Choosing an Online Academic Support Professional : Takeaways
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Dr. Michael Hart Dr. Erica Warren Choosing an Online Academic Support Professional : Takeaways A big, big thank you! Thank you so much for participating in Choosing an Online Academic Support Professional. We hope you find this companion document helpful! We are committed to guiding you throughout the process and helping you to locate the best learning professionals. 1 Cheers, Michael & Erica Selecting your Educational Support Professional Tutor A tutor is a private instructor who has an expertise in a specific school subject but may or may not have formal experience or training in education. Typically, tutors instruct or reteach classroom concepts, though some offer assistance with homework. A few may present strategies in time management and study skills. Some “Reading Specialists” self identify as tutors. Reading Specialist Reading specialists are professionals with advanced training and experience in reading remediation. They may specialize in early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, and/or adult learners. Most utilize a multisensory, explicit, and systematic method such as the OrtonGillingham Approach. Learning Specialist A learning specialist is a private instructor with expertise in metacognition and compensatory learning strategies. In addition, many have subject specific expertise in areas such as reading or math. They provide instruction to students, teachers and parents. A learning specialist should have advanced training and degrees in education and significant coursework, if not degrees in special education, psychology, school psychology, educational psychology, and/or neuropsychology. Specific understanding of learning disorders, psychoeducational evaluations, and intervention strategies is paramount. An expertise in multisensory learning, teaching strategies, self advocacy techniques, and schooling accommodations is also important. Finally, a learning specialist should be versed in assistive technology, software tools, educational websites and apps. Educational Therapist © Dr. Erica Warren http://www.learningtolearn.biz/ © Dr. Michael Hart http://www.doctormichaelhart.com/ 2 An educational therapist is a private instructor who combines educational and therapeutic approaches for remediation and advocacy with children, adolescents and adults with learning disabilities or learning problems. They teach metacognitive and compensatory learning strategies but can also provide cognitive remedial training in areas such as auditory discrimination and visual memory. Moreover, the educational therapist is typically versed in strategies that address the social and emotional aspects of learning. Many also have an expertise in working with students who struggle with executive functioning and attention. Those with postgraduate training in a combination of education and psychology are qualified to use this title. Alternatively you can use the educational therapist title if you acquire a professional membership in the U.S. with the Association of Educational Therapists. Coach or Mentor Coaches offer strategies for personal growth and development suited for each person’s individual circumstances. Typically, they address specific personal projects, conditions and transitions in the client's personal life, relationships, schooling or profession by examining present circumstances, discovering obstacles or challenges, and choosing a course of action. © Dr. Erica Warren http://www.learningtolearn.biz/ © Dr. Michael Hart http://www.doctormichaelhart.com/ 3 Referral Sites There are a number of sites that offer free referrals. Some of them require a membership to their organization, while others do not. ● Without working directly with you and your child, we can not recommend or endorse any individual, business, school, or program. However, the following list of providers are available to help guide you towards finding the needed professional services. Online Tutoring Lists Barton Reading and Spelling System Dyslexia Connect Dyslexia Training Institute Kildonan School Ladder Learning Services LLC Literacy Lifeline WNY Dyslexia Specialist Wyzant Online Dyslexia Tutors Parent Social Media Networks Learning Ally Parent Chat on Facebook Decoding Dyslexia State Chapter Listing © Dr. Erica Warren http://www.learningtolearn.biz/ © Dr. Michael Hart http://www.doctormichaelhart.com/ 4 Referral Sites Online vs. In person International Dyslexia Association (IDA) No differentiation LD Online Yellow Pages No differentiation Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy No differentiation Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) No differentiation Learning Ally No differentiation Association of Educational Therapists No differentiation Private Tutor Directory No differentiation Online Reading Tutor Software and apps Setting up the Home Environment Here is a checklist of recommended items that you can choose from to set up your home environment for online sessions. ❏ Zenergy ball chair ❏ Balance cushion/wiggle seat ❏ Dry erase pockets ❏ Dry erase board ❏ Assortment of dry erase markers ❏ Colored pencils/magic markers ❏ Paper ❏ Computer ❏ Headset ❏ iPad Pro and iPencil ❏ Pens and pencils ❏ Scissors ❏ Tape © Dr. Erica Warren http://www.learningtolearn.biz/ © Dr. Michael Hart http://www.doctormichaelhart.com/ 5 The OrtonGillingham Approach Many reading programs, particularly those in the United States, are based on, what is known as, the OrtonGillingham (OG) approach. The OG approach in brief: ● Named after Samuel Torrey Orton (18791948) and Anna Gillingham (18781963), early pioneers in reading and language mastery. ● Gillingham compiled and published detailed instructional materials in the 1930s. ● Primarily to help with reading, writing and spelling though the method can be used for mathematics. ● Described as languagebased, multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive, and flexible. ● Employs visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic teaching techniques. ● Involves the explicit and systematic teaching of language sounds (phonemes) / phonemic awareness. ● Many modern reading systems are based on it or incorporate key elements of the approach. ● Though commonly used in the US, few UK or Canadian schools formally employ the method. Orton Gillingham: How it is taught Below is a summary of the detailed description of the Orton Gillingham method, as provided at the Academy's website. Personalized Recognizes the individual needs of learners. While dyslexic students share similarities, there are always differences between students. Dyslexics students often have additional problems that complicate learning such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or dysgraphia. Multisensory Uses all the learning strands: seeing, hearing, feeling (tactile), and awareness of motion (kinesthetic). For example, letters can be written in the air while the sound is said aloud. Even math can be multisensory! © Dr. Erica Warren http://www.learningtolearn.biz/ © Dr. Michael Hart http://www.doctormichaelhart.com/ 6 Diagnostic and Prescriptive It is diagnostic in the sense that the instructor continuously monitors the verbal, nonverbal, and written responses of the student in order to understand both the student’s challenges and progress. This information is used to plan the next lesson. That lesson is prescriptive in the sense that it is designed to help resolve the student’s difficulties and build upon the student’s progress noted in the previous lesson. Direct Instruction Lesson content includes explaining to students what is to be learned, why it is to be learned, and how it is to be learned. Phonics It uses systematic phonics, stressing the 'alphabetic principle' in the initial stages of reading development. The principle teaches that words are made up of individual speech sounds, and the letters of written words graphically represent those speech sounds. Language Structure Formally teaches syllabic, morphemic, syntactic, semantic, and grammatical structures of language and writing. Involves the student in integrative practices that involve reading, spelling, and writing together. Systematic and Structured Information is presented in an ordered way that indicates the relationship between the material currently being taught and material previously taught. Sequential, Incremental, and Cumulative Learners move from the simple, welllearned material to the more complex, only after mastering each step along the way. Continuous Feedback and Positive Reinforcement A close teacherstudent relationship that builds selfconfidence based on success and mastery. © Dr. Erica Warren http://www.learningtolearn.biz/ © Dr. Michael Hart http://www.doctormichaelhart.com/ 7 About the Authors Literacy Expert, Psychologist, Consultant, Learning Specialist, Educational Therapist, & Speaker Author My work experience: My work experience: For the past 15 years, I have conducted teacher training Michael Hart, Ph.D. is a child psychologist with 25 in private and public schools as well as colleges. I have years of experience in the diagnostic assessment also directed two college programs for students with and treatment of a full range of learning differences, learning disabilities and opened my own private practice, including dyslexia and (AD/HD). He is the Learning to Learn. At present, I devote most of my time founder/owner of www.drmichaelhart.com and is to creating educational materials and working with currently providing webinars, online courses and students on an individualized basis as