Frequently Asked Questions

Regular attendance of scheduled sessions is crucial for your child's progress. Therefore, during each tutoring semester, no more than 4 absences are allowed. Repeated absences will result in your child being dropped from my tutoring schedule so that another child may be included. If a child is unable to attend a scheduled session, the parent or guardian is responsible for notifying the tutor 24 hours in advance whenever possible. If less than 2 hours before the scheduled session time is given, the full session fee will be charged, unless in the case of an extreme emergency.

If for some reason you need to discontinue tutoring, a two-week written notice is required. Payment for sessions during this two week period will be due, regardless of whether the student attends their regularly scheduled sessions.

Dyslexia Therapy and Academic Tutoring services can be pre-paid for the upcoming month, or weekly.

Accepted forms of payment include cash, check, or Zelle.

Sessions will be held at a predetermined, centrally located space, typically at a library or other meeting place in the St. Charles, MO area. Virtual sessions are also available to those who are interested and would benefit from this type of instructional delivery model.

Access the Word provides services for children in kindergarten through grade 6.

As a Reading Specialist, Certified Academic Language Therapist, and Certified Dyslexia Therapist, I provide structured literacy-based instruction in reading and writing. This includes instruction in the structure of English, phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, sight words, comprehension, morphology, and written expression.

CALT is a professional credential that describes an individual who has the expertise to provide instruction to individuals who have difficulty acquiring the basic language skills necessary to read, write, and spell. CALTs have a deep knowledge of the structure of the English language and the experience to apply these skills in creating an individualized plan for the remediation of dyslexia and related learning differences. The CALT credential ensures that an individual has completed a Comprehensive Therapist Level Multisensory (Multimodal) Structured Language Training course that is Orton-Gillingham based and accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC).

https://www.altaread.org/about/what-is-calt/

Absolutely not! It is helpful if your child has a diagnosis, evaluation report, or IEP/504 that you would like to share with me. However, many children who struggle with reading and/or spelling do not have a diagnosis. My training and experience allow me to pinpoint your child's unique strengths and areas of need, and I'm able to tailor my instruction to a wide range of learning profiles.

A minimum of 2-3 sessions per week allows time for initial instruction as well as review and application of concepts and skills. Each session is typically 60 minutes in duration, however, based on a child's unique needs and age, may be shortened to 30–45 minutes.

There are many factors that influence how long a child will need to progress through Dyslexia Therapy or Academic Tutoring. Your child's individual needs will be thoughtfully considered, and progress will be regularly communicated. Also, parent-tutor collaboration is essential for a child to gain maximum benefit from this learning journey.

Absolutely! Based on written approval from the child's parent or guardian, I believe in a collaborative approach! It truly takes a village.

Parents and/or guardians may observe or participate in the child's sessions with prior approval from the tutor. Time may also be scheduled for the tutor to explain and show the child's caretakers how to help their child at home.

In order to minimize distractions, it is requested that siblings and friends do not attend tutoring sessions.

My services, commonly called "tutoring”, differ significantly from traditional tutoring. My extensive education, training, and experience in the theory and practice of literacy remediation enable me to tailor a reading program based on your child’s unique learning profile of strengths and areas of need. I will help your child improve their literacy abilities and build confidence as well.

Academic Language Therapy instruction is based on the Orton-Gillingham approach and is multi-sensory, explicit, structured, systematic, and cumulative. Dyslexia therapy lessons contain the 5 components (Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension) of effective reading instruction supported by the National Reading Panel.

Structured Literacy instruction grounded in solid Orton-Gillingham methods are implemented and tailored to each learner's unique strengths and areas of need. I have many instructional tools available and will use targeted assessments and observations to determine which approach is the best fit for your child. Examples include Orton-Gillingham, University of Florida Literacy Institute's Foundations, and Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia.

In order to help solidify learning, instruction is always multi-modal including involvement of the auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and tactile learning pathways.

Parent coaching is also individualized according to the parent's experience and knowledge in the area of literacy, interests, and needs. Coaching can include many kinds of support, including:

• researching and providing resources and materials

• answering questions related to how to help your child at home

• providing guidance about how to collaborate with your child's school team and be your child's advocate

• suggesting ways to support your child's self-confidence and growth mindset

• developing a scope and sequence that meets your child's needs

• helping you navigate homeschool curriculum

• being your "guide on the side" as you work with your child

Parent coaching can be provided in-person or virtually.