Above Grade Educational Services

Above Grade Educational Services I’m Dr. Jocelyn Belden, founder of Above Grade Educational Services, with a Ph.D. in Special Education and more than 17 years of classroom and educational experience. At Above Grade Educational Services, we provide individualized academic support for children, teens, and adults who need more than traditional tutoring. Whether a learner is struggling with foundational skills, working to close academic gaps, preparing for an important exam, learning a new language, or looking to get ahead, our goal is the same: real, measurable growth. Our Services Reading & Dyslexia Intervention We provide structured, research-based reading intervention for students who struggle with decoding, phonics, fluency, spelling, comprehension, or grade-level reading. With training in Wilson Reading System and Fundations, we identify the underlying skill gaps contributing to reading difficulties and build targeted instruction around the learner’s specific needs. Writing Support From foundational writing skills to essays and academic writing, we help students strengthen grammar, sentence structure, organization, vocabulary, written expression, and the ability to communicate their ideas clearly and confidently. Math Tutoring & Intervention Our math support focuses on identifying exactly where understanding has broken down—not simply helping students finish tonight’s homework. Instruction is individualized to strengthen foundational skills, address conceptual gaps, improve problem-solving, and help students successfully access grade-level and advanced coursework. Standardized Test Preparation We provide targeted preparation for standardized and college-readiness assessments, including SAT and ACT support. Students learn content, test-taking strategies, question patterns, time-management techniques, and how to recognize and avoid common testing traps. Spanish Instruction Spanish lessons are available through a dedicated member of our instructional team. Lessons can be tailored for students and adults seeking conversational Spanish, academic support, additional practice, or a more structured approach to language learning. Academic Assessments & Diagnostic Support We believe effective instruction begins with understanding the learner. Assessments help us identify strengths, skill gaps, and instructional priorities so that tutoring time is spent addressing what the student actually needs—not what we assume they need. Individualized Academic Support We also work with students who need ongoing academic support, executive-function strategies, enrichment, remediation, or help navigating challenging coursework. Services are tailored to the learner rather than built around a one-size-fits-all tutoring program. More Than Homework Help Our sessions are one-on-one, individualized, and grounded in research-based instructional practices. We don’t simply help students get through assignments. We identify why they are struggling, determine what skills need to be strengthened, and create a plan for moving them forward. Parents and learners should be able to see the difference. That means monitoring progress, adjusting instruction when necessary, and working toward outcomes you can actually point to—not simply saying a student “seems more confident.” Assessment first. Targeted instruction. Measurable progress.