Linda Slabine

Orton-Gillingham Practitioner / Dyslexia Specialist in Mount Dora, Lake County, Central, FL

Rate: Contact For Rate Available For: Private Tutoring

Mount Dora, Florida

Hello, I'm Linda. I hope I can be of support to you and your child. To share a bit about myself, I am a retired MA public school special education teacher who now lives in Mount Dora, Florida. I spent much of my wonderful, 34-year career at Brockton High School teaching students with academic and/or learning challenges. Throughout my many years of teaching, I developed a great empathy for my students as I assisted them in navigating their way through high school. I understand a great deal about my students' social, emotional and academic challenges. I also understand the importance of helping my students recognize and develop their predisposed strengths and special qualities. In addition to being a public school special education teacher, I have also enjoyed being a private 1-1 reading disabilities therapist / Orton-Gillingham practitioner for students of all ages since 1994. After retiring from the public schools in 2019, I relocated to Mount Dora, FL in 2021 where I continue to work one-to-one with struggling readers. I have always been passionate about learning all I can about dyslexia and teaching dyslexic students based on the science of reading as well as discovering the best ways to help all of my students thrive. Some other components that I address or incorporate into lessons to help my students develop a strong self-esteem and become as successful as possible are related to mindset, grit, self-awareness, mind strengths, interests, role models, metacognition (reflecting), assistive technology, accommodations, career awareness and self-advocacy. In addition to teaching my students, I understand the importance of supporting my students' families and educators as needed since we all play a role in their success. I hope I can be of support to you.

Experience :

• -Taught students with special needs in self-contained classes for 34 years in the Brockton, MA Public Schools. Most of my students were diagnosed with specific learning disabilities in reading or dyslexia and in grades 9-12.
• -Since 1994, I have also worked one-to-one with struggling readers of all ages including students who have been diagnosed with a specific learning disability in reading or dyslexia. I utilize the Orton-Gillingham approach to teach literacy skills, but I always individualize instruction to meet the needs and interests of my students.

Education :

• Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 1985, Master's Degree in Education / Special Education
• Wheelock College, Boston, MA 1983, Bachelor of Science in Education
• Hold Massachusetts Certifications:
• Elementary - Kindergarten - Grade 8
• Special Education - Nursery - Grade 9
• Special Education - Grade 5 - Grade 12

Orton-Gillingham Training Information :

• -Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Program of Education in Therapy for Specific Reading Disability - Certified for completing a 300-hour program of Education in Therapeutic Techniques and Supervised Practice conducted at the MGH Language Clinic from June 1993 to May, 1994. (Can provide documentation upon request.)
• -Massachusetts General Hospital - Reading Disabilities Unit, Boston, MA; Certified May 30, 2002 for completing an 18-hour Advanced Orton-Gillingham course that focused on the history and structure of the English language as well as techniques for teaching reading, spelling, comprehension and writing to mid-elementary through adult students. (Can provide documentation upon request.)
• -Have maintained my MA public school certifications by completing many courses and workshops throughout my 30+ year career. (Can provide documentation upon request.)