Abby Porter Mack
I’m Abby, a former NYU professor, certified teacher, and Orton-Gillingham tutor dedicated to helping students in Michiana develop strong reading, writing, and literacy skills. With personalized lessons tailored to each learner’s needs, I provide a supportive and effective learning environment for children and adults alike.
Services Offered
I provide personalized tutoring for K-12 students and adults, specializing in the following areas:Orton-Gillingham (OG) Reading Tutoring
Orton-Gillingham tutoring offers personalized, one-on-one support for students struggling with reading. Sessions are 45-60 minutes and use a multi-sensory approach to strengthen phonics, spelling, and reading comprehension. With regular sessions, typically 2 times per week, students build foundational skills and make steady progress at their own pace.Writing Tutoring
Hochman Method (The Writing Revolution) tutoring focuses on developing strong writing skills, beginning with sentence structure and grammar. In 45- to 60-minute sessions, students learn to craft clear sentences and organize their ideas into well-structured essays. Writing skills are integrated across different subjects, reinforcing learning and improving overall academic performance.English Tutoring
Customized lessons for multilingual learners to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.Spanish Language Tutoring
Instruction for beginner and intermediate Spanish learners, focusing on foundational grammar, vocabulary, and conversational skills.Available in-person in Long Beach (Michigan City), Indiana, or virtually to accommodate your schedule and location.
About
I've focused on teaching reading throughout my career, but becoming a mother in 2017 gave me new insights into the importance of phonics instruction. After observing my son’s early learning, I pursued Orton-Gillingham training through the Institute of Multisensory Education (IMSE) to better address the diverse literacy needs of my students.With 20 years of experience across urban, suburban, and rural settings, I’ve worked with learners of all ages and backgrounds. I started my career as a Spanish and ESL teacher for Valparaiso Community Schools. I later served as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Writing Program Coordinator at New York University, where I was honored with the 2021 Teaching Excellence Award. I also co-founded NYU’s Collaborative for New Immigrant Education, which provides free English language instruction to refugees in NYC.My background in applied linguistics and phonetics enables me to create lessons tailored to students requiring specialized support. In addition, I mentored aspiring teachers as a Clinical Supervisor in the MA TESOL Program at Hunter College, concentrating on reading, writing, and phonics. Most recently, I worked as a reading interventionist at an elementary school in Brooklyn, delivering focused instruction in both small groups and individual sessions before starting my private tutoring practice and establishing a teacher training and consulting firm.I hold a BA in Spanish from the University of Evansville and an MA in Applied Linguistics from Teachers College, Columbia University. As a licensed educator in Indiana with certifications in ENL and Spanish, I use a thoughtful, multisensory approach in all my teaching.
Contact
Schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Orton-Gillingham a great option for struggling and dyslexic readers?If your child is struggling with reading—whether due to dyslexia or other challenges—Orton-Gillingham is a highly effective approach. Here’s why it works so well:It’s multisensory: Orton-Gillingham engages your child’s senses—sight, hearing, touch, and movement—to help them better connect with the material. Instead of just reading or listening, they’re actively involved in learning, which helps them remember what they’ve learned.It’s organized and step-by-step: The program breaks reading down into manageable steps. It starts with basic skills, like letter sounds, and gradually moves to more complex ideas. This ensures your child masters each skill before moving forward, giving them a strong foundation.It’s personalized: Every child learns in their own way. Orton-Gillingham lessons are customized to your child’s needs, allowing them to progress at their own pace. This flexibility helps make learning more effective.It’s proven to help with dyslexia: Orton-Gillingham has been shown to be particularly helpful for kids with dyslexia. It targets the specific areas where they struggle, such as breaking words into sounds and understanding how language works.It boosts confidence: Struggling with reading can make a child feel frustrated or discouraged. With Orton-Gillingham, students see real progress, which helps them build confidence and feel more capable.If your child is having a hard time with reading, Orton-Gillingham could be exactly what they need. It’s a structured, personalized approach that helps students not only improve their skills but also feel more confident in their abilities.What is the Hochman Method (The Writing Revolution), and how can it help my child?The Hochman Method, also known as The Writing Revolution, is a structured approach to writing instruction that focuses on building writing skills by emphasizing sentence structure, grammar, and organization. The method is used across subjects, helping students to improve their writing while supporting their learning in other areas.For middle and high school students who struggle with writing, the Hochman Method offers a clear sequence of steps, starting with basic sentence construction and gradually progressing to more complex writing tasks. Key components include:Sentence Structure: The method begins by teaching students how to write clear and correct sentences, which is a fundamental skill for all types of writing.Organization: It helps students learn to organize their thoughts logically, which is essential for developing coherent paragraphs and essays.Critical Thinking: The focus on precise language and clear expression also promotes critical thinking, which can improve students’ ability to analyze and synthesize information.Application Across Subjects: Writing is integrated into subjects like history, science, and even math, so students practice their writing skills in various academic contexts.The Hochman Method provides a step-by-step framework that allows students to improve their writing incrementally, addressing common challenges in a systematic way. It is designed to help students who need additional support in developing their writing skills.What is it like to work with you?When we work together, I approach it as a collaborative effort to support your child’s learning. I understand how stressful it can be when your child is struggling, but we’ll approach this as a team. My goal is to understand your child’s unique needs and strengths, and together, we’ll create a plan that gives them the support they need to succeed.I’ll also closely monitor your child's progress, adjusting lessons to ensure consistent growth. You’ll receive regular reports outlining what we’ve covered and how your child is progressing, so you’ll always be informed. While I guide their learning, your involvement will help reinforce the skills they’re developing. Together, we’ll focus on giving your child the support they need to improve.