Building Confident Readers, One Step at a Time
with the Orton-Gillingham Approach
I provide specialized, compassionate tutoring for students with dyslexia and other language-based reading challenges.
My instruction is grounded in the Orton-Gillingham approach and follows the principles of structured literacy.
Every lesson is thoughtfully tailored to meet each student’s unique needs.
My goal is to create a supportive learning environment where every child can experience success and grow into a capable, confident reader.
Using a research-based, systematic approach, I help students strengthen their reading, spelling, and comprehension skills step by step — building not only proficiency, but confidence.
In-Person or Online: Success on Your Terms.
In-Person Tutoring
Lessons take place in Old Town Alexandria and surrounding areas. Sessions occur in a public space, such as a public library, or in the student’s home.
Virtual Tutoring
Lessons take place over Zoom. I have been wonderfully surprised by successes with virtual tutoring. It is possible to build a positive and productive relationship through a computer screen.
Consistency is key!
At least two tutoring sessions per week on non-consecutive days is required.
Sessions typically run 45–60 minutes, allowing plenty of time to meet each student’s individual needs and support their learning.
Your Literacy Journey Starts Now
1
Evaluate
A key component in Orton-Gillingham instruction
is meticulous word error analysis and progress monitoring. So, it is important to have a complete understanding of the student’s phonological awareness skills and their stage of reading development before instruction begins.
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Assessments are the foundation of diagnosing and prescribing a course of instruction because they allow me to target areas of strength and weakness. With this information, I can set goals and plan the appropriate instructional path for the student.
Assessments also give me the chance to observe the student in an academic setting, providing another window into them as a whole person. While all of this may sound intimidating, I can complete this work in a way that feels non-threatening, interactive and even fun!
It may take two sessions to complete these assessments.
2
Plan
Incredibly intentional lesson plans are the hallmark of the Orton-Gillingham approach. These are not scripted lessons copied from a teacher’s manual. Instead, each lesson is highly individualized with your student in mind. Every word a student learns and every move the teacher makes is carefully chosen for the needs of an individual student at that moment in their development.
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Orton-Gillingham lessons engage multiple learning pathways through various sensory methods. This makes the learning stick and the experience more fun!
In short, an Orton-Gillingham lesson is thoughtfully tailored instruction— matching pace, materials, and content to each student.
3
Grow
Expect to see exponential gains in reading and writing fluency, comprehension, spelling, and vocabulary.
With time, your student will have a greater understanding of the English language than many students for whom reading came naturally. As an added bonus, your student will gain confidence and pride in their knowledge!
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Since assessment is embedded into every Orton-Gillingham lesson, I constantly have the opportunity to reflect on skills acquired and those that need further review. This also allows me to share with families what their student is learning and why each skill is an important step in their reading development.
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After decades in the classroom, I have the knowledge and experience to help your child develop foundational math and reading skills. I also provide homework and executive functioning support.
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As a kindergarten teacher for over a decade, I know what skills help young students prepare for a successful, smooth transition to kindergarten. Your student will learn or review the building blocks of reading, writing and mathematics. Additionally, we will practice the “school ready” self management skills that will ensure your child is prepared for the big leap into elementary school.
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General academic tutoring to prevent “summer slide.” Help your student to retain and expand academic skills over the summer months.
