Overview:

Dr. Miller received a Doctorate in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she was a supervisor in the Harvard Reading Laboratory.   She started her teaching career as a reading and language teacher at the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, Ct.  Later on, she ran adult education programs for area industry as well as within community learning centers.  Prior to establishing her private practice as a learning specialist, Dr. Miller oversaw the Learning Center at Dearborn Academy in Arlington, MA, a school for children with emotional and learning disabilities.  She has been in private practice as a reading specialist in Somerville, MA for the past 20 years, where in addition to teaching reading she has developed systematic multi-sensory programs designed to teach mathematics to children who have had difficulty mastering math facts and/or have difficulty comprehending mathematical word problems.  Her latest interest is in developing a multi-sensory approach to teaching touch typing/computer keyboarding skills. 

Philosophy of Instruction:

The position of learning specialist requires a deep knowledge of both remedial and developmental education.  Dr. Miller’s experiences over the years have overwhelmingly prepared her for meeting the remedial needs of a wide range of students, including those with learning disabilities, including dyslexia, ADHD, Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities, and emotional and behavioral challenges; she has dedicated herself to developing the “art and science” of teaching. Her studies in the areas of literacy and language have enabled her to build a strong theoretical foundation in the science of learning and literacy. This knowledge of relevant research has enabled her to see through popular academic trends and look rather towards that which educational research has proved effective.  At Harvard, She studied under the late Dr. Jeanne Chall, universally recognized as a leading authority in the field of reading.  Dr. Chall taught her students to stick to the science of education, regardless of the direction of popular educational trends.

In addition to the science of diagnosis and remediation, Dr. Miller practices what she considers the “art” of teaching.  Dr. Miller’s experience teaching reading, writing and math to many hundreds of children and adults has developed what can only describe a keen intuitiveness allowing her to zero in on individual students’ needs at each particular point in their remediation.  She believes this is why she has been able to teach students to read who have failed to do so repeatedly  and has gained and maintained their trust in the process.  Dr. Miller is known to have successfully taught students who have had up to 10 years of reading “programs”, yet remained illiterate.

Resume:

EDUCATION

                       HARVARD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION                                                    CAMBRIDGE, MA

                       Doctor of Education (1990).  Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading, Language and Learning Disabilities

STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE AT GENESEO                                                                                 GENESEO, N.Y.

Master of Science in Education (1980). Education of  the Deaf

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO                                                                BUFFALO, N.Y.

Bachelor of Arts, Communicative Disorders and Sciences (1978).  Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology

EXPERIENCE

LITERACY AND LEARNING DISABILITIES  SPECIALIST                                                        SOMERVILLE, MA

Private Practice  (1996-present).  Provide educational assessments and individualized instruction to children and adults in the areas of reading, writing, and math.  Consult with public and private schools regarding individualized instruction and grade appropriate curriculum.  Assess, tutor, consult: Browne Middle School,  Newton North High School, Buckingham, Browne and Nichols School, individual families.

BROWN MIDDLE SCHOOL                                                                    NEWTON, MA

.5 moderate special needs teacher(2005-2006).  Intensive instruction for one student: reading, writing, math, social studies and science.

DEARBORN ACADEMY                                                         ARLINGTON, MA

Reading Coordinator (1990-1996). Oversee diagnosis and remediation of 120 reading disabled at-risk elementary, middle and high school youth. Supervise resource room staff. Consult with classroom teachers on methods and materials used in language arts and math instruction. Tutor.

CONTINUING EDUCATION INSTITUTE                                                                                        NEEDHAM, MA

Educational Consultant (1985-1990). Instructed 170 employees seeking basic skills at 8 company locations. 25% received raises and/or promotions within six months of completing their program. Implemented an employee skills upgrade program for 22 nursing assistants resulting in successful completion of nursing requirements within 14 months.

Company Sites: Digital Equipment Corporation, Data General, Beth Israel Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, General Motors Corporation.

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS                                                                                                BOSTON, MA

Testing Coordinator (1988-1989). Assessed the skills of 500 adults and provided academic advisement and instruction.

SEARS, ROEBUCK EMPLOYEE-ASSISTANCE PROGRAM                                                             BOSTON, MA

Instructor/Counselor (1987-1988). Assisted employees facing layoffs. Taught reading, writing and math and provided counseling.

ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE                                                                                               BOSTON, MA

Instructor (1988). Taught reading comprehension and math classes.

COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER                                                                                               CAMBRIDGE, MA

Instructor (1985-1987). Developed and implemented adult education programs.

CITY MISSION SOCIETY                                                                                                           BOSTON, MA

Academic Director (1985-1987). Directed academic programming for disadvantaged inner city elementary and middle school youth in after school and summer programs.  Summer program resulted in average gains of two years on standardized reading tests in all components of reading.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY                                                                                                        CAMBRIDGE, MA

Supervisor, Harvard Reading Laboratory (1983-1984).Supervised masters students in diagnostic and remedial reading procedures.

WOBURN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL CONCERN                                                                       WOBURN, MA

Instructor (1983-1984). Instructed high school equivalency program for welfare mothers.

AMERICAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF                                                                            WEST HARTFORD,CT

Instructor (1980-1983). Instructed reading and English language courses to high school youth.

VOLUNTEER WORK

NEW ENGLAND JOINT CONFERENCE ON SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES

Conference Chair, (1997).  Oversaw planning and implementation of a two day conference on learning disabilities attended by approximately 1600 people.

Member, Conference Steering Committee, (2002 and 1995 conferences).  Developed conference program.  Contacted speakers.