Experienced Barton Tutor for Dyslexia, Reading, and Spelling

Meg W.

I'm Meg! I'm a former literacy teacher and current Barton tutor supporting students in grades K through 8 who struggle with reading, spelling, and/or dyslexia. As a teacher, I worked with diverse student populations and learned a great deal about how to support students with language-based disabilities or difficulties with reading and spelling. Once I left the classroom, it was important for me to stay connected to the community and continue to contribute to the next generation of readers and leaders. Students who struggle with reading lose confidence in school, and I am committed to building it back up so that students understand that they can learn anything.

My research-backed approach is aligned with Orton Gillingham and has proven results. Special training and programming allows me to quickly assess students' strengths and needs and provide just right supports so that they continue to grow quickly. Often, students who struggle with reading and spelling need additional "at bats" with phonics, fluency, and writing outside of their regular classrooms in order to master these skills. I provide these "at bats" and have seen over 15 students make demonstrable progress in reading and spelling based on classroom assessments and teacher reports.

The approach is structured and multi-sensory. I focus on phonological awareness, phonemes, and graphemes to begin using tiles, manipulatives, and creative tools. I make time for reading to foster fluent reading and ensure students have an opportunity to practice new skills. We also write. From letter formation to longer expository texts, I am prepared to meet students where they are to take their writing to the next level. These core practices are further supported with sight word work so that students gain familiarity and confidence with those weirdo words that don't follow the rules.