Tag: Northern Virginia

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Tutor explains DSM V brings Autism, Aspergers, ASD under one diagnostic umbrella

Previously a tutor would expect children to have different diagnoses whether Autism or Asperger’s Disorder in the DSM IV. The DSM V is a statistical manual that reflects the criteria in which people may be diagnosed as being on the spectrum of Autism. Students who need a tutor, IEP services at school and other educational assistance among professionals are no longer diagnosed separately with Asperger’s, rather anyone on the spectrum of Autism, ASD, is diagnosed as being Autistic; albeit, there are types of autism delineated in any given diagnosis of it. Core illustrations of Autistic behavior or paucity in affect in order to meet the criteria are as follows: poor social communication and related interpersonal skills, repetitive kinesthetic actions and narrow scope of interests, gaps in interacting with others and obsessive behavior present at early age. The following links delineates the specific details of Autism as reflected as a diagnosis in the DSM V:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/diagnosis/dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria

Asperger’s Disorder is not a diagnosis in the DSM V; tutors, teachers and other educational professionals should be aware of this. Naturally as a tutor, I understand that students with Asperger’s may not want to be under one ASD diagnosis of Autism.

John Toker has a Master’s Degree in Education with a Concentration in LD K-12, and a Master’s Degree in Psychological Services with a Concentration in Counseling with a Post Master’s in Counseling. John is a tutor for Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, Executive Function Disorder and other learning issues. John taught in FCPS, and MCPS; he is usually a tutor in Northern Virginia, especially Fairfax County including McLean, Vienna, Reston VA and other areas in Fairfax County and sometimes a tutor in MCPS, in particular Potomac MD, Bethesda MD, and Rockville MD within Montgomery County.

 http://www.learndifferentlytutor.com/

http://www.johntoker.com/

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Breaking Stereotypes about Learning Issues

Learning issues are too often connected to assumptions about respective abilities; ordinary people assume that those with them have too many obstacles to succeed in life. Albeit, many biographies reflect those with problems in school as part of their history to be highly accomplished in the work world. Business people, scientists artist and of many other professions learned to make their learning problems assets to excelling well beyond their peers. Ironically, many of those who teased people for having learning issues were simply good at memorizing school curriculum; they often had far less ability than those subject to criticism. It is essential that biographies of accomplished people are studied by those with learning challenges and those helping them. My tutoring services help students free themselves from stereotypes.

http://www.learndifferentlytutor.com/

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Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, Executive Function Disorder and Being a Tutor

Students often vary as to what they need to meet school grade level requirements; ADHD, Dyslexia, Executive Function Disorder, Autism are some of the reasons many people do not learn in the same way. My tutoring people over the past many years has shown me that individuals vary greatly even within one diagnosis that relates to thought process. Naturally, it is key to see the person getting tutoring services as for who they are, and not simply as a stereotype.

My students to tutor are mostly from Vienna VA, McLean VA, Arlington VA, other areas of Northern VA, Potomac MD, and Bethesda MD. Albeit, some learners are from New England, while others are from the West coast.

Learn Differently Tutor

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Tutoring Bridges Learning Gaps with Scholastic Strengths

Tutoring increases the odds of parents’ children being accepted at universities, and most importantly graduating from the schools. Too often homework, extra credit assignments, minimal math, science and writing requirements in high school leave aspiring college students unprepared for curriculum that is required at the college level. I find that those whom I tutor prefer to learn their assigned subject matter in a more comprehensive way, rather than through wrote memorization; in turn, they tend to form an ability to answer abstract questions that are tightly associated with university level of academic work.
Many of my students are misunderstood as simply ADHD, ADD, Dyslexic, Autistic, Executive Function Disorder, while they can often excel in school by being taught an individualized method or custom to their thinking way of learning curriculum.

John Toker, M.Ed. LD K-12, M.A.

http://learndifferentlytutor.com/

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First Quarter Grades Mini Crises, Need a Tutor ADHD, Dyslexia, Executive Function Disorder

Parents may find themselves in a scramble to get their children tutors because first quarter grades call for it. Many times students’ scores in school are not apparent until this time of year.

Some of my students started with me in the later part of the fall season. Naturally, I spend part of my tutorial sessions getting them caught up with their scholastics, while there is a need to focus on the new material as well.

 John Toker, M.Ed. LD K-12, M.A.

http://learndifferentlytutor.com/