Brooklyn Letters
1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn
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I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
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Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
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Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
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We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
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Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
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Brooklyn Letters was recommended to me through a friend's speech therapist friend in NJ. The articulation evaluation for my daughter went well. We were pleased with Kristin's services.
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We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
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Melissa was wonderful. Our daughter warmed to her immediately and by the time she left, had already started "practicing" some of the techniques Melissa had shown her. I will not hesitate at all to reach out to Melissa again, should … More the need arise.
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Aileen was INCREDIBLY helpful to us, both in assessing possible origins of my grandson's food aversions, as well as informing us of various available interventions to consider.
I can’t thank you and Brooklyn Letters enough for connecting … More us with Aileen. In all our feeding therapy journey we have not gotten anything near the kind of benefit that we did from her. Her knowledge, professionalism, and responsiveness have put us on the path of progress with my grandson and has also made us feel genuinely well cared for. -
We were amazed with Allison! She met my son at 2 1/2 years old, not speaking much at all, and over a computer, and she was able to develop a bond and friendship, so much so that he would look forward to his weekly computer time with Allison. … More I was not sure how the speech therapy would go- but we are so happy that we tried it out and continued. It allowed my son to gain confidence in his speech, make a new friend :), and also give him the skills and a bit of understanding of how to shape his mouth or where to place his tongue to make the proper sounds. We were extremely happy with Allison- she was fantastic to work with.
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My sessions with Karen have been extremely helpful. My speech has improved tremendously. In fact, I just finished 2 hours of conducting interviews with a consulting client via MS Teams and I have an upcoming conference call. Both my … More neurologist and neurosurgeon remarked about how good my speech is. Much of the day it is perfect, although I still have some rough spots when I get tired or speak too quickly. One of my granddaughters is a speech pathology student at Ithaca College. She sat in on 2 sessions while she was home for winter break, and she was very impressed with Karen.
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We were delighted with Christie. First, and most importantly, our son made great strides under her guidance. So great, that we felt he no longer needed help! She was incredibly patient and kind with him and our son really responded to … More her. Christie was also great with me and my wife. She provided thorough and informative updates on our son's progress and which exercises she was using with him, so we could reinforce what she was teaching him. All in all, we had a fabulous experience with Christie and would highly recommend her.
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Theo was wonderful and his work with my son has produced some progress. I am grateful for the services Theo provided.
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Highly recommend Jill. She is a total pleasure to work with. After a few months working with Jill, my son is reading above grade level and LOVES to read. Mission accomplished!
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Paige was great and we had been really happy with her. I would highly recommend her! I recommend Brooklyn Letters to whomever asks for a speech therapist.
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Isabel was WONDERFUL and our son absolutely adored her, and he is making great progress with his reading and writing.
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Theo was fantastic with our 4yo son. We were very worried that his progress would fall off when we had to switch to remote sessions, but Theo kept our son happy and engaged through the screen. Highly highly recommend!
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We've been working with Theo from Brooklyn Letters for close to 4 months now and the results are apparent; our daughter has vastly improved her speech in a relatively short amount of time. We make "Theo Day" a celebration … More in our house with pancakes for breakfast, and the enthusiasm is matched in the sessions. Theo is fun, patient, professional, and caring, and he gives us the tools to take the lessons beyond the session. Thank you Theo, and Brooklyn Letters, for helping our daughter express herself.
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I worked with Alina to enhance my pronunciation, tone, and pacing while communicating socially and in a work environment. She was great to work with and clear about goals and learning objectives. The improvement from day 1 has been tremendous! … More
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Cathy has been excellent with us and our son. We will sorely miss her. He has improved significantly with Cathy’s help. Cathy was a true partner with us, especially as we pursued additional help through our son’s school system.
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We really loved working with Alina, she is so fantastic. Patient yet firm, and determined the best course of action very clearly and succintly for us. And it all transitioned so well to Zoom as well. I will definitely be back in touch for … More services for our other child after summer break!
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Vera was amazing! My 11 yo daughter made progress so quickly and really looked forward to her sessions. She was kept motivated and engaged.
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The work that Allison P. did with our daughter over the years has been invaluable to us. Our daughter had such a good relationship with Allison, and it allowed them to work really well together - even remotely these past 6 months. This … More year, Allison went above and beyond by helping us throughout the neuropsych eval we did, trying to re-open our daughter's IEP at her school, and eventually landing her at our chosen school. She was in contact with our daughter's teachers, with the neuropsychologist, and made herself available as a reference to speak on behalf of our daughter's learning differences.
Allison stopped by our house last week to give our daughter cupcakes and say goodbye, and I literally cried with appreciation for what an amazing speech therapist she has been. She has been our daughter's biggest champion. The new families that she will work with this year are lucky to have her. -
Sydney was great! Our son was sad to end his sessions with her, which says a lot. We appreciated her honest assessment of his skill level, and he now has materials to self monitor and practice. Thank you!
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Our experience with Theo was terrific. Theo was great with my son. He developed a positive relationship with him based on sincerity, respect, trust and a deep personal connection. In their lessons, Theo was encouraging, creative and kind. … More He helped our son understand how to differentiate the sounds he made when he spoke, and gave him great exercises to practice every week between lessons. Our son was sorry to have the lessons come to an end, but recognized that Theo had helped him as much as possible and it was time for him to stop. Theo explained to him (and us) how to keep working to get the last 5%, and encouraged him to keep working on the exercises on his own. I have recommended Theo to another parent who noticed my son's improvement and inquired for her own son.
We are all grateful to have gotten to know Theo, and we greatly appreciate all the work he did to help our son. -
"I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Michelle Macroy-Higgins. We are extremely pleased with her work with our daughter. I was so grateful for my daughter to have a speech therapist who is a researcher (specialty in late … More talkers), graduate professor and practitioner. Her expertise was clearly evident in our conversations and work with our daughter. She was very responsive to my questions and often sent articles and other materials about language development that I found helpful. Thankfully, my daughter's speech improved tremendously. Michelle developed such a warm relationship with my daughter. My daughter was always excited to see Michelle and would greet her at the door with a big hug. Lastly, I would add that Michelle always demonstrated empathy with me as a mother who was initially worried about her daughter's language development. I could go on and on about how pleased we were with Michelle's work."
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Theo is a wonderful Clinton Hill speech therapist. We were really pleased with him. Our son showed drastic improvement, not only in his speech but in his confidence.
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Alexa has been an enthusiastic, reliable, well prepared and caring teacher for our 6 year old daughter. She has been able to improve and increase our daughter's confidence lesson by lesson with patience and competence; through varied … More and productive didactic practice. Alexa has engaged our daughter in several activities that always kept her motivated and eager to learn literacy. My wife and I, both of us are educators, feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe Alexa's pedagogical skills. Alexa has had a big impact on our daughter literacy growth. Thank you Brooklyn Letters!
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We were absolutely DELIGHTED with Marsha's services. She was wonderful. We found her to be kind, fun, engaging, very knowledgeable. She provided us with clear instructions and additional written handouts each week. She engaged our … More son with different techniques and toys, and showed us how to use her techniques when we were interacting with him. I actually just texted her on Saturday - Our son finally said "more" - one of the target words we had been working on with her. It was a total joy to hear, and I had to share it with her - she wrote back immediately to congratulate us. I am so appreciative of her expertise, and wish we could have seen her for longer. I recommended her to another family in our neighborhood who is looking for a speech therapist.
Mastering Penmanship: The Art of Practicing Handwriting
Why Practice Penmanship?
In today’s digital age, where keyboards and touchscreens dominate our communication, the art of penmanship may be fading away. However, the importance of good handwriting should not be overlooked. Handwriting is not just a functional skill but a form of self-expression and a reflection of our personality. One effective way to improve and refine your handwriting is through regular practice. In this blog, we will explore the art of practicing penmanship and how it can benefit you in various aspects of life.
What Makes Good Penmanship?
Good penmanship is characterized by several key elements contributing to legibility, aesthetics, and overall quality. Here are the factors that make up good penmanship:
- Legibility: Legibility refers to how easily your writing can be read and understood. Each letter should be formed clearly and distinctly, allowing readers to recognize them without confusion. Legible penmanship ensures that others can easily comprehend your message.
- Consistency: Consistency is crucial in penmanship. It involves maintaining uniformity in letter size, shape, and spacing throughout your writing. Consistent penmanship creates a visually pleasing and cohesive appearance.
- Letter Formation: Proper letter formation involves correctly executing each letter’s strokes and curves. Paying attention to the starting and ending points, angles, and proportions of letters contributes to neat and well-formed handwriting.
- Spacing: Appropriate spacing between letters, words, and lines is important for readability. Adequate spacing ensures that the text does not appear cramped or overcrowded, allowing each word to be clearly distinguished.
- Alignment: Proper alignment refers to maintaining a straight and even baseline for your writing. Words and sentences should align consistently, avoiding excessive slanting or uneven placement on the page.
- Slant: Slant refers to the angle at which your letters lean. A slight slant, whether forward or backward, can add elegance and fluidity to your handwriting. Consistency in the slant throughout your writing creates a harmonious appearance.
- Rhythm and Flow: Good penmanship exhibits a smooth and rhythmic flow. The strokes and connections between letters should be fluid and effortless, creating an aesthetically pleasing rhythm as you write.
- Pressure Control: Proper control over the pressure applied to the writing instrument is essential for good penmanship. Applying consistent pressure results in uniform, well-defined lines, while excessive pressure can cause the ink to bleed or distort the letterforms.
- Individual Style: While adhering to the fundamentals, good penmanship allows for personal style and flair. Your handwriting should reflect your unique personality and expression, adding a touch of individuality to your writing.
- Practice and Mastery: Good penmanship is attainable through dedicated practice and mastery of the skills mentioned above. Regular practice, attention to detail, and a focus on improvement are essential for refining and maintaining good penmanship.
What Causes Poor Penmanship?
Poor penmanship can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Insufficient practice and lack of regular handwriting exercises.
- Incorrect grip and poor posture while writing.
- Weak fine motor skills, which affect hand control and coordination.
- Lack of knowledge or understanding of proper letter formation.
- Visual perception difficulties, making it challenging to align letters and maintain consistent spacing.
- Physical challenges, such as motor coordination disorders or muscle weakness.
- Lack of attention and focus during writing tasks.
- Emotional factors, such as stress, anxiety, or low self-confidence, affect writing fluency.
- Environmental factors, including uncomfortable seating or distractions while writing.
It is important to note that poor penmanship can be a combination of several factors, and each individual may have unique challenges. Addressing the underlying causes and providing targeted interventions, such as handwriting exercises, fine motor skill development, ergonomic adjustments, and strategies for focus and attention, can help improve penmanship and promote legibility and writing confidence.
Tips to Improve Your Penmanship
Improving your penmanship is a worthwhile endeavor that can enhance the legibility and aesthetics of your handwriting. Here are some practical tips to help you improve your penmanship:
- Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving your penmanship. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to practice writing. The more you practice, the more you refine your skills and develop muscle memory for proper letter formation.
- Maintain Good Posture and Grip: Sit upright with a comfortable writing posture. Hold the pen or pencil in a relaxed grip that allows for control and flexibility. Avoid gripping too tightly, as it can hinder smooth and fluid movement.
- Start with Basic Strokes and Letter Forms: Begin your practice by focusing on basic strokes and letter forms. Mastering these foundational elements will provide a strong basis for developing your overall penmanship. Pay attention to stroke direction, shape, and proportions.
- Slow Down: Avoid rushing when writing. Slow down your pace to ensure greater accuracy and control. This allows you to focus on forming each letter carefully and consistently.
- Pay Attention to Letter Spacing and Alignment: Maintain consistent spacing between letters and words. Avoid crowding or stretching them too far apart. Aim for even alignment, keeping your writing straight and parallel to the lines on the paper.
- Use Lined Paper or Guides: Utilize lined paper or writing guides to help maintain consistent letter size and slant. These aids can assist in developing proper spacing and alignment.
- Experiment with Different Writing Instruments: Try different types of pens or pencils to find the one that feels most comfortable and allows for smooth writing. Some individuals may see that certain writing instruments improve their penmanship.
- Copy and Trace Samples: Find samples of handwriting you admire and practice copying them. This exercise helps train your hand to replicate well-formed letters and promotes muscle memory. Additionally, tracing letters or words can aid in developing proper letter shapes and stroke patterns.
- Seek Feedback and Guidance: Ask for feedback from others or seek guidance from a handwriting expert. They can provide constructive suggestions, point out areas for improvement, and offer specific techniques tailored to your needs.
- Be Patient and Persistent: Improving penmanship takes time and patience. Embrace the process and be persistent in your practice. Celebrate even small improvements along the way and maintain a positive attitude.
Remember, everyone’s handwriting is unique, and the goal is to develop a legible and consistent style that suits you. With practice, dedication, and attention to detail, you can enhance your penmanship and take pride in the beauty of your written expression.
Benefits of Having Good Penmanship
Having good penmanship offers numerous benefits that extend beyond simply writing neatly. Clear and legible handwriting ensures your message is easily understood, avoiding misunderstandings. It conveys professionalism and attention to detail, making a positive impression in various settings. Handwritten communication with good penmanship adds a personal touch and leaves a lasting impression on recipients. Research suggests that writing by hand enhances cognitive function and creativity. Penmanship serves as a form of self-expression, reflecting your personality and individuality.
Good penmanship can positively impact performance and reading comprehension in an academic context. It can also be an artistic outlet, allowing you to explore different lettering styles and decorative techniques. Good penmanship brings personal satisfaction, boosting self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment. In a digital age, good penmanship maintains its value, providing a balance to the digital world and preserving the skill of writing by hand.
How Can a Handwriting Tutor Help Improve Penmanship?
A handwriting tutor can play a crucial role in helping individuals improve their penmanship. Here are some ways a handwriting tutor can assist in enhancing penmanship:
- Individualized Instruction: A handwriting tutor can provide personalized instruction tailored to the learner’s specific needs. They can assess the individual’s current handwriting skills, identify areas for improvement, and develop a customized plan to address those areas effectively.
- Correcting Technique: A handwriting tutor can teach proper grip, posture, and hand positioning, ensuring that the learner is using the correct technique. This helps develop better control and fluidity while writing, leading to improved penmanship.
- Letter Formation and Consistency: The tutor can focus on teaching the correct formation of letters, including starting points, stroke directions, and proportionate sizing. They can guide the learner to ensure consistency in letter shapes and spacing, resulting in neater and more uniform handwriting.
- Practice Exercises: Handwriting tutors can provide various practice exercises and drills to reinforce proper letter formation and improve muscle memory. These exercises may include tracing letters, copying words or sentences, and engaging in specific drills targeting problem areas.
- Fine Motor Skill Development: Handwriting is closely linked to fine motor skills. A tutor can incorporate activities and exercises that strengthen the muscles in the hands and fingers, improving agility and control. These activities include finger exercises, using manipulative tools, or engaging in fine motor skill games.
- Feedback and Guidance: A handwriting tutor can offer constructive feedback on the learner’s writing, pointing out areas for improvement and providing guidance on addressing specific issues. They can identify common mistakes or habits that hinder legibility and provide strategies to overcome them.
- Motivation and Encouragement: A handwriting tutor serves as a source of motivation and encouragement throughout the learning process. They can recognize progress, celebrate achievements, and help the learner maintain a positive attitude towards penmanship improvement.
- Customized Resources: Tutors can provide customized resources such as handwriting worksheets, letter guides, or writing tools that suit the learner’s needs. These resources can assist in practicing specific skills and reinforce proper penmanship techniques.
- Support for Special Needs: Handwriting tutors with experience working with special needs learners can provide targeted interventions and accommodations. They can adapt teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles, address specific challenges, and foster success in penmanship.
- Continued Guidance and Progress Monitoring: A handwriting tutor can provide ongoing support, guiding the learner through improving penmanship. They can monitor progress, adjust instruction, and provide additional guidance to ensure continued improvement.
By working closely with a handwriting tutor, individuals can receive the specialized instruction, guidance, and support necessary to enhance their penmanship skills effectively. The tutor’s expertise and personalized approach can significantly improve handwriting legibility, control, and overall writing confidence.
Our handwriting tutors specialize in individualized handwriting tutoring for elementary school students. Our handwriting instruction is tailored to meet your child’s needs and addresses key areas that need extra reinforcement. Our handwriting tutors utilize the Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum, which uses multisensory strategies to teach handwriting to students in Pre-K onwards. Email us today.
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Our Literacy Specialists work on decoding, encoding (spelling), reading comprehension, handwriting and writing skills.
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Craig Selinger
Owner at Brooklyn Letters
Craig Selinger is the dedicated owner of Brooklyn Letters, a reputable private practice renowned for its exceptional services. Together with his team of skilled professionals, they extend their expertise across a wide range of locations, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
With a New York State license as a speech-language therapist (pathologist) and a learning specialist, Craig boasts an impressive track record spanning over two decades, during which he and his team have helped more than a thousand families, establishing Brooklyn Letters as a respected practice in the field.
Craig's proficiency encompasses a diverse array of domains, including addressing early childhood speech-language delays, skillfully managing expressive and receptive language disorders, and adeptly tackling language learning obstacles such as reading, writing, executive functioning, social and pragmatic communication. He also demonstrates mastery in speech production concerns, i.e., articulation and enunciation.
What sets Craig and his team apart is their dedication to providing comprehensive care. They actively collaborate with the finest professionals in the NYC metro area, including neuropsychologists, mental health therapists, and allied health professionals. This network of expertise ensures a holistic approach to each client's unique needs.
Latest posts by Craig Selinger (see all)
- NYC Stuttering Therapy for Adults - October 3, 2023
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