How do you ensure that you're getting a quality TUTOR?

The tutor knows her CONTENT.
The tutor knows your CHILD.

"Meeting the needs of all students starts with knowing who your students are." - Elena Aguilar

Learning is a dynamic synthesis of teacher, student, and content. Melanie knows her content, and has worked with ages 3-13!

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My background is in early childhood. I have a Bachelors in Child Development and a Masters in Language and Literacy Instruction. I did my students teaching with preschool and first grade. I taught first through 5 grades for 11 years, and middle school math for one. I spent some of those years as a Reading interventionist and a Gifted Resource teacher. I have facilitated the academic growth of a breadth of ages and cognitive levels. My direct experience with different age groups has given me a solid understanding of what children are capable of, and how to facilitate comprehension at different ability levels. I am so curious to see where your child fits into the cognitive progression of development!

The last ten years, I have developed a particular type of Math and English Language Arts (ELA) resources for 1st-8th grade classroom teachers. The video below, "Differentiation in the Classroom" gives a brief look at the unique approach I use to break down learning standards and plan instruction.

Efficient Tutoring Process

The most efficient way to begin instruction is with a pre-assessment. This means the child demonstrates what they know first, so no instructional time is wasted on unnecessary content. This may be done verbally or in writing.
Pre-assessments are chosen based on the most essential learning standards for that grade level and subject. This means that no instructional time will be wasted on minor details. Focus stays on the main ideas and patterns of the subject area.
Lesson are planned based on pre-assessment results. If students understand the basic concept, vocabulary, and previous grade level operations, then we move on. If your child needs some review or help reconceptualizing the content, we do that first.
Children are observed for their preferred mode of learning and processing (auditory, kinesthetic, visual-spatial). This helps the instructor to know how to present and practice the material for faster results.
Instruction is also focused on repetitive patterns in the content. For instance, in mathematics, most of the standards in K-3 revolve around understanding the patterns in the place value system: 1s, 10s, 100s, 1-thousands, 10-thousands, 100-thousands, etc. Once students "get" this pattern they simply extend it every year. It means they actually have to memorize fewer "facts." An example in Language Arts might be the patterns in reading graphemes, story structure or paragraph writing.
*Parents can also have input into choosing the resources used; if your child has been successful with a specific program or is home-schooling, Let us know!
Students will revisit the exact same pre-assessment periodically to demonstrate how much more they have learned. This is now a post-assessment (after instruction).
The resources I use for pre- and post-assessments are based on Common Core State Standards, and written in a leveled format which outlines a specific path of progress. You and your child will get to see on paper exactly how much they've accomplished! View examples of the resources below.

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FAQ

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What can parents and students expect from tutoring?

No one likes to waste time! My targeted approach to math and reading support starts with your child. I pre-assess their level of mastery in specific learning targets so we know exactly what to work on. Their work and growth is tracked so you can SEE their progress on paper! See some of the resources I use here: https://mrslsleveledlearning.com

How much does tutoring cost?

Tutoring costs $60 an hour, and ESA funds are accepted. Tutoring is scheduled on a good faith basis, so missed or cancelled sessions can always be rescheduled. Payment credits never expire!

Where and when do you work with students?

Online or In-person! I work from my home in Queen Creek, AZ. I schedule zoom calls for virtual tutoring also. I am available weekday mornings from 8am-1pm. Sessions will be scheduled for an hour each.

How much tutoring will my child need?

Every student is unique, and learning is a very personal process that takes time. A minimum of one month, or 4 sessions, is a good base for assessing growth. The goal will always be to get your child feeling confident with grade-level content so they can work more independently. You will get to decide how much progress you want to see before ending sessions.

Watch this 2:30-minute video below to learn

my unique approach to instruction.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if Melanie's approach is right for your child.

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Children who attend tutoring may work with this assessment format, depending on what skills they need. The initial interview will clarify where tutoring begins and what resources are necessary. This video offers an example of the resources and approach that may be used to target instruction.