FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL

How much do you charge?

Tutoring isn't "one size fits all." I will conduct an assessment of the student's needs and goals, and take into consideration the frequency of lessons to determine a fair rate. Don't forget, the first lesson is always free!



Do you offer any discounts?

There are 3 ways to get the best value: 1: You can purchase session packages ahead of time. When paying upfront for multiple visits, I discount the lessions. 2: More sessions, more savings! If you book 2 or more sessions a week, the price per session is discounted. 3: Refer a friend, and get a free lesson! (The friend must book a session for you to receive your free session with me).



Where do we meet for the session?

I am located in Elkins Park, PA, and because I use a wheelchair, it can be difficult for me to travel and get into other people's homes. I have a comfortable space in my home where I work with my students. Parents are welcome to stay, or can go shopping near by while they wait. If traveling to me is prohibitive, let's discuss and find a meeting spot that works for both of us!



How long is each session?

The session timeframe depends on the student's age, needs, and goals. Most lessons are 1.5 hours.



What are your credentials?

I have a BS in Special Education, and a Master's Degree in Jewish Education. I am Pennsylvania State Certified.



What types of payments do you accept?

Cash, Venmo, Paypal, and Cash App. I do not accept credit cards at this time.



How old are your students?

I work with students of all ages, from preschool to adults.



What if I have more than 1 child who needs services?

Just like insurances, I offer a bundling rate. Lessons are still invidividualized to suit each child's needs, goals, and abilities.



BAR/BAT MITZVAH

How long is each session?

Generally, each lesson is 2 hours. I also offer a free half-hour phone/facetime/skype "check-up" in between meetings. The length of our lessons will also be determined by my student’s ability, and will depend on how much of the Shabbat service he/she wants to participate in.



When should my child begin lessons?

Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons should begin as soon as you have made the decision to have this meaningful ‘coming of age’ ritual. Typically, I work with students 1 year before their Bar/Bat Mitzvah date. Other factors will impact the length of time (Torah, Haftarah, blessings, prayers, etc.)



Do you officate at the service?

I am not licensed to officiate. I partner with several Rabbis and Cantors who can officiate and provide a Torah if the Bar/Bat Mitzvah is not in a Synagogue.



What if we don't belong to a Synagogue?

While it is great to be a part of a synagogue community, many families choose to have their Bar/Bat Mitzvah at a venue or even at their home. I can also help make arrangements for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah to take place in a Synagogue, or I can help you choose a venue where you can have the service and celebration. I will provide a custom-made prayer book, which includes a bio of your child, pictures, description of the service, and the prayers and blessings for the service.



What if my child can't read Hebrew?

I am happy to teach your child how to read Hebrew, including reading from the Torah. However, there are many parts of the service that don't require Hebrew reading. Blessings and prayers can be learned without having to read. I will teach your child what he/she needs to know in order to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.



ESL

How long is each session?

ESL lessons are a minimum of 1.5 hours (90 minutes).



How old are your students?

I work with students of all ages, from preschool to adults.



How do you teach English?

I use multiple auditory and visual materials during our lessons so that you will hear, see, speak, and write English.. I also provide practice materials for you to work on at home. I use various auditory and visual materials



What happens at our first lesson?

At our first lesson, I ask for your goals and expectations. I will perform an evaluation to assess your baseline in vocabulary, sentence structures, and English pronunciation. I will measure and work with you to improve your listening/understanding, speaking, reading, writing, and pronunciation



How can I practice on my own between sessions?

I will give you materials to practice with at home. Additionally, between our meetings, I can have lessons with you via Skype, FaceTime, and email.



What languages do you teach ESL learners?

My students are from all over the world. I teach many students from India who speak Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, from Asia, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. I have been very fortunate to work with men and women from Brazil, Argentina, France, Israel, Mexico, and Portugal. Most recently, I taught English to preschool girls from Ukraine who were afraid to speak in the beginning, and now they are flourishing!



MENTALLY GIFTED

How do I know if my child is gifted?

The National Association for Gifted Children identifies gifted and talented children as “…those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains. The characteristics that parents often notice first include advanced vocabulary, heightened sensitivity, remarkable memory, and rapid learning. Gifted students who are served in general education classrooms frequently finish their work sooner than other students. Gifted and talented children are constantly learning from their environment, seeming to know things without the effort required to learn it. Gifted and talented children have demonstrated abilities that are significantly advanced compared to other children of the same age, experience, and background.



Is my child’s school required to provide gifted support?

Pennsylvania Code (22 Pa. Code §16.2) indicates that each school district must, by direct service or through arrangements with other agencies, provide the following: • Services and programs planned, developed and operated for the identification and evaluation of each gifted student; • Gifted education for each gifted student which is based on the unique needs of the student, not solely on the student's classification; and • Gifted education for gifted students which enables them to participate in acceleration or enrichment programs, or both, as appropriate, and to receive services according to their intellectual and academic abilities and needs. Your child’s school will base its gifted and talented program on your district's and state’s definition. Schools should offer a variety of services available that are specific to your child’s strengths, readiness, interests, and abilities. Acceleration services allow your child to move ahead in the school’s curriculum at a pace faster than his same age peers. This might be through early entrance to kindergarten, doing 5th grade math while in third grade, or skipping a grade. It's important to note that school districts are not required to provide gifted services to students attending private schools.



How can I support my child at home?

Collect resources on your child's topics of interests, such as books, videos, and websites. Make time to talk to your child every day and encourage her active questioning. Help your child sharpen his social skills - you can find peers or groups who share similar interests. It can be easy to forget your child is just a child because he/she may be able to have adult conversations about advanced topics. Allow your child the freedoms or responsibilities appropriate for his/her individual emotional or social development. Gifted children are often highly observant and sensitive to social issues and fairness. Model the behavior you expect of your child. Find opportunities for him/her to participate in acts of service that can make a difference. Provide challenge outside of school. Enrichment is incredibly beneficial whether it supplements school content or explores interests or passions. This could be in any area, whether that be through music, sports, or academic clubs, classes, or camps.



Where can I find more information about Pennsylvania Gifted Education?

https://www.giftedpage.org/



READING/WRITING

How will you determine my child's reading/writing level?

Using the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test, I will work with your child to perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine his/her level of abilities which includes reading readiness, basic skills, and reading comprehension. The results will provide the total age and grade level equivalent for your child. Then, we can begin to work together to meet your child where they are, and improve from there. With the WRMT, grade equivalent scores represent the level of task difficulty that a student can perform and are properly used as an aid in instructional planning. I prepare a full report of these evaluation results which can be shared with your child’s school and teachers, so we can work as a team to best support your child.



How do I know if my child is behind grade level in reading/writing?

I will administer one-on-one, comprehensive reading evaluations which can be performed in-person or remotely. The results from these diagnostic assessments will determine your child’s exact age and grade equivalent, when compared to his/her peers nationally. Additionally, specific strengths and weaknesses are established. This allows me to choose appropriate materials and guide our lessons.



How can you support my child with his/her specific class’s needs?

If your child’s class is reading a specific book or working on a particular lesson, you can ask the teacher to provide resources to work on at home and bring them to our sessions. I will work with your child to make sure he/she feels ready to participate confidently in class by helping them to be prepared, understand their teacher’s expectations, and the goals of the lesson.



Help! I can't get my child to open a book! What do I do?

When a child feels insecure about their reading abilities, they will not want to practice, and they will be discouraged from reading. They may feel hopeless and become angry. They are frustrated, and that is okay...we will get there! I use multi-sensory techniques and highly motivating lessons which encourage my students to practice reading and reading comprehension skills in a way that is fun and without pressure. With just a little bit of success, my students’ confidence grows and motivates them to keep reading. I always encourage my students to participate in planning for their success by asking what subjects they are interested in. Reading does not have to be only books - articles, websites, etc., with your child's partnership, we will get them reading one step at a time.



MATH

How do I know if my child is behind grade level in math?

I will administer one-on-one, comprehensive math evaluations which can be performed in-person or remotely. The results from these diagnostic assessments will determine your child’s exact age and grade equivalent, when compared to his/her peers nationally. Additionally, specific strengths and weaknesses are established. This allows me to choose appropriate materials and guide our lessons.



How will you determine my child’s math level?

I always begin teaching math by first performing a comprehensive mathematics evaluation. I will use the KeyMath Diagnostic Inventory of Mathematics, which is made up of 13 subtests that assess a student’s performance in 3 important content areas: 1. Basic Concepts, which includes quantity, order, place value, fractions, decimals, percents, and geometry. 2. Operations, which includes your child’s computation skills. This grouping includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and mental computation. 3. Applications, which measures your child’s ability to make practical use of his/her mathematics knowledge and skills. This group includes measurements, weight, area, time and money, using a clock to tell time, making estimations, interpreting data on graphs/charts/tables, understanding probability concepts, and analyzing and solving word problems. The results of the assessment will determine your child’s grade and age level equivalent. I prepare a full report of these evaluation results which can be shared with your child’s school, so we can work as a team to best support your child.



How can you help my child with what their class is currently learning?

If your child’s class is working on a particular lesson or studying a particular are of mathematics, you can ask the teacher to provide resources to work on at home and bring them to our sessions. I will work with your child to make sure he/she feels ready to participate confidently in class by helping them to be prepared, understand their teacher’s expectations, and the goals of the lesson.



I feel like I've tried everything, but my child will not study! What do I do?

When a child feels insecure about their abilities, they will not want to study and practice. They may feel hopeless and become angry. They are frustrated, and that is okay...we will get there! I use multi-sensory techniques and highly motivating lessons which encourage my students to learn and practice math skills. With just a little bit of success, my students’ confidence grows and motivates them to study more.



SPECIAL EDUCATION

How do you evaluate academic levels and monitor progress?

During the meeting with your child, I will administer one-on-one, comprehensive math and/or reading evaluations which can be performed in-person or remotely. The results from these diagnostic assessments will determine your child’s exact age and grade equivalent, when compared to his/her peers nationally. Additionally, specific strengths and weaknesses are established. This allows me to choose appropriate materials and guide our lessons.



Who else can I talk to concerning Special Education issues involving my child?

Call the district office and ask for the special education contact person. Each building principal is also aware of the procedure for obtaining special education services. As a parent and student advocate, I can help access important services for your child.



Where can I get copies of the regulations pertaining to Special Education?

A copy of the special education regulations and standards may be obtained by writing the PA Bureau of Special Education: 333 Market St, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Phone: (717) 783-6913.



What is an IEP?

An IEP is an Individualized Education Program and is the written plan for the education of a student who has a disability or is gifted. The IEP is based on the individual student's needs and describes the special help the student will receive in school.



What can I do if my child has a health/medical condition and needs accommodations in school?

Ask that your child be evaluated for a “504 Plan” also known as a “Service Agreement” or “Accommodations Plan.” This document between a parent and the school describes what accommodations will be provided to your child for full participation in and benefit from school activities. An Agreement is a federal civil rights law which makes it illegal for public schools and some private schools to discriminate against people with disabilities. Public schools must provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to all students. In your request for evaluation, explain the disability your child has and the type of help you believe your child needs.

You can include copies of evaluations, records or prescriptions. The school district must evaluate your child (or accept private evaluations) and determine whether your child qualifies. I can help advocate for your child's needs and help you get the appropriate support.



Are parents involved in the Special Education process?

Parents play a key role in determining the programs and services with which their child will be provided. Parents are encouraged to participate in all aspects of the determination of the appropriateness of their child's special education.



What do I do if I think my preschool child has a disability?

Infants and toddlers can have disabilities, too. Services for children under age 3 are called “Early Intervention Services” and are specially designed instruction for children up to the age at which the school district's kindergarten program begins. I can help you get these services by contacting your community’s early intervention office, speaking with your child’s pediatrician, and by contacting the PA Dept. of Health and/or Dept. of Education. You will be assigned a case manager who will help to walk you through the evaluation process.



ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

What is Organizational Management?

I use Organizational Management techniques to help my students improve attention and focusing skills, increase motivation, study and time management skills, and gain impulse control and independence. As organizational function improves, self-confidence is boosted and our student achieves better grades and positive social skills.



EARLY INTERVENTION

How can I get services for my child?

I can help advocate for you and your child by contacting the correct departments and working with the professionals who will be part of your child's support team. You will be assigned a case manager who will help to walk you through the evaluation process. At an initial meeting with you and your child, the case manager can do a short screening evaluation of your child’s development skills. Further evaluation may be needed to determine if your child is eligible for E.I. Services and to find out what type of support will be most helpful.
Often, two evaluators will work with your infant or toddler. The service coordinators will review all important developmental areas, including language, social skills, hearing and vision, and physical development (crawling, walking holding utensils, feeding, etc.).



What kind of therapists can help support my child?

There may be developmental therapists on the early intervention support team, including: - A physical therapist who will look at your child’s gross motor skills (walking, jumping and throwing). - An occupational therapist who will examine your child’s fine motor skills (holding a crayon, holding a cup, etc.). - A speech therapist who will evaluate your child’s language and communication skills.