"Attention: Presently, I do not have any more "after-school" central time zone hours available. If you are seeking tutoring before 2 p.m central time or an occasional weekend session, we may be able to find a matching time slot. Otherwise, feel free to contact me about being on a waitlist.

My name is Melissa, and I specialize in academic tutoring for children (especially those with ADHD, Dyslexia, and other learning issues) and career preparation for adults such as public speaking, resume writing, interviewing skills, and job search techniques. I love watching those "thinking light bulbs" go off in children and adults when they learn something new and feel proud of their new skill. I have three young children of my own, ranging from 8 to 15 years old. I also homeschooled my oldest two children for five years. I have experience teaching elementary through college students and adults in one-on-one situations and home school cooperatives. I am an Illinois certified teacher for grades K-9 and a certified substitute teacher for grades pre-K through 12. I have been privately tutoring students nearly full time for over six years.

Additionally, I am a former job placement recruiter and sales manager, so I know the professional demands of the marketplace. I also have skills in presenting information in creative and engaging ways as my children have ADHD, Dyslexia, Anxiety disorders, and medical challenges. In addition to working with children who have ADHD and Dyslexia, my tutoring experience includes several years of one-on-one work with children who have mild spectrum and social/anxiety disorders.

Four of my specialties are teaching an Orton-Gillingham based phonics program to struggling readers, instructing children and adults in public speaking and writing, teaching English pronunciation and conversation to ESL learners in a way that makes sense, and proofreading documents. Additionally, I present information to all students in cross-curricular ways, so they see how an English lesson relates to social studi" less...