Are you a teacher?

I am a Learning Resource Teacher.  I work with diverse learners in schools in one-on-one and in small group settings.  I design educational plans and work with outside agencies to support kids at school.  I hold a double bachelor’s degree in Special Education and English Education, and a master’s degree in Special Education (Strategist).  My passion is literacy.

Can you connect with my kid’s teacher?

I most definitely can.  I wholeheartedly believe in strong collaborative relationships between school, home, and outside agencies.  If you are willing to sign a Consent to Exchange Information for both Wildflowers and your school division, I can chat with your child’s teachers.  These exchanges often prove extremely beneficial to all parties!

My child is reading a couple levels below grade level expectations.  Can you help?

Absolutely!  Literacy is my favourite!  A child’s reading has the potential to progress significantly before Grade 4, so early intervention is key.  I work with little people (pre-emergent readers) and developed readers using a structured literacy approach focusing on the three areas of reading: decoding, fluency, and comprehension.  If decoding is the primary area for development, I base instruction from error analysis so that we can target visual, meaning, or syntax (grammar) type errors.  Achievement in reading and writing are directly linked, and thus I always tailor my intervention to support the development of both. 

I think my son/daughter has Dyslexia.  Do you diagnose that?

I do not diagnose Learning Disabilities, but I certainly work with psychologist recommendations to “treat” them using research-based programs and resources.  I have witnessed students with Learning Disabilities make significant progress with consistent implementation of these recommendations and programs.  Remember, consistency is key!  It doesn’t happen overnight.  At Wildflowers, we have several wonderful psychologists who can complete these assessments.  With your permission, I can work with them to design best-fit academic programming for your child.

Do you work with adults?

I enjoy working with adults!  I use specialized literacy programs designed for adolescents and adults.  We can work on anything from phonics to resume writing to English as an additional language.  I have taught high school English, and work with many pre-teens and teens.  

Written by Kimberly Desautels, Educational Strategist/Tutor with Wildflowers.