About LearningWise Strategies

The LearningWise Strategies Philosophy

* I believe that every person is a valued individual with a unique learning profile of strengths, challenges, and learning/thinking style preferences. 

* I believe that everyone can learn, and deserves the opportunity to have academic success, with the teaching methods and instruction that are the most beneficial to their individual learning profile through individualized instruction including a variety of multi-sensory and strategy-based materials, and methods designed specifically to meet their individual needs.

* I believe that instruction should value the individual’s voice, incorporating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning modalities and non-academic interests whenever possible. 

* I believe that teaching neurodiverse learners is not just about teaching procedures, facts, or vocabulary to pass a test/class. 

* I believe that good teaching incorporates and addresses the learning process as a whole while being mindful of individual differences. This includes building strategies, fostering self-esteem, increasing an understating of one’s own strengths and learning style, and improving self-advocacy and metacognitive skills toolboxes.

*  I believe that learning should be fun and engaging!

Each of my students/clients is recognized and respected for the individual gifts that they have.  It is an essential part of my role as an educational therapist/specialist to help neurodiverse students/clients realize their gifts and strengths, and enjoy the process of learning, so that they can feel successful in their life-long learning journey.

Hi, I'm Bonnie!

I am the founder and director of LearningWise Strategies, LLC. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Reading/Learning Disabilities. I am certified by the state of Maryland in Special Education and as a Reading Specialist, in addition to being a Board Certified Educational Therapist (BCET) through AET and an ADHD Certified Educator (ADHD-CE). 

I have extensive experience working with students of all ages with various types of learning differences throughout many subject areas.  I was a classroom teacher for almost 10 years, specializing in teaching children with severe learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). After leaving full-time teaching, I was the Learning Specialist at a private school (Pre-K through 8th grade) for 4 years.  After almost 15 years working at schools, I started my private practice, LearningWise Strategies in 2004.

In addition to working directly with students and their families, I served as a consultant with WETA for the “LD Online” and “Reading Rockets” web sites, wrote and published curriculum materials related to mathematics, reading, writing, and study skills, and co-authored a book for middle school students as a part of the Kid Confident Book Series (Kid Confident #4: How to Navigate Middle School, available through Magination Press and Amazon) . I regularly conduct in-service teacher/professional training and parent workshops in the areas of reading, mathematics, study skills and organization, executive functioning, differentiated instruction, ADHD, learning disabilities, standardized testing, and diagnostic testing, and have presented at several education-related national conferences. I have also facilitated support groups for parents of students with learning disabilities and work with school administrators, members of IEP teams, teachers, parents, and children.  I hold volunteer positions on the Board of the Association of Educational Therapists (AET) and was active in the Learning Disabilities Association, Montgomery County chapter (LDA/MC) Board of Directors for over 12 years. I am honored to have been chosen the 2014 “Educator of the Year” by the Learning Disabilities Association. 

One of the things that I think sets me apart from a lot of other educators is my desire to individualize the learning experience for each of my students. I do this by getting to know their interests, motivators, strengths (and challenges), and developing therapeutic activities to improve areas of challenge by incorporating engaging, fun activities into the learning process. 

I look forward to meeting you!

~Bonnie