Helping Struggling Readers Take Flight
Some readers—especially those with dyslexia—need extra guidance to build confidence and skill.
I provide online Structured Literacy instruction tailored to each student’s needs.
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Reading and writing challenges can have multiple contributing factors, including dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, executive function disorders, or a combination of these.
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Many struggling readers and spellers are intelligent and creative—they just need instruction that aligns with how they learn best, which often differs from the pace or approach used in traditional classrooms.
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Studies show that individualized, multi-sensory Structured Literacy intervention helps students read and spell more confidently and retain skills over time.
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A formal diagnosis can provide valuable insight, clarify learning needs, and help access accommodations. It also empowers parents to advocate effectively for their child’s support in school and beyond. That said, students don’t need a diagnosis to begin working with me—I assess each learner and tailor lessons to their individual needs.
When Reading Feels Hard
Understanding Dyslexia
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Dyslexia is a common learning difference that makes reading and spelling difficult, even when a student has average or above-average intelligence and has received normal instruction. Dyslexia is neurobiological in origin and often runs in families. It is not caused by low intelligence or lack of effort.
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Dyslexia affects how the brain processes language, both spoken and written. One challenge involves a weakness in phonemic awareness—the ability to notice and manipulate the sounds in words—which makes it harder to connect those sounds to letters when reading and spelling. Another common difficulty is reduced orthographic memory, or trouble remembering spelling patterns, which can interfere with reading and writing. Most students with dyslexia experience both of these challenges.
Without support, students with dyslexia spend so much mental energy decoding words that their self-confidence, reading comprehension, and vocabulary development can suffer. Spelling challenges add another layer of difficulty because students may avoid writing the advanced words they know, which can limit their word choice and leave them feeling frustrated or self-conscious.
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Structured Literacy intervention helps students build strong reading and spelling skills. Structured Literacy is the evidence-based, systematic and multi-sensory approach to teaching reading and spelling that follows what research in the Science of Reading shows about how the brain learns language. It focuses on phonemic awareness, sound-symbol relationships, syllables, morphology, spelling patterns, syntax, and meaning. Orton-Gillingham is the original approach that Structured Literacy is based on, and many programs, such as Barton and Wilson, build on its principles. My instruction is fully individualized within the Orton-Gillingham framework, so lessons are tailored to each student’s unique needs.
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Structured Literacy tutoring is most effective when introduced between kindergarten and second grade. Early intervention during the elementary years can lead to significantly stronger outcomes for struggling readers.
Difficulties with oral language—such as trouble recalling words, recognizing rhymes, or connecting sounds to letters—may signal the need for reading support. Other indicators include slow or effortful reading, persistent spelling errors, or avoidance of reading tasks.
When support is provided early, children build foundational skills and confidence before challenges become overwhelming. If warning signs are present, seeking help promptly can make a meaningful difference.
However, it is never too late to benefit from Structured Literacy. Older students and even adults can make significant progress with the right instruction.