If you know me, you know I love to talk with people and help. Talking with you would increase our connection, and I would be honored to contribute knowledge and space to voice questions, feelings, and thoughts.
If you have any questions for which I might have answers, please contact me. Here are a few that have come up frequently in the past.
What is the difference between a tutor and an educational therapist?
Tutors provide support that focuses on academics, homework, and test prep. They also vary significantly in their level of experience. From my experience, students with learning differences often need more support, which is where educational therapists come into play. Many tutors are experts in their academic area, and collaboration between an educational therapist and a tutor can benefit the student. I often collaborate with tutors and specialists.
Educational therapists have a deep knowledge of different learning disabilities and challenges, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, ADHD, ASD, GAD, Twice Exceptional students, and more. Each of these LDs has different types, levels, interactions with other challenges, approaches for support, many remediation methods, and so forth.
Educational therapists design an individualized plan that is the amalgam of the many strategies and methods we have. We carefully look at the details while also seeing the whole child, the whole person, with all the identities, strengths, challenges, dreams and passions, obstacles, and sources of support that are part of their life. We help make their educational journey joyful and increase experiences that bring a sense of competency to boost confidence and inner motivation. We synthesize individualized support that helps students develop self-understanding, self-acceptance, and skills for effective and empowering self-advocacy. Educational therapists often collaborate and are the glue that holds the team of support that students need.
As educational therapists, we never stop learning because the research on different topics related to our work guides us. We support the students and their families and collaborate with and empower teachers and everyone who is part of our students’ lives.
How do you help with homework and tests?
I am happy to offer support with some homework assignments and help prepare for tests on the topics we work on. However, both of these are not our goals or our primary focus. I see homework and tests as chances to gain insight for my work with your child. They also help me advocate for them better when I communicate with their teachers and the IEP team and work on making sure they get the right kind of support, services, and accommodations.
Can you evaluate or diagnose my child as dyslexic/ADHD/autistic?
Educational Therapists are not allowed to perform official diagnoses. We do use both formal and informal assessments to guide our work. If you are interested in an official medical assessment, I will help you find a psychologist or a doctor who can offer that service from my network of allied professionals. If the family is interested in an assessment from the school, I will also help you request that. Naturally, before providing referrals, I’ll take the time to explain the differences and benefits of private vs. school assessment, and guide you to the answers and support your child needs.
Will you help me in the IEP or 504 process?
Absolutely! I will help you start the process, guide you before and after each meeting, and attend meetings with you to advocate for your child to the best of my ability. I will connect you with an advocate or special education lawyer if needed. After the IEP or 504 meetings, I remain in communication and collaboration with teachers and allied professionals.
Where do you work?
My office is in Santa Clara, CA, and I offer in-person, virtual, and hybrid lessons..
What curricula do you work with?
I use many different methods and programs to create the best plan for each student. I primarily use Making Math Real and Singapore Math, supplemented by many other resources, such as Woodin Math, Ronit Bird’s resources, Beast Academy, Yay Math, and the math books students use in school.
I use Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, and Structured Word Inquiry to work on early reading and spelling. For executive functions, I use Brain Frames to help with organizing thoughts, as well as many other resources I have learned over the years.
NVC has been a part of my life since 2005, and it is part of every lesson because it is a part of who I am and how I am in this world.
I use many games for practicing skills and informal assessment because practicing while playing is the least stressful way to learn.
Does my health insurance cover this service?
The short answer is no. I often don’t accept third-party payment.
Parents can try to submit a claim with a doctor’s special letter called a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN). Unlike Speech Therapists (SLPs) and Occupational Therapists (OT), Educational Therapists are not yet licensed by insurers. (I hope that one day, this will change.)
How can we as parents support the process of your work with our child?
My first request is that you support the consistency of our work. Of course, there are vacations and unplanned sick days, but beyond that, let’s try to have your child meet with me consistently. This is especially important for students with challenges with working memory.
My second request is that you try to make sure that your child is well-rested and well fed 🙂 before our lesson. Rest and nourishment are essential for learning.
Sometimes, I give them a book to read at home or a few work pages to practice what we learned; please help them do the work and bring it to our next lesson.
Lastly, if your child is under the weather or sick, please cancel our lesson as soon as you know about their situation.
Thank you.
Find out more about me, the services I provide, or read testimonials.
