Joyful Scholars
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DO WE BEGIN?
Please fill out your contact information, and I'll be in touch. We'll meet by phone or zoom to discuss your child's needs, and we'll set up an intake session. During the intake session, I will work with your child to determine which type of instruction would benefit them the most. Afterwards, I'll meet with you (by phone or zoom) and recommend the type of instruction, the duration (usually an hour), and the frequency (number of meetings per week).
WHAT AGES DO YOU WORK WITH?
I work with children as young as nine and up through adults. With the right instruction in a supportive, fun, and challenging environment, anyone can make progress in reading and writing.
ARE ALL OF YOUR CLASSES ONLINE?
Yes, all classes are online. Teaching on a video conferencing platform allows me to fill sessions with games and engage students in an environment they find comfortable and familiar.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE INTAKE SESSION?
If you are interested in reading instruction, I will ask your child to read words in a list, read a passage, explain the passage, and reflect on what they’ve read. Their responses will help me determine which of the five components necessary for fluent reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel (https://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/nrp), your child needs to strengthen.
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If you are interested in writing instruction, I will ask your child to read a passage and write about it. We will discuss how they approach writing assignments. Their responses will help me identify which area of writing—generating ideas, organizing ideas, or putting their ideas into sentences—they need to strengthen.
WHAT DO YOU FOCUS ON IN A READING SESSION?
We work on strengthening the skills identified during the intake session. This may involve connecting sounds to letters through imagery, practicing sounding out words, or developing sight word recognition. We may also focus on building comprehension or expanding vocabulary. All of this will be done through activities and games that incorporate your child’s interests—such as dance, sports, music, or video games.
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As the weaker skills strengthen, we focus on integrating all five components while reading engaging, skill-appropriate texts. We then transition to working on school assignments--whether they are short reading worksheets, novels, or history and science passages--until your child is able to read independently.
WHAT DO YOU FOCUS ON IN A WRITING SESSION?
We work on strengthening the skills identified during the intake session. This may include developing detailed imagery to support the brainstorming process or creating organized imagery to write strong topic sentences with supporting details. All activities are tailored to your child’s interests—whether it’s dance, sports, music, video games, or other passions.
DO YOU WORK WITH STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES?
I work with all students who can navigate Zoom. My background includes extensive experience supporting students with learning differences, such as ADD, dyslexia, ASD, and language processing disorders. I also work with many students without learning differences who need guidance to achieve their full potential. Additionally, high school juniors and seniors often benefit from writing support as they craft their college application essays.