While occasional writing challenges are normal, if your child consistently struggles with writing, they may benefit from specialized writing tutoring. Many families in New York City and New Jersey seek writing support when they notice that writing challenges are affecting their child’s academic performance and self-esteem.

What are ten signs that your child would benefit from writing tutoring?

1. Your Child Avoids Writing Tasks

One of the most common signs of a writing challenge is avoidance. You might find that your child:

• Procrastinates starting writing assignments
• Complains when asked to write
• Becomes easily frustrated when working on writing tasks
• Freezes and struggles to get started
• Prefers dictating their ideas instead of writing them

When writing feels challenging or overwhelming, many students avoid the task, become increasingly frustrated, and may see declining grades.

2. Writing Takes a Long Time to Complete

Some students may work at a slightly slower pace when completing writing tasks. However, when students take a significantly long time to write, they may benefit from specialized writing support to help them through the writing process.

You might find that your child:

• Spends an excessive amount of time on writing assignments
• Struggles to express their ideas on paper
• Needs frequent reminders to stay on task
• Has trouble finishing written work independently

The issue may not be that your child isn’t putting in the effort, but that they have real challenges with planning their ideas and expressing their thoughts when writing in an organized fashion.

Learn more about our writing tutoring services in NYC and New Jersey at How to Find the Best Tutor for Your Child in NYC – EBL Coaching.

3. Their Writing Doesn’t Match Their Verbal Abilities

Your child may be very expressive when speaking but writes the bare minimum when expressing their ideas on paper.

You may notice that your child:

• Can share elaborate ideas orally
• Can discuss complex topics
• Is an active participant in discussions
• Writes minimally when asked to express in writing the same concept they can speak prolifically about

This discrepancy between oral and written expression is a sign that your child could benefit from specialized writing tutoring.

4. Their Writing Is Disorganized

Effective writing requires students to organize their ideas in a logical manner. If your child struggles with written organization, they may:

• Bounce around from one idea to another
• Neglect to include key details
• Write essays and paragraphs that lack structure
• Struggle to create well-organized introductions and conclusions
• Have difficulty sequencing ideas and events

These difficulties may be linked to executive functioning challenges, which play a large role in planning and organizing writing. Many students who seek writing tutoring in New York City and New Jersey struggle not with coming up with unique ideas, but with organizing their ideas into clear, well-organized sentences, paragraphs, and essays.

5. They Struggle to Start Writing Assignments

Many students have strong ideas and know what they want to say but struggle to get started with their writing.

They may make statements like:

• “I don’t know how to start.”
• “I can’t remember what I was going to say.”
• “I don’t know what to write first.”
• “I can’t think of an interesting opening.”

Your child’s challenge may not be in coming up with ideas but brainstorming their ideas and organizing them effectively on paper.

6. Their Sentences Are Short or Repetitive

Students who have writing difficulties often create written pieces that are shorter than what might be expected for their grade.

You may find that their writing:

• Is made up of short, simple sentences
• Doesn’t have descriptive details
• Uses repetitive words
• Contains minimal sentence variety
• Includes incomplete ideas

Writing tutoring can help your child learn how to write longer, more sophisticated sentences, use complex vocabulary words, and include more descriptive details, amongst other writing skills.

7. Spelling, Grammar, or Punctuation Errors Interfere with Communication

Some students have occasional spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes in their writing. However, if these errors start to occur frequently and consistently, your child’s writing may be hard to understand, making additional writing support very beneficial.

Your child may struggle to:

• Use proper capitalization
• Spell accurately
• Apply correct punctuation rules
• Self-check their work
• Recognize errors and correct them

Specialized writing tutoring can help your child develop these critical writing skills.

8. Writing Difficulties Are Affecting School Performance

Writing plays a key role in essentially all subjects. As students move through school, the writing demands increase quickly.

Your child’s writing challenges may start to affect their:

• Ability to complete homework
• Performance on tests and quizzes
• Participation in class
• Grades at school
• Academic confidence

Giving your child writing support early can prevent them from struggling even more as they progress through school. Research indicates that early intervention can help prevent academic challenges from becoming even greater over time.

EBL Coaching works with students who attend public schools, private schools, and independent schools throughout New York City and New Jersey and need additional support with writing.

9. Your Child Has ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Another Learning Challenge

Students with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, executive functioning challenges, or other learning disabilities often struggle with writing.

Your child might have difficulty with:

• Brainstorming their ideas before writing
• Organizing their thoughts effectively
• Structuring their paragraphs and essays
• Expanding their ideas then writing
• Staying focused during writing tasks
• Self-editing their work

Specialized writing tutoring programs in NYC and NJ can help students with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and executive functioning challenges build stronger writing and executive functioning skills

Learn how ADHD tutoring or dyslexia intervention can help students improve organization, focus, and written expression at Special Education Tutoring Near Me: How to Find the Right Tutor – EBL Coaching.

10. Writing Is Hurting Your Child’s Confidence

Another sign of a writing challenge is reduced confidence.

Your child may begin to make comments like:

• “I’m terrible at writing.”
• “I don’t like school.”
• “I can’t do this.”
• “I hate grammar.”

With time, these continued challenges can affect your child’s self-esteem and increase their frustration with writing tasks.  Effective writing tutoring can help your child build their writing skills, reduce frustration, and increase motivation.

How a Writing Tutor Can Help Your Child

Specialized writing tutoring should be truly individualized to your child’s specific needs. An effective writing tutor can help your child:

• Brainstorm their ideas before writing
• Organize their thoughts on paper effectively
• Develop stronger sentences, paragraphs, and essays
• Improve their spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills
• Teach them strategies for self-checking
• Build their confidence when writing

Even children who previously struggled immensely with writing can become strong, confident, and effective writers with the right support.
EBL Coaching specializes in in-person and virtual one-on-one writing tutoring in New York City and New Jersey. Contact us today to see how we can help your child develop stronger writing and executive functioning skills and thrive academically.  Many families looking for a writing tutor in NYC reach out to EBL Coaching after noticing that their child avoids writing assignments or struggles to express ideas effectively.

Learn more about EBL Coaching’s individualized writing tutoring services in NYC and New Jersey at How to Find the Best Tutor for Your Child in NYC – EBL Coaching.

Signs of Dysgraphia in Children

If your child consistently struggles with handwriting, spelling, written organization, or written expression, they may have dysgraphia. Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing. Students with dysgraphia benefit from individualized research-based writing instruction catered to their unique needs.

How Executive Functioning Skills Affect Writing

Writing integrates a variety of executive functioning skills, including planning, organization, working memory, task initiation, and self-checking. Students with executive functioning challenges often have strong ideas but struggle to organize and express their ideas effectively when writing.

Writing Tutoring in NYC and New Jersey

Writing involves many different skills, including coming up with ideas, organizing thoughts, developing well-constructed sentences and paragraphs, applying grammar and spelling rules, and self-editing work effectively. Many students need individualized tutoring to build these skills and become stronger writers.

Why Families Choose EBL Coaching

EBL Coaching specializes in providing one-on-one writing tutoring to students in New York City and New Jersey. We help students in grades prek-12 and individualize the instruction based on each student’s unique needs.

We work with students who struggle with:

• Brainstorming ideas
• Sentence structure
• Paragraph organization
• Essay writing
• Grammar and punctuation
• Executive functioning challenges
• ADHD
• Dyslexia
• Dysgraphia
• Learning disabilities
• Study skills and self-confidence

Our individualized, one-on-one tutoring in NYC and NJ helps students learn how to brainstorm their ideas, organize their thoughts, strengthen their overall writing skills, and build confidence in their abilities.

EBL Coaching offers both in-person writing tutoring in New York City and New Jersey and online writing tutoring throughout the United States. We used individualized instruction and evidence-based strategies to help students become more effective, motivated, and confident writers.

Closing Thoughts

Many students exhibit occasional writing challenges. However, if writing tasks lead to consistent struggles, frustration, low motivation, and reduced self-esteem, you may want to consider finding the right specialized writing tutor for your child.

The earlier writing difficulties are identified and addressed, the easier it is to strengthen key writing skills and help students excel at school.

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Tutors and Writing Tutoring

How do I know if my child needs writing tutoring?
Your child may benefit from writing tutoring if they have difficulty completing writing tasks, avoid writing, become easily frustrated when writing, struggle to organize their thoughts, or create writing pieces that don’t reflect their verbal abilities. If these writing challenges are consistent and become worse with time, specialized writing tutoring may be very helpful for your child.

At what age should my child start to receive writing tutoring?
Your child should begin to receive writing tutoring as soon as you notice consistent writing struggles. Writing tutoring can help students as early as pre-kindergarten, as long as it’s individualized to their specific needs. Early intervention with the right writing tutoring can prevent small writing challenges from becoming more profound difficulties. Students in middle school, high school, and even college can also benefit from targeted writing instruction.

Read more about when to find a tutor for your child at Is My Child Too Young for Tutoring? | Early Learning Support | EBL Coaching.

Can writing tutoring help students with ADHD?
Yes, absolutely!  Many students with ADHD struggle with executive functioning skills, including planning, organizing, starting, and completing writing assignments. Writing tutoring can teach students tools for breaking down writing tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, organizing their ideas, and improving their ability to effectively complete the writing process.

Can writing tutoring help students with dyslexia?
Yes! Students with dyslexia often struggle not just with reading, but also with spelling and written expression. Specialized writing instruction, ideally with a tutor who specializes in working with neurodiverse students, including those with dyslexia, can help strengthen these important skills.

Read more about how dyslexia tutoring can help your child at Best Tutoring for Dyslexia: Orton Gillingham, Reading, and Writing Support for Children – EBL Coaching.

What is dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects a student’s ability to write. Students with dysgraphia often struggle with handwriting, spelling, grammar, and organizing their thoughts onto paper. A comprehensive psychological pr neuropsychological evaluation can help determine whether your child has dysgraphia or another learning disability.

How long does it take for my child to show progress from writing tutoring?
The time it takes for a child to show progress from writing tutoring varies based on a variety of factors, including age, skill level, and specific areas of challenge. With the right tutor and frequency, many students see progress within the first month of tutoring, but others may need more time to show significant growth.

Which skills are taught in writing tutoring sessions?
Writing tutoring should be individualized to your child’s specific challenges. An initial assessment can help gauge your child’s unique needs. However, writing tutoring often focuses on:

• Brainstorming ideas
• Sentence structure
• Paragraph writing
• Essay writing
• Organization and planning
• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Self-checking

Can writing tutoring improve my child’s confidence?
Yes! Writing struggles often affect a student’s self-confidence. Students may see their peers excelling at writing while they continue to struggle. However, with the right support, as students develop their writing skills and see growth, they often become much more confident in their abilities.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students build their writing skills over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies do Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post 10 Signs Your Child Needs Writing Tutoring appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Mother’s Day is a festive day filled with French toast, pancakes, spring attire, and special time spent with mom. Yet it can also be a great time for learning! Kids with ADHD can enjoy short, engaging activities that integrate learning and will make their mom happy. The key is keeping the activities hands-on, structured, low pressure, and fun!  Try some of the ideas detailed below, ideally with help from someone who isn’t mom.

“Why I Love Mom” Sheet

Kids with ADHD can strengthen their writing skills with a “Why I Love Mom” fill-in-the blank sheet that moms will certainly love! For this activity, create a sheet that says “All About My Mom” at the top, and include writing prompts with spaces for your child to fill in, like the ones below:

“My mom is so ____”.

“My mom’s favorite color is _____”.

“My mom’s favorite food is _____”.

“My mom cooks the best _____”.

“My mom is really good at ____”.

“My mom always says ____”.

“My mom would win a gold medal in ____”.

“My mom and I like to _____”.

“My mom really loves _____”.

“I love my mom because_____”.

If your child struggles with writing, have them dictate their answers to you and you write them down. Using this approach will still build language and communication skills!

Mother’s Day Scavenger Hunt

A little movement is great for kids with ADHD, and everyone in the family will have fun with this Mother’s Day scavenger hunt. Have your child write 6-8 clues on notecards and put them around your home (you can help them write the clues if needed). The final clue should end with a special surprise, like a homemade brunch! The clues might look something like:

1. If you’re in a breakfast mood, go here to find some food!
2. For your second clue, put these on before your shoe.
3. If you want your teeth to be clean, go to this room to brush, especially if you ate a jellybean!
4. Next is the place where you lay your head. Go look under your bed!
5. Another clue must be told. Look where we keep our yogurt and milk cold.
6. Then turn around and you will see a special treat made by me!

Mom will love these silly clues and the whole family will have fun with this scavenger hunt.

Make a meal!

Making a special meal for mom is a great way to reinforce reading, writing, and math skills. Have your child come up with ideas for a special meal they want to make. They might decide to make pancakes, eggs, and blueberry muffins. Once they have decided on the items, they should look online or in cookbooks to find the recipes for the foods they want to make. Next, they should write down a list of ingredients they need to buy from the grocery store.

When it’s time to start cooking, they should work on making the menu items, one at a time, and set out the ingredients they need to make each item. They should follow each recipe step-by-step (a great way to work on sequencing), measuring out each ingredient and following the recipe instructions until all items are made. They should then set the table with forks, knives, cups, and all the items they made for their special meal. Mom is sure to love it!

Decorate a Dessert

Another fun cooking-related activity that kids with ADHD can do for Mother’s Day is to set up a “decorate a dessert” station. Have your child decide which dessert they want to decorate. They might choose cupcakes, cookies, brownies, or another dessert they like. They should also decide which toppings to include and make a list of ingredients they need to buy from the supermarket for this activity.  They can get creative with the toppings and include ones like sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, crushed Oreos, marshmallows, gummy bears, shredded coconut – you name it! Fresh fruit, like bananas or raspberries, can work too, along with drizzles, like chocolate or caramel syrup.

When your child is ready to set up the station, they should put each of the toppings in small bowls next to the desserts and have fun decorating them with mom!

Plan the Perfect Day for Mom – Budget Game 

A great way for kids with ADHD to build math skills on Mother’s Day is with a “plan the perfect day for mom” budget game.

To play this game, give your child a budget for the day, like $30. Have them make a list of everything they want to do for mom and come up with an approximate price for each item, which they should include on their list. For example, their list might look like:

Breakfast in bed: $10

Special cake: $8

Movie rental: $3

Flowers: $7

After they create their list with corresponding prices, have them write the total at the bottom. Then ask your child whether their total is above or below the budget and, if so, by how much.

Mother’s Day is a special time to spend with mom, and it’s also a great day to have fun while learning. Try these activities at home and this Mother’s Day will be one mom never forgets!

EBL Coaching specializes in one-on-one in person and virtual tutoring for students in grades pre-K-12 with specialized learning needs. They use research-based, multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham method, to develop students’ reading, writing, math, note taking, test taking, and executive functioning skills. Each student is evaluated and then receives an individualized learning plan to address their specific academic needs. Learn more at http://www.eblcoaching.com/. Dr. Emily Levy, Founder & Director, is happy to hear from anyone who is in need for their child. You may reach her thru her website, and mention you heard of her thru MotherhoodLater.

The post Mother’s Day Activities for Kids with ADHD appeared first on EBL Coaching.

At EBL Coaching, we specialize in providing individualized one-on-one tutoring to Arizona students using ESA funds. We use research-based, multi-sensory strategies to help neurodiverse students in grades prek-12 develop their reading, spelling, writing, math, and executive functioning skills.

What Is Arizona’s ESA Program?

Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program offers eligible students state education funding that can be used for specific educational expenses that are outside of traditional public school settings. Families often use these funds for:

• One-on-one tutoring
• Private school tuition
• Homeschool curriculum
• Online learning programs
• Academic materials

In Arizona, nearly all K-12 students in the state are eligible to apply for this funding. Families can use ESA funds to create an individualized education plan that is most suitable for their child’s needs.

Read about how Arizona families can use ESA funds for tutoring at https://eblcoaching.com/how-to-use-your-childs-arizona-empowerment-scholarship-account-funds-for-tutoring/

Can ESA Funds Be Used for Tutoring?

Yes! Tutoring is an approved ESA expense in Arizona, and a service that can truly help your child thrive. You can use ESA funds to pay for one-on-one academic tutoring and executive functioning coaching, either online or in person.

Many Arizona families look for tutoring when their child struggles with:

• Decoding words
• Reading fluency
• Reading comprehension
• Spelling
• Writing
• Math computation
• Math word problem solving
• Executive functioning
• Study & organizational skills

Individualized tutoring can provide your child with customized instruction that they need to build their academic skills and feel confident in their abilities.

Learn more about Arizona ESA-approved virtual tutoring services at https://eblcoaching.com/virtual-tutoring-arizona-esa/

Why Arizona Families Use ESA Funds for Specialized Tutoring

All students learn differently and have their own unique needs. Some students excel in a traditional classroom, while others need more individualized instruction tailored to their academic levels and overall profile.

At EBL Coaching, we provide one-on-one tutoring to neurodiverse students in grades prek-12 using evidence-based, multi-sensory techniques. Our tutoring program is highly individualized and designed to address each student’s specific areas of need.

We specialize in helping students with:

• Dyslexia
• ADHD
• Specific learning disabilities
• Autism
• Executive functioning challenges
• Reading and writing delays
• Math challenges

For our individualized tutoring program, we use structured, evidence-based teaching methods to help students improve their core academic skills.

Read about finding qualified tutors for students with learning disabilities at Special Education Tutoring Near Me: How to Find the Right Tutor – EBL Coaching.

Orton Gillingham Tutoring for Students with Reading Challenges

The Orton Gillingham method is considered the ideal approach for helping students with dyslexia and reading challenges develop their reading and spelling skills.

Orton Gillingham tutoring in Arizona uses a systematic multi-sensory approach that helps students improve skills in the following areas:

• Decoding
• Reading fluency
• Spelling
• Reading comprehension

At EBL Coaching, use the Orton Gillingham approach with students who struggle with reading and spelling, and we have seen significant growth with students who receive tutoring using this method. It has helped them become stronger, more confident readers.

Many Arizona parents are searching for ESA-approved dyslexia tutoring or Orton Gillingham tutoring for their child that is covered by ESA funds. Virtual tutoring allows students throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, and surrounding areas, to receive specialized instruction at home.

Lear more about Orton Gillinham tutoring at Best Tutoring for Dyslexia: Orton Gillingham, Reading, and Writing Support for Children – EBL Coaching.

Benefits of Virtual ESA Tutoring

Virtual tutoring has become a popular option that Arizona families choose because it offers both flexibility and access to specialized instructors who may not live in your local geographic area.

Some benefits of online tutoring include:

Flexible Scheduling

With online tutoring, you can schedule tutoring sessions around your other obligations, including school, extracurricular activities, sports games, and family commitments.

Access to Specialized Tutors

Your child can work with tutors who specialize in working with neurodiverse students, including dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning, and other learning disabilities, regardless of where you live in Arizona.

Individualized Instruction

One-on-one sessions allow tutors to modify lessons based on the student’s response to the instruction and their learning needs, always providing individualized instruction.

Comfortable Learning Environment

Many students prefer online tutoring, since they feel more relaxed and focused in their own space.

Research and our experience at EBL Coaching have shown that virtual tutoring can be a highly effective modality for tutoring when sessions are individualized, multi-sensory, and engaging.

What Types of Tutoring Are Covered by Arizona ESA Funds?

Arizona ESA funds can be used for tutoring in a wide variety of skills, including:

• Reading remediation
• Writing instruction
• Spelling development
• Math tutoring
• Study skills
• Executive functioning coaching
• Test preparation
• Organization & time management

One-on-one tutoring sessions that are customized to each student’s individual needs and academic profile are ideal for struggling learners.

How the Tutoring Process Works at EBL Coaching

The tutoring we provide is fully individualized to the needs of each student. We begin with a discussion about your child’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas that need development, and then typically follow the process below:

1. Initial Assessment

Before we begin the tutoring, we start with an initial assessment to evaluate your child’s current academic levels and areas of need.

2. Individualized Learning Plan

Once the assessment is complete, a customized tutoring plan is created using research-based, multi-sensory techniques.

3. One-on-One Tutoring

Students work one-one-one with a highly qualified tutor who specializes in their areas of need, using the research-based methods most suitable for them.

4. Ongoing Parent Communication

At EBL Coaching, we believe parents should stay in the loop on how their child is progressing. Regular communication is provided about your child’s improvement throughout the process.

Who Can Benefit from ESA Tutoring?

ESA-funded tutoring can help various types of learners, including students who:

• Are struggling academically
• Have a diagnosed learning disability
• Have ADHD or executive functioning challenges
• Need help with reading, writing, or math
• Are homeschooled
• Attend private school
• Need extra support outside of school

One-on-one tutoring allows the instruction to be truly customized to the student’s specific needs.

How to Get Started with Arizona ESA Tutoring

If you are interested in pursuing ESA tutoring for your child, you can start the process as follows:

1. Apply for Arizona ESA funding by visiting https://esaportal.azed.gov/Account.
2. Contact EBL Coaching to discuss your child’s needs and how we can help them with one-on-one tutoring.
3. Your child starts receiving individualized tutoring sessions tailored to their specific needs.

We are happy to speak to you about how EBL Coaching’s research-based tutoring services for neurodiverse students can help your child.

Why Families Choose EBL Coaching

EBL Coaching has extensive experience helping neurodiverse students with various learning challenges develop their academic skills through evidence-based, multi-sensory instruction.

Parents often choose EBL Coaching because we offer:

• One-on-one tutoring
• Research-based, multi-sensory instruction
• Orton Gillingham tutoring
• Executive functioning coaching
• Specialized support for learning disabilities and ADHD
• Virtual tutoring
• Customized tutoring plans
• Highly experienced tutors

We are committed to helping all children become more confident, successful students.

Learn More About ESA Tutoring

If you are looking for the right specialized one-on-one tutoring covered by Arizona ESA funds, EBL Coaching can help.
Contact us to learn more about our tutoring for reading, writing, math, as executive functioning skills, as well as our Orton Gillingham instruction that we provide to students throughout Arizona.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona ESA Tutoring

Can Arizona ESA funds be used for tutoring?
Yes! With Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, you can use approved ESA funds for one-on-one tutoring. Many families choose to use their ESA funds for reading tutoring, math tutoring, writing tutoring, executive functioning coaching, Orton Gillingham instruction, and other academic support.

Is online tutoring covered by Arizona ESA funds?
Yes. In many cases, you can use your ESA funds for virtual tutoring services, if the tutoring provider is approved. Online tutoring can give your child access to specialized instructors who may not live in your local geographic area.

What types of tutoring can ESA funds cover?
You can use your child’s Arizona ESA funds for a variety of tutoring services, including:

• Reading tutoring
• Writing instruction
• Math tutoring
• Executive functioning coaching
• Dyslexia intervention
• Orton Gillingham tutoring
• Study skills & organizational skills development

Make sure you review the current ESA guidelines to confirm eligibility requirements before your child starts to receive tutoring services.

Can students with dyslexia use ESA funds for tutoring?
Yes! Dyslexia tutoring is a great way to use your child’s ESA funds, since the right reading and writing remediation can help them tremendously.  Structured literacy approaches such as Orton Gillingham tutoring can help your child improve their decoding, reading fluency, spelling, and reading comprehension skills.

Can students with ADHD benefit from ESA-funded tutoring?
Yes, absolutely. Students with ADHD can benefit from one-one-one tutoring, executive functioning coaching, organizational skills development, study skills support, and academic instruction individualized to their specific needs.

Does my child need a diagnosis to receive ESA-funded tutoring?
Your child does not necessarily need a diagnosis to receive ESA-funded tutoring. Arizona’s ESA program is available to a wide range of students, but eligibility requirements can change, so make sure you review the current ESA guidelines to find out if your child qualifies.

What are the benefits of one-on-one tutoring?
There are many benefits of one-on-one tutoring! It allows the instruction to be truly customized to the specific needs of each student. Additionally, tutors can adjust the methodologies, pacing, and levels of materials used in lessons when working one-on-one with a student.

How often should my child receive tutoring?
The frequency of tutoring varies based on the individual needs of each student. Some students may only need one session per week, while those with significant academic challenges may benefit from more frequent weekly tutoring sessions. An initial evaluation can help determine the best tutoring frequency for your child.

Can homeschooled students use ESA funds for tutoring?
Yes! Many families who homeschool their children use Arizona ESA funds to supplement their child’s homeschool education with individualized tutoring, executive functioning coaching, or specialized research-based instruction in reading, writing, and math, including Orton Gillingham tutoring.

How do I get started with Arizona ESA tutoring?
To get started with Arizona ESA tutoring, begin by applying for Arizona ESA funding if you haven’t done so already. After you are approved, you can look for tutoring options that best meet your child’s academic needs. EBL Coaching can help your child with one-on-one research-based, multi-sensory tutoring services, including Orton Gillingham tutoring and executive functioning coaching, that are funded through Arizona’s ESA program.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students with specialized learning needs build their academic skills over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies do Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post Arizona ESA Tutoring for Students with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Learning Disabilities appeared first on EBL Coaching.

While some children are back at school in-person, others are adjusting to the “new normal” of online at-home learning. Students can still learn and absorb a great deal of information in this virtual format, but supplementing your child’s learning with education apps can only help foster their academic growth. Try some of the apps detailed below for reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

Psst…Check out How to Get Your Child Engaged This Election Season

Reading-‎Epic!
Grades Prek-6
Epic is a fantastic ebook app that offers a wide universe of over 35,000 books for kids to choose from.‎ Students can search for various authors, publishers, or themes and can either read the books themselves or have the books read aloud to them while they follow along. Parents can also monitor their child’s progress with the data tracking feature that tracks the amount of time spent reading as well as the total pages and books read. Kids can earn special rewards for reaching certain milestones. This subscription-based service is a great way for students to keep up with their reading while learning at home.

Writing-Book Creator
Grades 3-12
With online schooling, it’s imperative that kids continue to develop their writing skills. Using this Book Creator app, kids can write and publish their own digital books. They can create fiction books, nonfiction books, comics, and more, and can even integrate video and audio clips as well as visual images. The app offers children the opportunity to create and maintain a portfolio of their writing pieces without lugging around an old-fashion binder. This tool is interactive and fun for kids to use, and is particularly great for those who tend to dislike more traditional pen-to-paper writing tasks.

Math-SplashLearn
Grades PreK-5
Spla‎shLearn is an engaging, visual app for kids that gives them lots of extra practice with key math concepts in a multi-sensory, interactive way. The topics presented are curriculum-aligned to each grade and the app tracks kids’ progress so parents can gauge areas of mastery and concepts that need continued development. Kids get instant feedback on any mistakes they make, and they love the virtual “rewards” they can earn as they progress forward.

Science-K-5 Science
Grades K-5
This app is a great one for expanding your child’s science knowledge with over 200 colorful and engaging lessons. A character named “Haley the Science Gal” brings science to life by breaking down complex science concepts into easy-to-understand explanations and demonstrating cool science experiments.‎ There are game shows, videos, interactive games, and tons of questions to spark your child’s curiosity. Kids will learn about space, animals, plants, volcanoes, magnets, energy and so much more!

Social Studies-PBS Students
Grades K-12
Pull your child’s social studies learning out of the textbook with this multi-dimensional app. Students will watch videos, listen to audio clips, read about fascinating current events, and play games, helping them to grasp important social studies information. ‎They’ll learn about geography, U.S. History, World History, government, economics, and more, all while having loads of fun!
Learning at home may be the new temporary norm, but don’t let your child’s education stop when the school day ends. Continue to expand your child’s knowledge with these cool apps and they will be well on their way to academic success.

For more information on Dr. Emily Levy and EBL Coaching, click here!

The post The Best Education Apps to Supplement Your Child’s At-Home Learning appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Children with dysgraphia often struggle with forming letters and words correctly, spacing words properly on a page, and generally have difficulty expressing their thoughts on paper.

Your child struggles to properly hold a pencil. His handwriting is messy and he has trouble with letter spacing and spelling. Writing a paragraph is a completely daunting task. If your child experiences these challenges, he may have dysgraphia.

Dysgraphia is defined as a specific learning disability that affects writing. Children with dysgraphia often struggle with forming letters and words correctly, have ‎trouble spacing words properly on a page, and generally have difficulty expressing their thoughts on paper when writing. Yet with the right strategies and tools, your child can learn to tackle the increasing writing demands of school. Try the ideas detailed below:

Feel the letters!
Many kids with dysgraphia have trouble learning to form letters and numbers properly when writing. To build this skill, try creating a multi-sensory experience. Have your child trace letters in a tray of salt or colored sand while she says the formation of each letter aloud. For instance, as she traces the letter “A,” she might say “around, up, and down,” or “down, up, and around” for p. You might also have her trace letters on your back or palm, or you can do the same to her while she closes her eyes to better experience the sensation of each letter’s formation. For gross motor exercises, try having her sky-write each letter or number while standing up, or squirt some foam on the shower door and have her write letters and numbers, using large hand formations.

Practice storytelling!
Children with dysgraphia often struggle to organize their ideas into well-constructed stories and paragraphs. To help build this skill, teach your child to tell stories aloud in an organized fashion. For instance, when you return from a vacation, ask him for an opening line by saying, “We did so many fun activities on our vacation!” and then ask him ‎to discuss his three favorite activities and why he loved each one. He might say one of his favorite activities was playing on the beach, since he built a giant sand castle, jumped the waves, and swam in the ocean. He may say another favorite activity was eating every meal with his family and enjoying special treats, like Belgian waffles, chocolate ice cream, and frozen lemonade. Finally, he may say that his third favorite activity was spending time with his cousins, which included swimming with them, sharing stories, and laughing. Then have him end his story with his overall thoughts on the vacation, like “I had so much fun on my vacation and can’t wait for the next one!” You can try this exercise with just about any experience—a day at school, a play date, or a meal he just ate. The more you practice helping him organize his ideas orally, the easier it will become when writing.

Learn to type
The physical act of writing involves so many components: Letter and word formation, spacing, spelling, sentence construction, written organization, and so many other challenging tasks, especially for kids with dysgraphia. Typing can ease some of these challenges. It eliminates letter formation and spacing challenges, and computers can help with spelling with the use of spell check. When the physical challenges of writing are reduced, ideas often flow much more easily. ‎ If typing is not an option, though, learning to write in cursive, rather than print, can help your child with letter reversals, spelling, spacing, and the overall flow of writing.

Brainstorm!
Many kids—even those who don’t have dysgraphia—have trouble getting started with their writing. Brainstorming can be very helpful in easing this challenge. Encourage your child to start by creating a brainstorm web with her ideas. If she wants to write about why she loves math, for instance, before she begins writing, she should draw a bubble in the middle of the page and write “why I love math.” Then, branching out from the middle bubble, she can add details on why she loves math, like “It helps with problem solving,” “It’s fun!” and “It plays a role in everyday life.” Then branching out of those detail bubbles, she may even add supporting details on why each of those reasons make her love math so much. Once her brainstorm web is complete, it becomes a much easier process to translate that information into an organized written format. Computer programs like Inspiration and Kidspiration are great tools for creating electronic versions of these brainstorm webs.

‎As students progress through school, they will inevitably be required to write longer and more complex stories, paragraphs, and essays. Help your child with dysgraphia build his writing skills with these ideas, and he will be well on his way to academic success!

The post Does Your Child Have Dysgraphia? appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Originally published on the New Jersey Kids Online website

As children move through school, the writing demands increase rapidly. Students must first master proper letter formation, then learn to write words, sentences, stories, and soon multi-paragraph essays. ‎Some students enjoy expressing their thoughts on paper, but for others, this task is downright daunting. Help your child develop stronger writing skills with the ideas detailed below.

Simply beginning the writing process can be challenging for many students. They often feel overwhelmed and at the thought of having to compose a well-written sentence or paragraph. To combat these fears, encourage your child to start by simply jotting down ideas about a given topic. For instance, if your child is asked to write a paragraph on why he likes winter, he can start by‎ listing ideas about the joys of winter. He might write in list format, for instance: one can play in the snow, roast marshmallows, go skiing or snowboarding, travel, and spend time around a fireplace. Once these ideas are on the page, he can then highlight the three or so points he plans to include in his writing.

Create a Brainstorm Web

After your child has selected the points she plants to elaborate on in her paragraph, she should brainstorm these ideas in an organized fashion. While there are different formats she can use for brainstorming, a web diagram is a useful tool. She can, for instance, brainstorm for a basic five sentence paragraph by writing the topic in a rectangular box at the top of the page, connecting it to three circular bubbles beneath it (for the three key points, such as playing in the snow, skiing, and roasting marshmallows), and finally ending with another rectangular box at the bottom for the concluding sentence. Computer-based programs, such as Kidspiration can also serve as engaging multi-sensory options for brainstorming.

Start Writing

Once your child has listed his ideas and then created a brainstorm diagram, he can turn those boxes and bubbles into complete sentences to form his paragraph. Have him turn the “topic” box into a topic sentence, such as “There are many fun and engaging activities one can do during the winter.” Next, he can turn each detail bubble into full sentences. For example, “You can play outside building snowmen. You can go skiing or snowboarding. You can also roast marshmallows around a fire.” Finally, he should turn the bottom box into a conclusion sentence, which can express his opinion on the topic, such as “I love winter” or “Winter is my favorite time of year.”

Remember to self-check!

Many students have a tendency to speed through their work to “get it over with” and often forget to self-check their writing. Rather than telling them to simply “check” their work, teach them specific tools for how to go about doing so, such as the COPS acronym, which stands for Capitalization, Organization, Punctuation, and ‎Spelling. Have her write the COPS acronym vertically at the bottom of her paragraph with a check box next to each letter. Once she is done writing her paragraph, encourage her to go back and check for each individual item on the check list (one at a time) and check off each one once she makes the relevant corrections.

Writing demands in school increase at a rapid pace. Help your child learn to effectively express her ideas on paper in an organized, well-structured manner and she will be well on her way to school success.

The post Help Your Child Build Stellar Writing Skills appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Princess and the Pea (and other interactive storybooks)

In this app, students either practice reading the Princess and the Pea or listen as the story is read aloud to them, reinforcing auditory comprehension, auditory processing, and listening skills. They can also play interactive games related to the story that are contained within the app, such as matching pictures, completing puzzles, and filling in missing items to complete a picture, all of which reinforce early learning skills.

This app is free and available on iTunes –> Click Here

Short Vowel Word Study

This is a great app for reinforcing basic word decoding at a Kindergarten/1st grade level. The app contains three main sections: word families, short vowels, and longer words. The first game is “Sort It,” where the child must sort a word into its proper vowel category; i, u, or a. In the “Find It” game‎, the child must find the “oddball” word that doesn’t belong in the same vowel family, and drag it to the bottom of the screen. The “Spell It” game reinforces spelling by displaying an image (like hat) and the child must drag letters to spell the word. The “Write It” game teaches students to trace and then independently write words. Other related fun and engaging reading games are also integrated into this app.

This app is $2.99 and available on iTunes –> Click Here

Montessori Crosswords

This app helps students develop their decoding, spelling, and writing skills by teaching them to build words with different phonics patterns. Students start by building basic CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words, then move into words with blends, digraphs, silent e, vowel teams, and other combinations. Students are initially given a picture (like “bag” or “kid”) and are asked to drag letters from the alphabet at the bottom of the screen to spell the word displayed. Later, students spell words following specific phonics patterns in the form of crosswords. Students can also choose themes for the activities, like animals, food, clothes, etc.

This app is $2.99 and available on iTunes –> Click Here

Nursery Rhymes with Story Time

For younger children (ages 5 and younger), this app is great for building phonemic awareness and early reading skills. The app presents classic rhymes, such as Humpty Dumpty, Three Blind Mice, Jack and Jill, and others, in an interactive, playful format. While listening to the rhymes, children can “play” with the images. For example, when listening to Jack and Jill, children can drag a bucket of water up a well and watch flying fish and bubbles burst out of the water. The interactive illustrations make listening to rhymes and building core phonemic awareness skills great fun for children.

This app is free and available on iTunes –> Click Here

SuperWhy!

This app is a great one for building reading, spelling, writing, and phonemic awareness skills. It includes four games, each led by a different character: Alpha Pig, Princess Pesto, Wonder Red, and Super Why. In the Alpha Pig game, students find letters on a path to form different words. ‎In the Princess Pesto game, students practice writing letters to form words that are modeled first by Princess Pesto’s magic wand. In Wonder Red’s game, students identify rhyming words, and in Super Why’s game, students build their reading comprehension skills by identifying words that complete sentences in a given story.

This app is $2.99 and available on iTunes –> Click Here

The post The 5 Best Reading Apps for Kids appeared first on EBL Coaching.

For many students, the thought of having to write a well-constructed essay causes a chronic case of the jitters. Adding a time constraint to this task only fans the flame of their already raging anxiety. Unfortunately for many, an increasing number of standardized and in-class tests incorporate timed essay writing as part of an overall academic assessment. Learning strategies for composing a well-written essay in a timely fashion can help students feel relaxed and well-prepared for these types of exams. Encourage your child to try using some of these techniques!

The Prompt

When students are asked to write an essay, they are usually given a prompt, generally a statement to let students know the general topic. Some prompts might include: Discuss your idea of a Utopian world, Describe the advantages of technology. Or, explain how eyeglasses and the sewing machine have had important influences on our lives.

Students should take particular note of directive words such as discuss, describe, and explain. Other directives might include analyze, compare, contrast, compare and contrast, and persuade. Students should always underline the directive after reading the prompt to make sure they answer the question correctly. You may notice that your child sometimes veers off topic when answering an essay question. By identifying and underlining the directive, he or she can avoid making that mistake.

After reading the prompt and underlining the directive, students should rewrite the prompt in their own words. This step ensures that the student is aware of precisely what the prompt is asking and how to correctly write the essay.

Brainstorm

Before writing, students should always organize their ideas on paper, even if they are under a tight time constraint! This step helps ensure their essay will be well-organized and include the necessary information in a structured format. What is the best style for brainstorming? Students may have their own preference for jotting down their ideas, but one useful strategy is to create a web diagram.

For this strategy, students should draw a vertical web diagram with a box on top for the opening and thesis statement, three bubbles beneath it, and a box at the bottom for the conclusion paragraph. They should write their opening sentence inside the upper part of the box for the introduction paragraph, and their thesis statement inside the bottom part. They should then create branches stemming out of each bubble with ideas for the body paragraph.

After completing their brainstorm diagram while practicing, students should write an estimated time (ET) detailing how long they think it will take them to complete their essay. When they have finished writing and self-checking their work, they should write the actual time (AT) it took them to complete the process. By practicing this step, students will develop time management skills and gain a realistic sense of how long it might take them to complete their essay during the exam.

The Essay

It’s time to begin writing! Students should note that the hard part is done, they have already detailed the ideas which they will include in their essay. Now they must translate that information into words to form a well-organized essay.

How do I begin writing? This is a question students frequently ask themselves, and often struggle with. Learning five options for opening their essays can be a helpful tool. To add variety, students can also start their essays with a question (Have you ever wondered how lasagna is made?), quotation (If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it), opposite statement (Some people believe that all water is safe to drink), or a story (David decided to go for a hike one day). These alternate choices can help your child add creativity to his or her essay.

The thesis statement is another sentence that gives students trouble when writing, and it can be considered one of the most important parts of the entire essay. A thesis statement should be composed of an opinion and a plan.

When writing, students should remember to use transition sentences at the beginning of each body paragraph. They should also start their conclusion paragraph by restating their thesis statement, and end their essay with a unique thought or idea.

Self-Checking

Self-checking is a step many students love to leave out! Students often lose points because of careless mistakes they could have fixed by self-checking their work. Here’s a helpful self-checking tool:

C
T
O
P
S

C stands for Capitalization
T stands for Tense (students should make sure they use a consistent past or present tense)
O stands for Organization (students should include an opening, a thesis statement, well-organized body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph)
P stands for Punctuation
S stands for Spelling

Students should be sure to re-read their essay five separate times to check for each element on this list. Once they have finished brainstorming, writing, and self-checking their essay, they should look at the clock and record AT, the actual amount of time it took them to complete this process.

The more students practice these strategies, the easier and less daunting the essay writing process will become. With these tools, students will be well on their way to writing a good, well-organized essay for any timed exam.

The post Effective Writing Strategies for Students appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Do you find that your child has interesting, smart, and creative ideas but struggles to put them down on paper? Many students are unsure how to begin the writing process, how to write well-organized thesis statements, and how to structure each of their body paragraphs. As the writing demands of school increase, these struggles tend to follow. Yet learning the steps for composing a well-written five paragraph essay can help all students improve their writing. Read more at Help Your Child with Dysgraphia Build Stronger Writing Skills – EBL Coaching.

Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: The Introduction Paragraph. This paragraph tends to be the most challenging one for students to write. At the start of the essay, the student must lure in the reader with an interesting, thought-provoking remark or anecdote. The paragraph must end with a well-constructed thesis statement to set the organization and tone of the essay. Here are some guidelines for writing a strong introduction paragraph:

1. The Opener. Students can choose one of the following five ways to start the essay:

• Question (Ex. Have you ever wondered how lasagna is made?)
• General Statement. (Ex. Growing trees is an easy process.)
• Quotation. (Ex. A wise man once said, “If it ‘aint broke, don’t fix it.”)
• Opposite Statement (Ex. Many people believe that all water is safe to drink.)
• Story (Ex. The manager left his store to take a quick lunch break. He was sure all of his employees were trustworthy. He was gone for one hour, and when he returned, all of the cash was missing from his register.)
• For practice, encourage your child to write just the opener of several different essays on various topics. These five choices will add variety and creativity to his or her writing!

2. The Thesis Statement. The thesis statement should always come at the end of the introduction paragraph. It should contain two parts: the student’s opinion on the topic and his or her plan for the essay. For example, a well-constructed thesis statement might be as follows: Blue Man Grill is the best restaurant in town because of its food, atmosphere, and friendly staff. Note that for this thesis statement, the opinion is Blue ManGrill is the best restaurant in town and the plan is because of its food, atmosphere, and friendly staff. Thus, the first body paragraph of this essay would be about Blue Man Grill’s food, the second body paragraph would be about its atmosphere, and the third would be about its friendly staff. For practice, have your child write thesis statements on the following topics: winter sports, junk food, and holidays.

3. The Lead-in. The lead-in is composed of 3-5 sentences and should come before the thesis statement and after the opener. We teach the lead-in after teaching the thesis statement, however, because it flows together and is easier to grasp this way. As practice, students should read well-written introduction paragraphs and highlight the opener in one color, the lead-in in another color, and the thesis statement in a third color.

Step 2: The Three Body Paragraphs. The thesis statement sets the plan for the content of each body paragraph. When writing the body paragraph, students should ask themselves: If the thesis statement is: Skiing is a great sport because it is fun, social, and athletic, what would each body paragraph be about? In this case, the first body paragraph would be about why skiing is fun, the second would be about why it is social, and the third would describe why it is an athletic sport.

Each body paragraph should include details, examples, statistics, quotations, and any other specific information. The old adage “Show, don’t tell” certainly applies here. It is important that the student describes information in detail, with concrete backup from credible sources, rather than just “telling” about it. Remember that if any information is taken from other sources, it must be credited as an outside source.

Step 3: The Conclusion Paragraph. This paragraph can be a tough one for many students to write. Students must reiterate all of the information from the essay without being redundant, and add more information without really adding more information. How is this done: The solution for writing the conclusion paragraph is as follows:

1. Restate the Thesis Statement. This is where the student should remind the reader of his or her opinion on the topic and restate the three supporting points. For example, for our Rocking Horse Grill essay, we might start our conclusion paragraph with the following: “Because of its delicious Mexican cuisine, convivial ambiance, and energetic staff, Rocking Horse Grill is one of the best restaurants in Chicago.”
2. The Lead-out. The next 2-4 sentences should lead the reader to the author’s final, conclusive remark. The student can reiterate some points about each of the body paragraphs. These sentences should, of course, contain words that are different from those used in the actual body paragraphs.
3. Concluding Remark. This remark should be conclusive, strong, and perhaps profound. It should leave the reader thinking. For example, a concluding remark for our Rocking Horse Grill essay might be: “The next time you are in town, do not bother with any other restaurants since Rocking Horse Grill has it all.”

If your child follows the above model when writing, he or she will be well on the way toward a perfect five paragraph essay. But first, to your child, a few other pointers:

1. Try not to directly state your opinion. Avoid phrases like:
   • “In this essay, I will talk about…”
   • “I think that smoking is bad for you because” (rather, simply state “Smoking is bad for you because…”)
   • “In conclusion, my essay proves…”
2. Remember to use transition words when transitioning between paragraphs and between points within paragraphs. For example, at the start of your first body paragraph, you might write, “The first reason why Rocking Horse Grill is the best restaurant in town is because it offers delicious Mexican cuisine.” Between points within that paragraph, you might write, “Next, the burritos at Rocking Horse are some of the best I have ever had. They are warm, thick, and are filled with fresh ingredients. Furthermore, there is a wide variety to choose from.” The words in italics are some transition words you might use.
3. Perhaps the most important advice you should follow is to always use three steps when writing: brainstorm, write, and self-check. Use the following guidelines when doing so:
   • Brainstorm. Use a visual diagram, a word processor, or even a hand-written list to plan your essay. Make sure you write out your opener, your thesis statement, your three points for your body paragraph, and some details, quotes, statistics, or other specific information that you might include in each body paragraph before writing. This step sets the stage for the organization and flow of your essay.
   • Write. Use the above-mentioned guidelines for specific information on how to write the essay itself.
   • Self-check. This step is critical; one that many students neglect! When self-checking your work, do not rely solely on the spell check or grammar check on your word processor. Many mistakes are missed by using just these tools! Instead, self-check your work using the following checklist:
     • Capitalization: re-read your essay and make sure that all letters that should be capitalized are, and those that should not be capitalized are not.
     • Tense: re-read your essay and make sure that all tense is consistent. That means that you should not mix past and present tense together. Rather, you should choose one of the two and stick with it throughout the essay.
     • Organization: re-read your essay and ask yourself the following questions: Does my essay have a strong opener? Is that opener followed by a lead-in, and then by a well-constructed thesis statement? Have I clearly stated my points in each body paragraph? Have I restated my thesis statement in my conclusion paragraph and ended my essay with a thought-provoking remark? If so, then check off this box.
     • Punctuation: again, re-read your essay and make sure all of your punctuation is correct.
     • Spelling: re-read the essay and make sure all spelling is correct.

Note that the key theme here is re-read. You should re-read your essay five times, each time checking for a different element. Read more at Help Your Child Build Stellar Writing Skills – EBL Coaching.

Encouraging your child to follow this step-by-step guide to writing a five paragraph essay can help him structure his thoughts on paper in a well-organized, logically flowing fashion. It may take some time, but the more practice, the more progress you will see – so help him get to work!

Dr. Emily Levy is the Founder and Director of EBL Coaching, which offers one-on-one tutoring and intensive summer programs. For more information, visit www.eblcoaching.com or call 212-249-0147.

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The post How to Write a Perfect Five Paragraph Essay appeared first on EBL Coaching.