Dyslexia Tutoring
We understand the challenges that dyslexic students go through and are passionate about helping them learn to read fluently. We offer one-on-one dyslexia tutoring that uses an Orton-Gillingham influenced reading and spelling system for students of all ages.
What is Dyslexia?
Simple Definition
Dyslexia is an inherited condition that makes it extremely difficult to read, write, and spell in your native language—despite at least average intelligence.
Revised Definition
from the International Dyslexia Association:
Dyslexia is a neurologically-based, often familial, disorder which interferes with the acquisition and processing of language. Varying in degrees of severity, it is manifested by difficulties in receptive and expressive language, including phonological processing, in reading, writing, spelling, handwriting, and sometimes in arithmetic.
Dyslexia is not the result of lack of motivation, sensory impairment, inadequate instructional or environmental opportunities, or other limiting conditions, but may occur together with these conditions.
Although dyslexia is lifelong, individuals with dyslexia frequently respond successfully to timely and appropriate intervention.
How Do You Know If Someone Has Dyslexia?
Dyslexia can only be diagnosed through a series of several tests given by a professional tester. Though this is the only way to get an official diagnosis, if the student demonstrates many of the typical symptoms of dyslexia, it is highly probable that they have dyslexia. We have a list of warning signs you may want to go through to see if you or your student may likely have dyslexia.
Nieman Tutoring provides tutoring for those with dyslexia for reading and spelling, but we do not administer any tests and therefore cannot give an official diagnosis.
How can Nieman Tutoring Help?
If you suspect that your child's reading and spelling trouble may be due to dyslexia, Nieman Tutoring can help. We offer one-on-one tutoring sessions using a research-based, Orton-Gillingham influenced, multi-sensory reading and spelling program that has been proven to be effective and has been used successfully with thousands of dyslexic students.
We have personally worked with several dyslexic students and have seen tremendous improvement with each of them in their reading and spelling. Nieman Tutoring isn't the only business using this program; other professional tutors, teachers, parents, and many others have used the program to great success. You can check out their testimonies to the effectiveness of this particular program here.
For dyslexia tutoring to be effective, there are certain requirements that must be met before a student can be eligible to be tutored using this program:
1. A dyslexia diagnosis isn't required, but there must be clear signs of dyslexia (see Warning Signs).
2. Being in special ed is fine (not required) as long as students have an I.Q. of 70 or higher.
3. The student must be at least 7 years old.
4. The student must be able to pass a 10-minute student screening (a short verbal test that we administer for free before tutoring begins).
As long as these criteria are met, the student will be eligible for dyslexia tutoring. For the tutoring to be effective we also request that parents agree with the following terms:
1. Agree to at least two sessions a week (one is not enough to be effective).
2. Recognize that the program may take anywhere from 1 to 3 (or more in some cases) years to be effective (depending on goals and the severity of the dyslexia).
3. Agree to learn more about dyslexia and be willing to try to implement suggestions we may offer to help your child at home.
If you would like to get started, contact us to schedule a free consultation meeting.
We offer scheduling for tutoring from 9am to 7pm, Monday through Friday. Availability for scheduling is first-come, first-served. Availability for scheduling does change occasionally throughout the year. If none of the currently available times work for you, then we can put you on a waiting list for that time slot and notify you immediately when it becomes available.
Warning Signs of Dyslexia
In Preschool
• delayed speech
• mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words
• chronic ear infections
• severe reactions to childhood illnesses
• constant confusion of left versus right
• late establishing a dominant hand
• difficulty learning to tie shoes
• trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet
• can’t create words that rhyme
• has a close relative with dyslexia
In Elementary School
• dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
• letter or number reversals continuing past the end of first grade
• extreme difficulty learning cursive
• slow, choppy, inaccurate reading
- guesses based on shape or context
- skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of, etc.)
- ignores suffixes
- can’t sound out unknown words
• terrible spelling
• often can’t remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they’re, and there)
• difficulty telling time on a clock with hands
• trouble with math
- difficulty memorizing multiplication tables
- difficulty memorizing a sequence of steps
- directionality
• when speaking, difficulty finding the correct word
- lots of “whatyamacallits” and “thingies”
- common sayings come out slightly twisted
• extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
• dreads going to school
- complains of stomach aches or headaches
- may have nightmares about school
In High School
All of the above symptoms plus:
• limited vocabulary
• extremely poor written expression
- large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions
• unable to master a foreign language
• difficulty reading printed music
• poor grades in many classes
• may drop out of high school
In Adults
Education history similar to above, plus:
• slow reader
• may have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it
• terrible speller
• difficulty putting thoughts onto paper
- dreads writing memos or letters
• still has difficulty with right versus left
• often gets lost, even in a familiar city
• sometimes confuses b and d, especially when tired or sick
*Reprinted with prior permission from Susan Barton
If you or someone you know has 3 or more symptoms above, we recommend visiting Bright Solutions to learn more about dyslexia and view a more complete description of the symptoms of dyslexia.
Monthly Tutoring Prices
$400/month for 2 hours per week. ($50/hour)
$600/month for 3 hours per week. ($50/hour)