Alexander Vinik (“Zany”) is a Literacy Specialist, English Teacher, and private tutor with over a decade of experience across grade levels, disciplines, and student abilities/needs. He has a Master’s and certification in Adolescent English Education from Hunter Graduate School and a Master’s degree and certification in Literacy from SUNY Oneonta. Zany is well-trained in a variety of literacy assessments. Through these materials, student needs and interests are identified, enabling Zany to tailor content and curricula to maximize student engagement and achievement. He is trained in the Wilson Reading System, the Rewards Reading Intervention and a myriad of different methods and Best Practices.
Alexander Vinik (“Zany”) has taught high school for at-risk students as well as in a school for students who don’t fit into conventional school structures. He has worked in a special education self-contained classroom and in an elementary school with many ESL students. He worked as the Literacy Specialist at Manhattan High School — a New York City Department of Education District 75 school, where all students had IEPs. In this capacity, Zany was responsible for writing many of the IEPs and attending associated meetings. The students at Manhattan High School ranged in ability needs and diagnoses. For each student, Zany provided appropriate and engaging content activities and guidance. With a focus on growth and progress, as well as an undying belief in his students, Zany simultaneously strove to meet the high standards of the school system in which he worked.
Alexander Vinik (“Zany”) also helped students with organization and behavior within a classroom setting. As a SETSS provider, Zany pushed into classrooms and served to keep students focused and on- task. Interventions were put into place to help students’ materials remain in the right place, their homework done and handed in, and their schedules created and followed. In this context, Zany worked as a shadow for a number of students with autism and traumatic brain injury. He worked in a summer program for students with ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) and successfully implemented behavior plans throughout his roles and career. In all settings, Zany’s work involved both literacy and other subject areas. A great tribute to him is that over the course of time that Zany worked with his students, many advanced significantly after only one year of his one-on-one literacy instruction.
Zany ‘s skill set includes working with student in the following test preparation areas: Regents (English and Social Studies,) SAT, GREs, LSAT, EdTpa and more. In addition, Zany can help with Bar and Bat mitzvah training as well as all areas in Torah.
Zany’s greatest strength is his ability to connect with students and facilitate hope, fun and ability. It is his belief that each student is unique, worthy and deserves to be treated with respect and care. Zany recognizes that progress, not perfection, is the goal and the path to achieving this is to identify needs and ignite interests within an engaging and well-planned course of study.
