A Smarter You Tutoring Center
Improve Life Skills, Including Goal Setting, Organization, Time Management, and Study Strategies
Why Improve Executive Functioning Skills?
Executive functioning skills are the building blocks for success in school and in life.
Goal Setting
Effective goal setters know where they are going, how to break tasks into manageable parts, and recognize their success once it is achieved.
Time Management
Effective time managers know how to estimate the time needed to complete a task and to organize their time to accomplish both what needs to be done, as well as, what they want to do.
Organization
Effective organizers efficiently arrange their thoughts, work on paper or computer, binder or folder system, and work area.
Note-Taking
Effective note-takers vary their methods to the subject and the way they best understand the information being presented.
Study Strategies
Effective students have the skills necessary for memorizing, comprehending, synthesizing and evaluating information.
Test-Taking
Effective test-takers are able to demonstrate their knowledge across a variety of formats including multiple choice, problem solving, short answer, and essay.
Test Anxiety
Effective test-takers have techniques they can use to reduce anxiety while preparing for and taking tests.
Following Directions
Effective students identify and respond to key words they see and hear.
Zooming for College Students
Zoom sessions are available for students who may live or go to school too far away to have in-person sessions.
Zooming Through the School Year
Learn Executive Functioning Skills while working on your school work.
How does this work? Let's say that you need help with study skills. What better way to learn how to study than using what you are learning in class? You don't know how to take good notes? Learn how to do it from the texts and recorded lectures assigned in class. You're confused about classroom material? Our work together is all about learning how to learn; so, you will learn strategies that will help you get un-confused. Whatever your coaching need, it will be tied to your work so that you are getting double the benefits-academic progress on the current material plus skills that will help make learning future concepts easier.
About Us
A Smarter You Tutoring Center was founded by Debbie Meisegeier with the recognition that strong executive functioning skills are the foundation for success. Having spent over 35 years working with middle school through college aged students, Ms. Meisegeier understands how to apply executive functioning skills to the academic setting. Her experience includes working with students who have emotional and learning differences that make it difficult for them to succeed in a regular classroom setting to those who don't have those challenges but can build on their success from improved executive functioning skills.
Ms. Meisegeier has worked as a teacher for grades 6-12 at a residential treatment center, as a self-contained middle school teacher at a psychiatric hospital, as a math and science teacher in a private boys’ school, and as an academic coach at a private school in Potomac, where she worked one-on-one with students to improve their executive functioning skills. Throughout her career, Ms. Meisegeier has assisted students in developing and maintaining skills in areas such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, organization, and test-taking—all of which are essential elements of the learning process.
Ms. Meisegeier earned an undergraduate degree in Special Education, with an emphasis in the Educationally Handicapped, from the University of Maryland. She also has earned the majority of her Master’s credits from the Seriously Emotionally Disturbed Adolescents (SEDA) program at the George Washington University.
Testimonials
"Debbie is fabulous! She works wonders with kids who have executive functioning challenges."
Ellen M. Parent
“My daughter was tutored by Ms. Meisegeier for over two years and blossomed from a non-enthusiastic learner to be a self-advocate to her teachers eager to learn with the supports she knows she needs. Without Ms. Meisgeier's help, I don't think she could accomplish this. She is now in college pursuing the career of her dreams. The tutoring helped her do well on her academic subjects but more importantly helped increase her self esteem and confidence. That is better than any kind of other therapy could have accomplished. I will be eternally grateful to Ms. Meisegeier."
Sherry G.Parent
“Debbie Meisegeier is a gifted and talented tutor to my daughter who was struggling in school. In addition to teaching the content, Debbie helped her organize, manage her time, and set goals. She reinforced these new skills throughout the year. As a result, not only did my daughter’s grades improve but her attitude towards work completion improved as well.”