Collins Academic Services: Academic Support

Emily always pushes me to my fullest potential and never lets me fall behind. She played a huge role in helping me to overcome all my doubts in order to hit my breakthrough point in school. Without a doubt, she has helped me to overcome and ahcieve more than I could have ever imagined! - college senior

I offer comprehensive academic support, focusing on instruction of skills and strategies that help students to overcome their weaknesses and build their strengths. Prior to beginning work, I review each students' academic history as well as responses to parent and student questionnaires; there is also an in-person meeting. With this information, I compose a service delivery plan that includes the skills and strategies that I will instruct.

SKILL INSTRUCTION

Examples of skills that are useful in many content areas are:

reading: comprehending different types of passages, understanding text structures, and learning from text
writing: formulating a topic, creating an outline, gathering information or supporting details, drafting (composing sentences and varying sentences) , editing (grammar and syntax)
math facts: recalling multiplication tables, adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing fractions, understanding positive and negative numbers

STRATEGY INSTRUCTION

In order to make good use of these skills, students must also employ effective strategies, such as:

Outlining papers
Annotating reading
Applying math knowledge for word problems
Paying attention in class and taking notes
Preparing for and taking exams
Setting and working toward goals
Maintaining motivation

For students with a documented learning disability, attention deficit disorder, and/or weaknesses in executive functioning, I offer interventions specifically targeted at their individual learning profile. In these instances, I draw heavily from my specialized training in Orton Gillingham and from my coursework in my Master's Degree program in Special Education; additionally, I consult content from my annual participation in the Learning Differences Conference at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Landmark School , as well as my independent professional development of following industry experts such as Tony Bashir, Bonnie Slingerland, Lynn Meltzer, Sarah Ward, Lorraine Wolf and Jane Thierfeld-Brown, Tom Brown, Ned Hallowell, Barry Zimmerman, and Carol Dweck.

EXECUTIVE FUNCTION

INTERVENTIONS

I offer students support in learning strategies to:

activate: organize time and materials, prioritize tasks, make plans, and get started
focus: sustain attention and shift focus
apply and maintain effort: evaluate the difficulty of the task, dedicate appropriate levels of effort, and maintain
regulate mindset: develop an internal locus of control and growth mindset to overcome frustration and persevere through challenges

LEARNING DISABILITIES

AND ADHD SUPPORT

I frequently work with students who have learning disabilities that affect reading (including dyslexia), math, and writing. Additionally, I am trained in supporting students with attention deficit disorder and other co-morbid disabilities such as anxiety and depression. I offer interventions and remediation specific to the students' disability; additionally, I offer guidance in understanding students' testing, as well as support in creating and/or monitoring IEPs, 504 plans, and other accommodation plans.