oahututor.com
Over 40 years of tutoring experience
Specializing in:
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Math - Kindergarten to Grade 6
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Reading: Kindergarten to Adult
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Writing: Grade 1 to Grade 12
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Dyslexia Remediation
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Individual Private Tutorials
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Small Group Tutorials
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9-session Beginning-To-Read Tutorials for Kindergarten age children
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Educational Testing
Tax license and police clearance check
Tutoring on O`ahu
Call Now For a Free 20 Minute Honolulu Tutoring Consultation
1-808-394-6292 or Cell 808-371-9045
Who is Gail Hawkins?
Gail Hawkins is a private tutor with over 40 years of professional tutoring experience. A tutor should be a steppingstone, not a long-term commitment. Children are given the skills they need to be released from tutorials as soon as possible. Parents are taught the strategies that work for their child's learning style. All sessions are individualized to address the child's specific needs and goals.
E lawe i ke a`o a mālama a e `oi mau ka na`auao
"He who takes his teachings & applies them increases his knowledge." Hawaiian proverb from `Ōlelo No`eau.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
Becoming a reader involves the development of important skills, including learning to:
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use language in conversation
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listen and respond to stories read aloud
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recognize and name the letters of the alphabet
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listen to the sounds of spoken language
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connect sounds to letters to figure out the "code" of reading
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read often so that recognizing words becomes easy and automatic
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learn and use new words
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understand what is read
Preschool and kindergarten teachers set the stage for your child to learn to read with some critical early skills. First, second, and third grade teachers assume the task of building the skills that children will use every day for the rest of their lives. As a parent, you can help by understanding what teachers are teaching and by asking questions about your child's progress and the classroom reading program.
New Horizons Parent Lecture Series at Punahou School:
Periodically, speakers are invited to make presentations to interested parents. Mrs. Hawkins has made a number of presentations, including providing Practical Advice for Children from Kindergarten Through High School, Tutoring Tips for Top Performance, and Learning Differently: Myths and Miracles. Participants learned about support systems, methods, and insights on how their child can be their personal best despite learning challenges. Parents also had the unique opportunity to observe Gail working with students using memory clues for faster retention of classroom material.
If your child is just beginning to learn to read:
At School You Can Help By.....
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Teaching the sounds of language.
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Teaching the letters of the alphabet. Teachers help children learn to recognize letter names and shapes.
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Helping children learn and use new words.
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Reading to children every day. Teachers read with expression and talk with children about what they are reading.
At home you can help by.....
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Practicing the sounds of language. Read books with rhymes. Teach your child rhymes, short poems, and songs. Play simple word games: How many words can you make up that sound like the word "bat"?
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Helping your child take spoken words apart and put them together. Help your child separate the sounds in words, listen for beginning and ending sounds, and put separate sounds together.
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Practicing the alphabet by pointing out letters wherever you see them and by reading alphabet books.
If your child is just beginning to read.....
At school you should see teachers...
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Systematically teaching phonics--how sounds and letters are related.
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Giving children the opportunity to practice the letter-sound relationships they are learning. Children have the chance to practice sounds and letters by reading easy books that use words with the letter-sound relationships they are learning.
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Helping children write the letter-sound relationships they know by using them in words, sentences, messages, and their own stories.
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Showing children ways to think about and understand what they are reading. The teacher asks children questions to show them how to think about the meaning of what they read.
At home you can help by...
· Pointing out the letter-sound relationships your child is learning on labels, boxes, newspapers, magazines and signs.
· Listening to your child read words and books from school. Be patient and listen as your child practicies. Let your child know you are proud of his reading.
At home you can help by...
· Pointing out the letter-sound relationships your child is learning on labels, boxes, newspapers, magazines and signs.
· Listening to your child read words and books from school. Be patient and listen as your child practices. Let your child know you are proud of his reading.
If your child is reading:
At school you should see teachers...
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Continuing to teach letter-sound relationships for children who need more practice. On average, children need about two years of instruction in letter-sound relationships to become good spellers as well as readers.
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Teaching the meaning of words, especially words that are important to understanding a book.
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Teaching ways to learn the meaning of new words. Teachers cannot possibly teach students the meaning of every new word they see or read. Children should be taught how to use dictionaries to learn word meanings, how to use known words and word parts to figure out other words, and how to get clues about a word from the rest of the sentence.
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Helping children understand what they are reading. Good readers think as they read and they know whether what they are reading is making sense. Teachers help children to check their understanding. When children are having difficulty, teachers show them ways to figure out the meaning of what they are reading.
If your child is reading:
At home you can help your child by...
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Rereading familiar books. Children need practice in reading comfortably and with expression using books they know.
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Building reading accuracy. As your child is reading aloud, point out words he missed and help him read words correctly. If you stop to focus on a word, have your child reread the whole sentence to be sure he understands the meaning.
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Building reading comprehension. Talk with your child about what she is reading. Ask about new words. Talk about what happened in a story. Ask about the characters, places, and events that took place. Ask what new information she has learned from the book. Encourage her to read on her own.
Make reading a part of every day:
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Share conversations with your child over meal times and other times you are together. Children learn words more easily when they hear them spoken often. Introduce new and interesting words at every opportunity.
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Read together every day. Spend time talking about stories, pictures, and words.
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Be your child's best advocate. Keep informed about your child's progress in reading and ask the teacher about ways you can help.
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Be a reader and a writer. Children learn habits from the people around them.
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Visit the library often. Story times, computers, homework help, and other exciting activities await the entire family
Becoming a reader involves the development of important skills, including learning to:
-
use language in conversation
-
listen and respond to stories read aloud
-
recognize and name the letters of the alphabet
-
listen to the sounds of spoken language
-
connect sounds to letters to figure out the "code" of reading
-
read often so that recognizing words becomes easy and automatic
-
learn and use new words
-
understand what is read
TESTIMONIALS
Bi-lingual, ESL, Students Arriving from Overseas to Attend School in Hawai`i
"It is with great pleasure that we are providing this letter of support on behalf of Mrs. Gail Hawkins. We first became acquainted with Gail when we were seeking a private tutor for our son who was undergoing an international relocation to the US from Asia, where he had lived his entire life. As a result of our move, he was facing significant transitional challenges culturally, socially, and academically and we were seeking a private tutor to help him through this transition.
Gail is nothing short of extraordinary, both as a professional tutor and as a human being. In addition to her extensive training and background in education as a private tutor, she has an incredible gift that allows her to draw out the best in her students by identifying their specific needs and teaching and relating in a way that builds their confidence and self-esteem and allows them to thrive. ...Bi-lingual child in a private Honolulu school who was voted "The Most Improved Student"
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
"In October we were frustrated, angry, and feeling defeated. We couldn't imagine how we were going to survive the vigor of fourth grade--and the homework. I was concerned that the after-school tantrums would destroy our relationship. What you and (name of student) accomplished in only four months-time was beyond my wildest dreams and expectations. I know you're aware that many of the tools being taught (name of student) were being plagiarized and used as tools by his fourth-grade teacher as well! You had more than one student benefiting from your expertise!" Parent of a 4th grader
"...is an ADHD child and is a challenge to most people he comes in contact with. You were able to pinpoint and diagnose problem areas immediately. By keeping him focused and directed, his development has been extraordinary. Your expertise and sensitivity to different learning styles should be a model for teachers everywhere." Honolulu Parent with a child in the DOE school system
"(Name of student) organizational skills are so improved that I cannot imagine how you were able to accomplish his seemingly impossible task!" Parent of a high school girl transitioning into a new school
"(Name of student) was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder in his eighth-grade year. He began prescribed medication and started seeing Gail in the fall. By early November, he began to receive "commendations" for his good work and efforts. (Name of student) used Gail's learning techniques to write a speech in a race for a student council position. He won! Gail demonstrated specific techniques for (name of student) making all his reading and organizing quicker, more efficient and much more successful. By the end of January, (name of student)’s grade point average went up l7 points and he was in striking range of Honors! I received a personal phone call from not only his advisor and the Head of Upper School, but the Head Master as well, sharing their congratulations and happiness at his hard work and great improvement. (Name of student) was on his own, successfully implementing her training and techniques, when he was released from tutoring in February. Parent of a 9th grader
"Thank you for opening my mind to the ADHD diagnosis without which (name of student) would get no services. I am truly grateful for your guidance." Parent of a Kindergarten student