The first step taken when you choose MTA is to determine whether an evaluation is needed. An evaluation is recommended when there are clear weaknesses in a student's ability to perform at grade level in one or more subjects. Our evaluation indicates what your child knows and does not know and gives us the opportunity to observed his/her learning style.

Based on the results we will develop a plan with you, which may or may not include tutoring. It's up to you.

Here are some commonly asked questions about the evaluation process:

Do all students need to be evaluated before starting tutoring at MTA?

No. If a middle school or high school student with no prior learning problems is needing support in only one or two specific classes, no evaluation is required.

Who administers the evaluation?

Evaluations at MTA are administered by Susan Morris, the director.

Why would I choose to have my child evaluated?

Susan evaluates students for one or more of the following reasons:

A parent or student desires to know how the student is doing in comparison with other students of his or her grade.

Parents or students want to understand better how the student learns, and what patterns emerge that would help indicate best methods for teaching.

MTA needs to know where a student stands in order to plan effective tutoring.

When are evaluations scheduled?

Susan arranges evaluations at MTA, either during the school day before the tutoring rush, or on weekends by special appointment.

What types of evaluation are offered?

FULL EVALUATION -- Comprehensive Academic Testing (Grades 4-adult)

A full evaluation gives a detailed picture of the student’s academic skills. It includes various reading, vocabulary, spelling and writing tests as well as assessments of math computation and math problem solving. For students with a history of learning difficulty, additional tests may be given in such areas as oral expression and listening comprehension.

This level of testing usually takes about two hours. It includes contacting the teacher(s) at the school if you have requested it. Susan scores the tests, comparing and evaluating patterns that emerge. A meeting with the parents (and the student, if appropriate) is scheduled to go over the results and discuss plans for intervention if needed.

BRIEF EVALUATION – Comprehensive Academic Testing (Grades K-3) or Single subject (e.g., Language Arts or Math) Testing (Grades 4-adult)

A brief evaluation takes an average of one hour. For students in kindergarten through 2nd grade, it is comparable to a Full Evaluation.

For older students, the hour-long evaluation allows a comprehensive look at either language arts (reading, vocabulary, spelling, writing) or mathematics (computation and problem-solving).

As with the full evaluation, after the test is scored, Susan will schedule a time for a brief meeting to discuss the results and intervention if needed.

QUICK EVALUATION – Short Placement Tests (math grades 5-8 & writing grades 4-8 only)

These very brief evaluations involve several tasks that can be done at home or here in our office. They take an average of 30-60 minutes for the student and an additional 30 minutes for grading and planning. This gives Susan and the tutor a sample of the student’s work to help initiate the tutoring process.

PLEASE NOTE: This level of evaluation is intended for students who are doing relatively well in school but need to improve performance in math and/or writing. It is NOT recommended for students who are experiencing serious learning challenges.

 

To contact us:

Morris Tutoring Associates, Inc.
532 E. Maryland Avenue, Suite A
Phoenix, AZ 85012

PHONE:	(602) 280-7799
FAX:	(602) 280-9788
E-MAIL:	office@morristutoring.com (Scheduling and billing) susan@morristutoring.com (Tutoring concerns, teaching methods, materials, etc.)