Tutoring for learners with dyslexia and dyscalculia (MLD)
Compassionate and effective online tutoring using the
Orton-Gillingham Method and Multi-sensory Math.
Mindguide Learning offers, Compassionate and effective online tutoring using the Orton-Gillingham Method and Multi-sensory Math.
✅ Concrete Representational Abstract method
✅ Interleaved Review in each session
✅ Skills Reinforced with Fun Games
✅ Focus on a few select math facts at a time
✅ Aligned with the Science of Reading
✅ Direct instruction in Handwriting if needed
✅ Skills are mastered before moving on
✅ Connected text has no unfair words
Language Tutor
Samantha Pisano has worked in education both as a special education teacher and reading specialist. She graduated from King’s College with certifications in elementary and special education.
Math Tutor
Lisa has been an educator for the last thirteen years. She has taught all subjects for elementary students, Pre-algebra, Algebra 1, and Geometry. During her time as an elementary school teacher...
Language Tutor
Jan Brown has been a Massachusetts public school teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels for 15 years. She is currently working as a reading specialist at the
Math Tutor
Dr. Denise Peppers is a retired math teacher from Alabama who has 22 years of classroom teaching experience and five years experience providing professional development to K-12 math...
Language Tutor
Darlene Geddes has been an Oregon public school teacher PK-12 for 17 years and a school administrator for 7. She is currently a Professional Literacy Coach for NWRESD...
Language Tutor
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in English, I worked with children as an ice skating instructor and as a volunteer in my children’s schools. With over twenty years in...
Language Tutor
Shondricka has been a 5th grade teacher since 2018 and completed the Comprehensive OG training with IMSE in 2020. She has provided both one-on-one and ...
Language Tutor
As a child, Jerome had difficulty learning to read. Growing up in New Orleans and visiting family in Puerto Rico for holiday breaks...
Language and Math Tutor
Jyotshna is a Special Education Teacher in Colorado with 15 years experience teaching and seven years tutoring. She has a Master's Degree in English and Special Education and is a doctoral student at the American College of Education. Jyotshna is also mom to two girls and likes to spend her time hiking with them and enjoying the outdoors.
Jennifer started her career as a Montessori elementary teacher and taught for over ten years. She knew that each and every one of her students was learning in their own way, but some just didn't make adequate progress with typical instruction. Like most classroom teachers at the time, she didn’t have the tools that one in five children need to learn to read: systematic, multi-sensory, direct instruction. In 2013, Jennifer took Orton-Gillingham training with the intention to better serve these children in the classroom. She soon found that demand was so great she could make tutoring a full time job. As she worked with dyslexic students, she studied techniques from experts in the field of dyscalculia (specific learning disabilities in math) to make math more accessible to all learners. Her passion for helping these children turned into Mindguide Learning, which now serves elementary and middle school students nationwide.
Many students who struggle academically also have poor handwriting. We use explicit instruction to teach letter formation and break down the process into specific steps, emphasizing starting points, direction, and proper sequencing. We encourage comfortable pencil/pen grip, spacing between words, and correct letter size and proportions. Capitals and punctuation are
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.
Our students are living with significant academic challenges that can take years to remediate, and some Mindguide students have been with us for four or five years. We ask for at least a six month commitment and use a monthly tuition system. Monthly amounts are based on the number of possible lessons within those months times the hourly rate, which is $85 per session. Most families' monthly rates are just over $600 a month.
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.
We know we need to build trust with your child in order for them to be vulnerable and show us their struggles. We start by making an authentic connection, then meet them where they are. Lessons are at their own pace, and celebrate the small wins. Over time, they come to realize that we are valuable advocates for them.
We adapt our teaching style to the emotional and cognitive needs of each learner. One in three children with dyslexia also lives with ADD/ADHD. Our children are coping with anxiety, low self-esteem, and even depression. At Mindguide, we address the needs of the whole child, putting mutual respect, trust and compassion first while using science backed instructional methods.
Contact
info@mindguidelearning.com
Language Tutor
As a child, Jerome had difficulty learning to read. Growing up in New Orleans and visiting family in Puerto Rico for holiday breaks helped her see the need for quality literacy and education programs firsthand. When Jerome became a teacher, she sought out training in a quality Orton Gillingham program. While living in Austin, Texas for 13 years, Jerome has served in a variety of roles: Talented and Gifted Specialist, STEAM Specialist, ESL Teacher, Tracking Teacher or Case Manager and Reading Specialist for Dyslexia Services.
Jerome’s favorite pet is a Xolo, or Mexican Hairless dog. Her favorite pastimes include: yoga, organic gardening, making new recipes in the kitchen, dance, history, visiting the beach or the forest, art and reading. She is also interested in the evolution of the English Language with each band of tribal influence conquering Britain and how this has influenced reading and spelling patterns.
Jerome is an enthusiastic, collaborative educator. She looks forward to helping each student enjoy making the best progress in all aspects of their lessons together!
Math Tutor
Lisa has been an educator for thirteen years. She has taught all subjects for elementary students, Pre-algebra, Algebra 1, and Geometry. During her time as an elementary school teacher, she co-taught with a special education teacher to meet student’s individual needs. She earned her Master’s in Teaching and Learning with a focus in Differentiated Instruction in 2019 and has been tutoring for the past few years. Throughout her teaching career, Lisa has found that planning lessons for students as individuals and scaffolding learning has been the most effective way to see growth.
Lisa enjoys building positive relationships with her students and making learning engaging and simple. She loves baking, exercise, being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Language Tutor
Jan Brown has been a Massachusetts public school teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels for 15 years. She is currently working as a reading specialist at the elementary level and loves to share her passion for learning with her students. Jan is a certified reading specialist who is an Orton Gillingham associate with the Orton Gillingham Association as well as being certified in the Wilson Reading Program. She is certified as a reading specialist, a special education teacher, and as an elementary teacher. As a parent of a dyslexic daughter, Jan offers the perspective of an educator as well as a caring parent. She holds a masters degree from Lesley University and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in language and literacy from Mass General Institute of Health Professions. Outside of school, Jan loves to spend time with family, garden, and spoil her pets.
Math Tutor
Dr. Denise Peppers is a retired math teacher from Alabama who has 22 years of classroom teaching experience and five years experience providing professional development to K-12 math teachers. She has taught a variety of math courses in grades 7-12 and at the community college level. Denise is quite familiar with the challenges facing children who struggle to learn math. In addition, Dr. Peppers has taught mathematics courses for elementary teachers and math methods courses for middle grades teachers. She has presented numerous times at the local, state, and national levels at conferences for math educators. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, spending time with family & friends, and cooking.
Language Tutor
Darlene Geddes has been an Oregon public school teacher PK-12 for 17 years and a school administrator for 7. She is currently a Professional Literacy Coach for Northwest Regional Education Service District. Darlene is certified in elementary education with endorsements in Early Childhood Education, Reading Intervention and Language Arts. She tutors in reading, writing and study skills. Having taught high school for a decade, Darlene can provide support in preparing for high school and college. Darlene also offers special education (IEP and 504) consultation and advocacy.
Language Tutor
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in English, Bryan worked with children as an ice skating instructor and as a volunteer in his children’s schools. With over twenty years in production management positions, he decided to make a career change that would make a direct and positive impact on the lives of young people learning to read. He completed the classroom educator series at the Blosser Center for Dyslexia Resources in 2019 and passed the Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI), an exam that measures an educator’s knowledge of the principles and practices of Structured Literacy. Bryan has been tutoring full time with Mindguide for four years.
In his spare time, Bryan loves to hike and backpack throughout the Pacific Northwest, play hockey and learn new songs on his acoustic guitar.
Language Tutor
Shondricka has been a 5th grade teacher since 2018 and completed the Comprehensive OG training with IMSE in 2020. She has provided both one-on-one and whole-group Orton-Gillingham tutoring to students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
In her teaching practice, she utilizes multi-sensory techniques, to help students understand and retain new information. She collaborates with students, teachers, and parents to develop and implement effective learning strategies. When she's not working, she loves to read, spend time with her loved ones and take pictures.
Language Tutor
Samantha Pisano has experience as a special education teacher and reading specialist. She graduated from King’s College with certifications in elementary and special education. After working for several years in a junior high public school, she realized that many students were still struggling to read at grade level and went back to school to learn how to help them. Samantha graduated from Kings College again with a Masters in Reading education and a reading specialist certification. She also holds certifications in middle level math and a supervisor of special education certification in the state of Pennsylvania. Samantha is currently pursuing an Ed.D. from Wilkes University. Samantha began tutoring privately in 2016 and enjoys the individualized attention and instruction she can provide during tutoring sessions.
Language Tutor
Jyotshna is a Special Education Teacher in Colorado with 15 years experience teaching and seven years tutoring. She has a Master's Degree in English and Special Education and is a doctoral student at the American College of Education. Jyotshna is also mom to two girls and likes to spend her time hiking with them and enjoying the outdoors.
