Sandy

American history

dyslexia

I am a credentialed elementary and secondary school teacher, and I have been a literacy teacher since 2008. I have had training in reading instruction from Lindamood-Bell and The Kelter Center in West LA. Brain scientists recognize three cognitive processes underlying dyslexia: Weak auditory processing, weak visual processing, and deficits in what is known as working memory. My instructional methods include using physical techniques for mastering the sounds of English, colorful visual imagery to strengthen letter/sound relationships, and mental games for strengthening working memory. Slow or inaccurate reading (dysfluency) is also affected by weaknesses in these cognitive processes. My fluency program is based developing the reader's awareness of his mistakes in an empowering way. It's amazing how well that works in improving accuracy, which therefore increases reading comprehension. As a result, my students typically improve their reading level by two grades after a few months of focused, effective fluency instruction.

elementary (k-6th)

I have a preliminary CA multiple subject teaching credential

English

I worked for four years as a literacy teacher at The Kelter Center in Los Angeles. I was trained to use Winston Grammar and Step Up to Writing to teach all aspects of expository writing, including grammar and syntax, outlining, essay and report writing, and writing specialty paragraphs (compare/contrast, cause and effect, and sequence) and specialty essays (persuasive writing and response to literature).

European history

general computer

I have been a computer user since the 1980s. I was a computer trainer in a Fortune 500 company and tutoring adults for nearly 10 years. I'm also a reading teacher for children with dyslexia, so I'm experienced and effective in working one-on-one with people and a patient teacher, especially for people new to computers.

geography

government & politics

grammar

Macintosh

Although I have used both Macs and PCs since 1984, my personal preference is the Mac. For my home computer, I have a MacBook Air (OSX 10.8.2), my second MacBook. At work, I use an iPad.

Microsoft Excel

I have been using Excel since the early 90s and tutoring adults for nearly 10 years. I was a computer trainer in a Fortune 500 company. I'm also a reading teacher for children with dyslexia, so I'm experienced and effective in working one-on-one with people and a patient teacher.

Microsoft Outlook

I have been using Outlook since the early 90s and tutoring in the entire suite of Microsoft Office products, of which Outlook is one.

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

music theory

phonics

I have been a literacy teacher since 2008 and I have had training in reading instruction from Lindamood-Bell Learning Centers and The Kelter Center in Los Angeles, both highly regarded leaders in literacy instruction. My phonics instruction focuses on strengthening the connection between letters and their sounds using multiple modalities and teaching explicit rules for reading words.

reading

I have been a literacy teacher since 2008 and I have had training in reading instruction from Lindamood-Bell Learning Centers and The Kelter Center Educational Therapy in Los Angeles, both highly regarded leaders in literacy instruction. I use state-of-the art, research-based methods for teaching all aspects of reading, including decoding and reading comprehension strategies. These methods include Lindamood-Bell's LiPS, Seeing Stars and Visualizing and Verbalizing. I am also a part-time high school librarian. So I am skilled at matching books to students' interests and reading levels. Reading for pleasure is the key to reading regularly, which is the key to becoming a good reader.

social studies

spelling

study skills

vocabulary

world history

writing

My writing instruction encompasses everything from the foundational parts-of-speech and sentence structures to writing the most sophisticated essays. I use three highly regarded, research-based instructional programs: Winston Grammar, The Sentence Writing Strategy (University of Kansas Learning Strategies), and Step Up to Writing (Sopris). I assess each student to see if there are any gaps in the foundational skills, and if so, include those skills in the student’s learning goals. Brainstorming and outlining your ideas before writing is essential to writing coherent essays that adequately address the essay prompt. I use a variety of thinking maps to help you visually organize your thoughts and a color-coded outline format to help you sequence your ideas. It’s amazing how few students organize their thinking before writing thinking it takes too much time. In fact, it takes more time to complete the essay if you start writing first, and the quality of the writing is poorer. Outlining is the key to success in writing! If you are an ESL student, these methods will work very well for you. I have worked with a number of ESL students at SMC and all three were highly satisfied with the results.