Spotlight Tutoring

For students and families looking for insight and how to best proceed in a focused skill area. Spotlight Tutoring is limited in scope and duration and provides informal evaluation for students and families desiring information about a student’s learning profile.

It is intended for students who are new to tutoring at QWERTY Education Service and is offered at a discounted rate. Spotlight Tutoring often serves as a starting point — many families use it to better understand a student’s learning profile before deciding on a longer-term path. If the informal insights from Spotlight reveal a need for ongoing academic support, students typically transition into Core Service Tutoring. For those who need a bit more structure than Spotlight but aren’t ready for the full Core commitment, Co-Pilot Tutoring offers a middle ground.

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Tutoring Experts helping students build confidence

What to expect

6 meetings with one of our specialists, scheduled in advance
A written summary report outlining tips and recommendations will be provided. The report includes highlights of observations and exercises that a parent and student can use as they approach new coursework and yearly Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Does not include formal testing and does not serve to provide a diagnosis for a learning disability.

Looking for a formal diagnosis instead? Learn about our learning differences and ADHD testing.

Spotlight tutoring benefits

Helps illuminate where a student stands and how he or she can best proceed in a focused skill area
Reveals discussion points for parents and teachers in yearly Parent-Teacher Conferences
Can be arranged for one area or a series of areas customized to the individual at a savings over typical academic tutoring

Core Service Tutoring – expert educator support for students with LD or ADHD

Spotlight Tutoring area descriptions

Reading and writing tutoring support by Qwerty Education Service

Basic Reading Skills:

To become a fluent reader, a number of basic reading skills are necessary, including phonemic awareness, decoding skills, phonics knowledge, and word recognition.
A breakdown in any one of these skills can affect reading ability. This series looks at which of these skills may be impeding reading fluency and provides strategies for improving those skills. Activities may include vowel pattern sorts, word wall creation, reading simple stories, and phonics instruction.

Reading Comprehension:

Designed to assess reading comprehension, we incorporate a variety of approaches to examine reading comprehension for students of all grade levels.

Activities may include reading passages, short stories, or books of a student’s choice. We explore areas such as visualization skills, existing vocabulary, (age-appropriate) annotation skills, understanding plot and character development, and summarizing. For families wanting a deeper look at how a student learns best across subjects, our learning profile consulting service offers a more comprehensive picture.

Improving reading comprehension for students of all grade levels

Tutor helping child improve spelling and writing skills

Spelling and Mechanics:

Again, using our knowledge of grade-level standards, we examine spelling skills and determine areas of basic weakness. By evaluating patterns in spelling and mechanics errors, we can recommend strategies and instruction that will address specific weaknesses.
Recommendations may include phonics instruction, using a word wall, sight word practice, explicit, systematic instruction and practice of the mechanics and rules of grammar, and, especially in the case of dysgraphia, even keyboarding instruction or speech-to-text software.

Learning to Write:

We examine writing skills and determine areas of basic writing weakness. By checking to see if a student understands that writing is a process, we are able to diagnose where a breakdown or weakness may be and recommend strategies and instruction that will address specific weaknesses.
Recommendations may include using a word wall, lists of synonyms, explicit, systematic instruction and practice of the mechanics and rules of grammar, paragraph construction, and keyboarding instruction.

Math:

Designed for students from K to algebra, this series is custom-tailored for the individual student’s needs, to determine a student’s understanding of grade-appropriate underlying math rules and concepts, such as operations, i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, as well as fractions, decimals, and order of operations. Investigation in this area can help parents and students pinpoint areas of challenge for additional work.

Activities may include the use of mathematical manipulatives, games, and checking a student’s understanding of common mathematical conventions and language. If math struggles seem tied to organization or focus rather than the material itself, our Executive Functions Coaching program may be worth exploring.

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.