
I do NOT provide neuropsychological or psychoeducational testing leading to a diagnosis. Please request this testing from your local school district or refer to the Washington State Branch of the International Dyslexia site, or your local branch of the International Dyslexia Association for a private practitioner. This needs to be done in person, not via Zoom, unless the student lives in a very remote area.
Getting started
Please schedule a complementary 15 minute telephone consultation.
If the family decides to proceed, set a screening meeting is scheduled with the student. At this time, we do some fun getting-to-know-you games and an initial screening over two to three sessions.
A deposit is required for the initial prescreening consultation with the student. This covers the cost of initial screening of phonological and phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, handwriting, attention, and a review of previous assessments (neuropsychological, psycho-educational, speech and language, Occupational Therapy, etc.) and progress reports the parent shares.
A follow up meeting is scheduled with the parents to discuss the screening results and synthesis of prior testing. At this time, strengths and weaknesses are shared and goals are set. A contract is offered for the current academic period.
Fees
A deposit is required to cover the intake screening, review of previous testing and a follow-up parent feedback. Students commit to weekly time slots for the academic quarter or trimester. Summer lessons are available on a flexible schedule. Tuition is billed monthly via Paypal for students on an academic contract. Payment is accepted via Paypal or Zelle. Hourly rates are based on the length of a session and the number of sessions a week. There are a limited number of partial scholarships.
Session basics
At the current time, all Academic Therapy sessions occur online, and are individualized for each student's unique learning needs. Working via Zoom is highly effective. It reduces travel time for both of us, and enables me to reach more students. I work in multiple North American time zones. I do take students living outside the United States.
Session length:
Most students do a minimum of three 50 minute sessions a week.
For younger students, 30 minutes sessions are available.
Session requirements:
The student needs a quiet space, with minimal interruptions.
A laptop that has the ability to share my cursor remotely is a big advantage. (With older computers and Chromebooks, I can share my screen but not my cursor).
Please have access to a printer.
The session: Each reading session starts with a brief chat and a game, to secure the child's attention. In each session, time will be spent on:
sound awareness/ phonological and phonemic awareness
sequencing
individual sound production
word reading
reading connected text including phrases, sentences and stories.
spelling sounds, words, and writing dictated sentences
Other sessions (math, graphomotor, writing) The contents of each session will be determined by the individual goals set for the student's unique learning needs.