I will forever be grateful to my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Morgan, for providing a safe emotional place for me to flourish in reading.
I did not have dyslexia but was emotionally needy. Her nurturing attitude and great teaching meant so much to me, that I chose to provide that same kind of support to hundreds of children in my teaching career, first as an elementary classroom teacher, then as a reading specialist, overseeing other teachers as they supported and taught reading.
I loved being able to connect with children and see the delight in their eyes as the world opened to them through reading.
Upon retirement, I realized how much I missed the children, so when a friend shared that her 8-year-old daughter who was dyslexic couldn’t yet read, I volunteered to tutor her.
After extensive research, I found what I think is the most user-friendly and effective Orton-Gillingham curriculum for dyslexic students there is, the Barton Reading & Spelling System.
I used it with my little friend and was so encouraged at the effectiveness of the program and the positive change in the child, that I took on seven more students over the past two years. They all made substantial and happy progress.
Tutoring dyslexic children has been eye-opening. They work SO hard! The shame that often accompanies dyslexia begins to go away when their reading skills start improving. I’ve observed that parents also begin to feel relief. It’s been a joy to be a part of the process of hope for them.
My goal is to help as many dyslexic children as possible learn to read in a way that makes sense to them, and thereby to open the doors of their dreams to them! There IS hope!