Christina

I'm excited to join Varsity Tutors as a contract tutor focused on literacy, learning support, and special education intervention for learners ranging from age 4 through adulthood. I help students build confidence as readers and writers, especially those who have experienced ongoing difficulty with foundational literacy skills. For many years, I've worked with diverse learners and their families in a collaborative intervention model, supporting growth in reading, writing, and comprehension through individualized, responsive instruction. I partner with families to clarify learning goals, instructional approaches, and progress so that literacy development feels transparent and actionable. I support early and struggling readers by building foundational skills such as phonemic awareness, letter-sound relationships, and decoding through multi-sensory instruction. For more advanced readers, I strengthen fluency, comprehension, and written expression through structured, step-by-step skill development that promotes independence. My approach is informed by my work with Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, where I learned and taught two of the most valuable evidence-based programs for literacy development: Seeing Stars and Visualizing & Verbalizing. These programs strengthened my understanding of how phoneme awareness, symbol imagery, and concept imagery work together to support accurate decoding and deep comprehension. I have consistently seen meaningful progress across a wide range of learners, from non-readers with strong listening comprehension to fluent readers with significant comprehension challenges. I provide clear, explicit instruction in reading fluency, language comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, and verbal expression, carefully adjusting support to ensure measurable growth. Above all, I create a structured, encouraging learning environment where students feel safe to take risks, engage deeply, and grow with confidence.

["Outside of tutoring","life is full","busy","and usually a little loud (in the best way) at home with my husband","our two daughters","and our energetic pets—a dog and two cats—each vying for control of the household.\r\n\r\nWe’re fortunate to live close to the beach","where we can reset with a walk along the pier or occasionally spend the whole day in the sand together. At home we enjoy family walks through the neighborhood","on varying routes but always filled with laughter and conversation.\r\n\r\nI’m usually listening to something as I go about my day—either music or a podcast in the background. I’ve always been naturally drawn to language and storytelling in everyday life","especially true stories and real-life cases that explore human behavior","the mind","and how people make sense of their experiences.\r\n\r\nWhen I have time to myself","I often sit at the piano to sing","play a familiar tune","or write a new song. Music is where my ideas and emotions naturally flow together. In quieter moments","I appreciate simple routines that help me pause","recharge","and be my best self."]