Objections
This is really expensive long term.
Honestly, I agree. When I was discovering my oldest child was dyslexic and that I would need to supplement her education out-of-pocket, I was overwhelmed as well. I had two options, 1) I could hire a tutor for my child or 2) I could invest in the curriculum, do the training and become her tutor for this need. I chose the latter.
When our youngest child was struggling to break a finger sucking habit, I needed the help of a professional to deal with mouth anatomy and training. This process was expensive.
We had a child with bowel issues, another professional was necessary.
Braces were sure to be needed for my child with a severe underbite. My other two kids seemed to have well aligned teeth, until they were x-rayed and looked at closer. Braces for all 3 kids was an expense we didn’t anticipate.
Not to mention the sports, clubs and other interests and those expenses.
Parenting isn’t cheap. But the cost of ignoring the issue is far greater than monetary. When dyslexic learners don’t get the help they need-one on one-they suffer exponentially each year. Their academics, their self esteem, their nervous system always being on guard of being found as illiterate, it ALL takes a hit. I know this because it’s how my undiagnosed and un-remediated husband describes it to me even now as an adult. My passion is to make sure no dyslexic I work with EVER has to feel any of that any longer.
2. Twice a week minimum?
That’s often. It is and due to the intense 50 minutes of mastery based instruction with much repetition which leads to great success. In that time I am able to close the gap between what they know/understand and what is expected of them at their grade level. If possible and in different seasons, I recommend 3-4 times a week (like summer break) so we can close that gap even quicker. Watching these learners get the tools they have never had is such an exciting confidence and skill builder.
Additionally, it’s what is required by the maker of The Barton Reading and Spelling System which is based in Orton/Gillingham research. Less than twice a week renders the concepts acquisition much less effective.
3. Surely my public school is handling my kids dyslexia with their IEP interventions and remediations, is this really necessary?
Sadly, the current model of special education, on the whole, is missing the mark. The public school system is not set up well to individually address the needs of mild to moderate dyslexics as the remedy is one on one moving at the speed of mastery remediation. Even having these students in small groups often doesn’t help as the group moves at a rate prescribed by the Scope and Sequence and NOT at the level of mastery of each learner for each skill in that small group.
Under threat of lawsuits by their parents, my school district has hired (and paid me) to remediate three of their students over the years.
Though researchers in the 1930’s (Orton and Gillingham) made the research available to allow us to understand how best to remediate dyslexic learners, we, sadly, as a country have largely failed these learners in the public school system. It’s truly heartbreaking. Many efforts over the decades have been made, and for the mildest of dyslexic’s perhaps it’s been helpful. However, far too many are still being left behind.
4. “We don’t have time for extra tutoring outside of school.”
Eureka Tutoring has a highly flexible schedule. I see students as early as 6:30 a.m. (for those wishing to work it in before the school day) through 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday options can be available for make up sessions as arranged periodically.
What’s more, families have access to my schedule via a safe/secure website and can shift sessions to other available open slots as needed easily.
I tutor in person, via Zoom, or even a hybrid of both for families and can pivot easily to get your child the content s/he needs. I’ve tutored kids across the country while visiting relatives for a few weeks, tutored those too sick to leave home but not too sick to work, and those with hectic life schedules (state level gymnasts).
5. It takes too long to see progress.
Dyslexia interventions take time because they are re-training the brain to process language in the way the dyslexic brain is designed to understand. From the beginning. Book 1 is all about training the ear to hear individual sounds and to separate them. We don’t work with letters until Book 2.
It will take time, but what you will see is steady progress, confidence being built and skills sticking in ways you’ve not previously seen. It is worth the time and money, I’ve seen it again and again, both in my family and in the lives of my students.