Seattle Structured Literacy:
Tutoring for Students with Dyslexia
FAQs
What is multisensory instruction? Multisensory instruction uses multiple sensory pathways to get information into your brain. Examples are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile. For example, my student might say the letter name and sound, while tracing the letter form in glass beads or sky writing to engage gross motor functions.
What is Structured Literacy? According to the International Dyslexia Association, structured literacy instruction and interventions "provide a strong core of highly explicit, systematic teaching of foundation skills such as decoding and spelling skills, as well as explicit teaching of other important components of literacy such as vocabulary, comprehension, and writing."
What curriculum do you use? I use Connections OG in 3D, a multisensory Orton Gillingham based curriculum accredited by the International Dyslexia Assocation.
How often do you need to work with my kid? Best practices and education studies show that meeting with kids for 60 minutes/2x a week or 45 minutes/3x a week is the most beneficial for making significant reading progress.
My child gets easily distracted; how can they possibly focus for an hour? Students with dyslexia often also have ADHD and can be easily distracted. I build in time for brain breaks and make instruction as interactive as possible.
Do you diagnose dyslexia? No. You need to have an evaluation by a neuropsychologist to diagnose dyslexia. I can screen for dyslexia, which means I can give an assessment that focuses on Phonological Processing (Phonological Awarenes, Phonological Memory, and Rapid Automatic Naming), Alphabet Knowledge, Decoding and Encoding to answer if your child has common markers of dyslexia.
We are in the process of getting my child evaluated for an IEP or 504 plan. Do I have to wait until this is process is over before I can start working with you? No! If you suspect a learning difference or dyslexia, the earlier the intervention, the better.
How is this instruction different than what my child is getting in school? Your child may or may not be receiving a structured literacy curriculum at school. However, 1:1 intensive intervention will target your child's specific needs. I focus on building up the deficits your child needs to be a skilled reader.
How will I know if this is working? Every 5 lessons I will give your child a benchmark assessment covering the content we have learned. I will set up regular check-ins with you to keep you posted on the progress being made.
Do you take insurance to help offset the cost? Depending on your health insurance plan, you can use a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account to get reimbursed after receiving a letter of medical necessity and submitting an invoice.
How long will it take to get my child caught up to grade level? It depends entirely on the severity of your child's learning difference. It can take up to 2-3 years.
I don't know if my child is dyslexic, but they do struggle with reading and spelling. Can this tutoring help? Yes! Structured Literacy is an excellent way to teach ALL students, not just students with dyslexia. However, students with dyslexia NEED a Structured literacy approach to instruction.