Grade Levels
Elementary School
Tutoring Specialties
ADD & ADHD, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Students with varying disabilities, Tiered Support, Gifted/Advanced population, Learning Disabilities, EL (English Learners), Dyslexia, Autism
Bio
Hello! I’m Monica, an educator and reading specialist with 20+ years in elementary education, specializing in K–3 literacy, phonics, reading intervention, and English language development. As a Primary Reading Interventionist, I’ve supported small groups in building phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension through structured literacy. My teaching philosophy centers on relationships—I believe students thrive when they feel seen and supported. This commitment helped lead to my Teacher of the Year nomination. I bring experience with online instruction from the pandemic, using digital tools to engage diverse learners, including English Learners and students with dyslexia. As an immigrant from Cuba, I deeply understand the challenges of learning English, and my ESL certification and Spanish fluency help me connect with bilingual families. Warm, patient, and encouraging, I aim to nurture the whole child and build confident, joyful learners.
Teacher Specialization
I bring over 20 years of experience teaching early childhood and elementary students, along with specialized work as a K–3 Reading Interventionist. I hold a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Special Education with a focus on Educational Diagnostician. While my primary expertise is in reading and literacy development, I have experience teaching math, science, and social studies. I am ESL-certified, GT-certified, and trained in dyslexia and structured literacy practices, allowing me to support students with diverse academic, linguistic, and emotional needs. In addition to extensive in-person teaching, I gained online instructional experience during the pandemic by delivering virtual lessons, adapting curriculum, and supporting students in a remote learning environment.
Courses
1st Grade English Language Arts, 2nd Grade English Language Arts, 3rd Grade English Language Arts, 4th Grade English Language Arts, ESL 1, ESL 2, ESL 3, Kindergarten English Language Arts
