Tutoring for Students with ADHD or Learning Differences

For students with specific learning or attention challenges and students whose needs are best served by an expert educator.

Often, but certainly not always, these students may have a diagnosed LD, ADHD or other challenges that can complicate learning.

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Not sure if Core Service Tutoring is right for your student? Check out our Co-Pilot Service or Spotlight Service, or call (650) 456-9703 for a no-cost telephone consultation to discuss your education goals.

Tutoring areas

Language Arts: Reading, Written Language, Spelling, Handwriting
Math: Remedial or Enrichment – Basic Math, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, Calculus
Study Skills: Time Management, Motivation, Test Preparation, Homework Strategies, Note-Taking
Content Areas: English, History, Chemistry, Physics
Computer Skills: Keyboarding

What to expect

Our Core Service Tutors meet individually with their students in our offices, typically for one hour sessions on a regularly scheduled basis during the school year and according to a mutually determined schedule during the summer.
We provide brief, written reports for each tutoring session.
Mid-year (February or March) meetings are scheduled to discuss progress and goals with parents.
Summer tutoring is available in a variety of forms, including individual tutoring and special-interest clubs.

Core service tutoring benefits

Facilitates content area improvement
Develops confidence, organization, motivation, and study skills
Enables families to better understand a student’s strengths and weaknesses
Can serve as scaffolding that allows a student to climb to greater heights and take ownership and direct responsibility for his or her own education

Core Service Tutoring area descriptions

Basic Reading Skills:

We teach phonemic awareness, decoding skills, phonics, and word recognition to help students acquire the basic reading skills that are necessary in helping them become fluent readers.
Once we know what basic reading skills areas need attention, we zero in on those skills using vowel pattern sorts, word wall creation, reading simple stories, and phonics instruction.

For those students who have mastered the basics already, we use our knowledge of grade-level standards and choose exercises and techniques to take your child from where they are to where they want to be.

Reading Comprehension:

We utilize various approaches to improving reading comprehension for students of all grade levels. After assessing a student’s reading level, we implement a custom-tailored approach to improve reading comprehension,
Paragraph-by-paragraph, alternating reader sessions with one of our specialists, building visualization skills, expanding vocabulary, annotating, understanding plot and character development, and summarizing are a few of the activities we use. We include the student in the decision-making process when it comes to choosing reading passages, short stories, or books.

For those students who love to read already, we use our knowledge of grade-level standards and choose exercises and techniques to take your child from competent to advanced.

Spelling and Mechanics:

By evaluating patterns in spelling and mechanics errors, we can implement strategies and instruction to address specific weaknesses. Relying on our knowledge of grade-level standards, we design sessions focusing on spelling skills to improve your child’s ability.
Strategies are selected from phonics instruction, using a word bank, sight word practice, explicit, systematic instruction and practice of the mechanics and rules of spelling, and, especially in the case of dysgraphia, even keyboarding instruction or speech-to-text software.

Learning to Write:

For students with learning differences or ADHD, struggling in writing is often the first sign that there may be an underlying issue. We parse writing skills into distinct steps to determine areas of writing weakness. By evaluating a student’s understanding of the writing process, we design sessions to teach a student how to plan and execute writing tasks.
Techniques may include: utilization of a word bank, effective tips for producing in-class essays, the use of online graphic organizers like Inspiration, keyboarding instruction, speech-to-text assistive technology, and explicit instruction and practice of the mechanics and rules of grammar.

For those students who love to write already, we can creatively design exercises and projects, using our knowledge of grade-level standards to take your child from competent to advanced.

Math:

QWERTY’s staff can help your student with mathematics, ranging from basic skills like counting and subitizing, all the way through classes like Statistics and Calculus.

We believe that with early intervention, every struggling student can succeed in mathematics, and that the notion that having success in math, depending on whether one has a “math brain,” is fallacious. We can improve understanding of basic math operations and help your child to learn the “language of mathematics,” as well as teach creatively to explicate the nuanced concepts that are sometimes elusive in higher-level math.
We can also preview concepts that have yet to be presented, and also explore real-world applications of math in answering the age-old question, “Why do I have to learn this?”

Science:

Preparing for a career in STEM requires a student to achieve mastery in biology, chemistry, and physics, regardless of the focus ultimately chosen by the student. Students with LDs or ADHD are often, unfortunately, judged as not capable of pursuing careers in STEM because traditional classroom methods frequently leave these students with gaps in learning. These gaps often paint a picture that does not reflect their actual capabilities.

Students whose interests lie in STEM fields benefit greatly from learning strategies designed to help them assimilate material in ways that promote the demonstration of their true potential, including:

Concept Mapping: We teach students to create visual representations of concepts, which helps in understanding relationships between topics and enhances memory retention.
Socratic Method: We ask open-ended questions that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills, allowing students to explore and articulate their understanding of scientific concepts.
Use of Analogies: We relate complex scientific ideas to everyday experiences through relatable analogies, simplifying difficult concepts and making them more accessible.
Physical Demonstrations (when possible): When possible, we use practical, physical/kinesthetic demonstrations to illustrate scientific principles, making the learning of concepts something a student can “feel.”
Structured Review Sessions: We review previous material to reinforce learning, using quizlets, discussions, or flashcards to ensure retention over time.
Customized Learning Pathways: We tailor tutoring sessions to address individual learning styles and paces, ensuring each student receives personalized attention and support.

Foreign Language – Spanish and French:

Foreign language acquisition can be challenging for students with learning differences and ADHD. If your student has decided that learning ASL to fulfill the UC language requirement is not what they want to do, we can help them with learning either Spanish or French.

For students who learn differently, we use the same core content but tailor instruction to their cognitive profile. Because language learning draws heavily on skills like working memory, auditory processing, and expressive language, we begin by identifying areas of strength and growth and adjust how we teach new concepts accordingly. For example, a student with strong working memory might benefit from learning whole phrases first, while a student with weaker auditory processing might need clear visual scaffolds, repetition, and structured practice. The goal is to build on strengths while offering targeted strategies that make the language more accessible.

We provide a supportive and structured learning environment where instruction is broken into clear, manageable steps with frequent repetition, visual supports, and hands-on activities. We use multisensory strategies such as movement, visuals, and guided practice to strengthen understanding and maintain engagement. We offer regular check-ins, individualized scaffolding, and flexible ways for students to demonstrate their learning. Our goal is to build confidence, foster meaningful communication, and ensure every student experiences success in acquiring a foreign language. We focus on building confidence, promoting meaningful communication, and helping every student find success in their foreign language learning journey.

Testimonials

Biggest problem I had with my daughter was in math. After going to Qwerty, their tutoring greatly improved my daughter’s math grades.

GeorgeS Brown

My daughter had a great experience at QWERTY over several years. She was evaluated and initially, her written expression skills were the focus. She had a tendency to write very little, even though she could tell you a great deal about her subject. At QWER

Lucile Newman

We were very impressed with QWERTY’s services. Our 3rd grade daughter worked with Natalie for over a year, with great results in math, reading and writing. The sessions were always fun and engaging, and she looked forward to them as a highlight of her week.

Steve Maxwell

With the help of QWERTY, my daughter’s performance in AP Stats soared — both in class and on the AP exam. It was very empowering for a kid who never thought she was good at math.

Debra

Qwerty provided professional and reliable tutoring in a friendly atmosphere. Our son benefited from the expertise of a knowledgeable tutor for three years of high school. Consistent work with an excellent role model was very helpful. The interaction was extremely positive.”

Janice

Our daughter had very low self confidence about her math abilities before seeing Betty Willdorff at QWERTY. Since starting her tutoring sessions, my daughter’s math abilities have gone up noticeably, and doing homework is no longer such a chore. She actually looks forward to her homework sessions with Betty!

Bob

Michael was the right fit for tutoring my two high school children in math because he explained and taught the material well and interacted with them on a personal level. They enjoyed working with him and always looked forward to their sessions. I would definitely recommend QWERTY.

Carrie

QWERTY Education Services in Menlo Park provided academic support and instruction during a very transitional time for my daughter. They provide superior customized tutoring in all subjects through a positive and confidence building environment. I highly recommend QWERTY.

Jane

Biggest problem I had with my daughter was in math. After going to QWERTY, their tutoring greatly improved my daughter’s math grades.

Grace S. B

We were very impressed with QWERTY’s services. Our 3rd grade daughter worked with QWERTY for over a year, with great results in math, reading and writing. The sessions were always fun and engaging, and she looked forward to them as a highlight of her week.

Steve M

We had a good experience with QWERTY. Our now 11 year old daughter needed help with her executive functions and the coach helped her get her backpack and thoughts and study methods organized. She feels much more responsible to finish her homework and the coach also helped with tutoring in various subjects including prepping for projects and tests. Thank you, QWERTY.