Whether your learner is a 9-year-old who is reading below grade level or a 10th-grader tackling an A.P. course, Ms. Heather has the expertise your child needs to succeed in English Language Arts! Ms. Heather teaches and tutors learners ages 8 through 18 at any level, whether the learners are struggling, average, or advanced. Below are some topics and skills of focus:

Reading Skills:
*Reading Fluency (reading with appropriate speed, confidence, accuracy, and few errors at grade level)
*Reading Comprehension (going beyond recalling information: drawing conclusions & making inferences)

Reading Fiction & Nonfiction Texts:
*Identify Elements of Plot in Fiction (characters; setting; conflict; climax; resolution)
*Compare & Contrast
*Infer Theme & Character (fiction)
*Identify Main Idea and Key Details (nonfiction)
*Interpret Figurative Language
*Identify Problems & Solutions
*Identify Causes and Effects
*Understand Author's Purpose & Point of View
*Determine Tone and Mood
*Understand Poetry (structure, literary elements & meaning)

Writing Skills:
*Grammar & Mechanics
*Writing with Proper Structure: Sentences, Paragraphs & Essays
*Short-Answer Responses to Text (one-paragraph)
*Opinion/Persuasive/Argumentative Essay Writing
*Expository Writing
*Research Writing
*Literary Analysis
*Use Effective Transitions to Connect Ideas
*Write Thesis Statements (claims) & Topic Sentences
*Synthesize Information from Several Texts to Support a Claim
*Cite Text Evidence
*Elaborate (explain/provide reasoning about how text evidence proves claims are true)
*Include Appropriate Transitions to Promote Fluency
*Use Strong Word Choice