We are not an app or a robot! We are real people teaching real students in real time. Your child learns one on one with an experienced, observant, responsive tutor, trained to work with students who need a robust, non-traditional way of learning with immediate, personal feedback.
Both math and language tutoring is structured, explicit,
multi-sensory and aligned with research-based best practice.
Mindguide tutors individualize instruction moment to moment, answering questions and offering the level of instruction your child needs at the pace they need, setting them up for success every step of the way.
Yes, Mindguide fully embraces the benefits online learning, AND we still believe in the power of pencil and paper together with concrete manipulatives. Our students keep math journals to record new concepts and draw their own representations, because writing and drawing results in deeper understanding and greater retention. We use printable templates and near point references to help students avoid common errors.
To support handwriting and spelling, we teach letter formation explicitly, emphasizing starting points, direction, and proper sequencing of strokes. We encourage comfortable pencil/pen grip, spacing between words, and correct letter size and proportions, while teaching capitalization and punctuation in sentences. Tutors give real time feedback with the use of document cameras. All of this leads to greater retention than typing alone or clicking and dragging tiles to form words.
We break information and tasks down to manageable bits - the individual sounds in words, the order of strokes in letter formation, or the steps in an algorithm. We work at a pace that builds confidence and reduces overwhelm. Explicit instruction leaves no room for ambiguity and provides a structured and systematic approach to learning, ensuring that every student can grasp and apply essential knowledge.
Using materials and movement, our students become more adept at identifying individual sounds and matching them to letters and letter combinations. Saying the sound of the letters while forming them with large motions solidifies sound/symbol connections. Students use hand signals to differentiate vowel sounds. More advanced students use material and movement to separate syllables in words and over time, reading fluency and spelling skills systematically and progressively develop.
We know how to keep distractible students engaged while giving them the amount of repetition they need for permanent learning. For a part of each lesson, students play games to make this repetition novel and fun. The competitive or collaborative nature of games adds an element of excitement, encouraging players to actively participate in the learning process.
Students can easily click and drag, duplicate, and delete when problem solving with our digital tools. Graphs, charts, and dynamic visualizations in online platforms help students grasp complex mathematical relationships and patterns that demystify algorithms.
Mindguide tutors recognize the importance of emotional well-being to the learning process. They create a positive environment that supports academic growth, self-awareness and self-acceptance.
Our tutors help students hone the skill of perseverance - something only humans, not software, can do.
Many students who struggle academically also have poor handwriting, or dysgraphia. We use explicit instruction to teach letter formation and break down the process into specific steps, emphasizing starting points, direction, and proper sequencing of strokes. We encourage comfortable pencil/pen grip, spacing between words, and correct letter size and proportions. We reinforce capitalization and punctuation.
Parent
Jennifer is an incredibly talented tutor who has been working with our son for over a year. She has a set of unique skills to not only work with children who may be struggling, but to meet the challenges they present and provide quality results. She is attentive to the child as a whole…socially, academically, mentally, etc. and is openly communicative with parents. I highly recommend her!
Parent
My daughter, like most children, was reluctant to the idea of tutoring in the summer. However, she quickly became willing to go as she found Jennifer to make her feel comfortable and at ease. And even better, my daughter discovered that math could be understandable and interesting. To my surprise, my daughter expressed interest in continuing tutoring! My daughter shared “Jennifer was good at making math easier for me . And I got how to do the math tables more than I usually do. She is awesome!
Parent
Our son worked with Mindguide for over 5 years. He had Jennifer for math tutoring and Darlene for reading and writing tutoring. I can’t express enough how invested his tutors were. They were extremely knowledgeable about various research based teaching methods. They approached my son as an Individual and made sure to make his learning engaging and enjoyable. I felt a tremendous amount of gratitude leaving my son to learn with both of his tutors because they were extremely experienced and the level of patience and kindness exhibited by both of them was unwavering. I highly recommend Mindguide.
Parent
Mindguide has been an invaluable support for my son, who has ADHD, Dyslexia and anxiety. The tutors at Mindguide are able to work with kids individually since no child is the same. As a parent, I also felt supported by Mindguide. I was able to work with an IEP consultant through Mindguide, which really helped me navigate through the IEP meetings at our public school. The check in’s and conferences around my son’s learning were also very informative and provided me with ideas around how I could continue my son’s learning during normal times at home as well. I strongly recommend having Mindguide on your family’s team!
Mindguide serves children 9 years of age and older who have a need for differentiated instruction in language and/or math. Many of our students have ADHD, autism and/or dysgraphia, and our tutors use specialized techniques to support them.
Our tutors are highly qualified professionals with expertise in general education, special education and specific training in supporting students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. Most of our tutors are experienced teachers still in the classroom, some are retired. A few have PhDs or are enrolled in PhD programs. All our tutors undergo rigorous training in the Orton-Gillingham method and the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) method. It's important to note that OG and CRA are methods, not scripted, boxed curricula and Mindguide is not wedded to any one training center or organization. All of our OG tutors are trained by organizations recognized by the International Dyslexia Association. There is no parallel organization for multi-sensory or CRA/CPA math. Tutors use the essential aspects of each method to support individual learners.
This is not quarantine-style distance learning! Our online tutoring format allows for one-on-one interactive sessions where students can engage with physical materials and digital tools in a way that is tailored to their individual learning styles. Students are comfortable in their own homes, not self-conscious in front of peers, and always observed. Tutors adapt to their emotional and academic needs moment to moment. It's convenient for parents too - no more rush hour drives and waiting.
The Orton-Gillingham method is a research-based, multi-sensory approach that focuses on teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency and comprehension. It is diagnostic and prescriptive, meaning we assess existing student knowledge and build upon it in a structured and sequential way according to each student's needs.
The Concrete-Representational/Pictorial-Abstract (CRA/CPA) method emphasizes the use of manipulatives and visual representations to help students grasp mathematical concepts concretely before moving to abstract symbols and equations. It gives students the why and how of math rather than rules and steps to follow without conceptual understanding.
Every child with ADD/ADHD is different. Some need a dopamine boost through gamification. Some need an energy release through physical activity like jumping jacks or stretching. They all need "brain breaks." We use checklists to help them keep track of lesson progress, and give lots of positive feedback. Tutors observe student responses and gauge the effectiveness of such supports. Since ADHD symptoms are unique in each learner and even from day to day, strategies are adapted along the way.
Our intake assessments give us a starting point in the scope and sequence. The math assessment is based on conversation and observation. We ask students how they feel about math, how they solve or would solve a math equation. We review even the most basic numeracy skills to see if there are inaccuracies in counting, skip counting, reading and writing numbers, or their conceptual and procedural understanding of the four operations.
Before starting with language students, we assess four skills: phonemic awareness (separating and manipulating the sounds within words), phonics knowledge (sound/symbol correspondence), spelling and reading fluency. Parents receive a report with this information.
Post-assessment data is taken every quarter so we can celebrate our students' success.
