Description
The Struggle is Real
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
-Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass: Selected Speeches and Writings
Frederick Douglass was an astounding man. He was a slave who contended with much, but my favorite thing about him is that he taught himself to read. Then he taught others to read. He is our favorite reading tutor! He didn’t shy away from struggle, as shown in the quote above. Reading may be a struggle for your learner. You may have experienced tears, frustration, and sorrow over school struggles. But like Frederick Douglass said, without struggle, there is no progress. Here, we EMBRACE the struggle and power through it for the joy on the other side.
A Little Something Extra
Sometimes learners need a little extra time and a little extra support in learning to read. Often, phonics instruction is neglected, leaving some bright students struggling to crack the code. Fortunately, students can learn to read, and explicit instruction from a well-trained and experienced teacher is just what you need. That is what we offer. This class is for older students who struggle to read. The instructor will do informal evaluations to determine where and why the learning gap is happening and address the needs immediately. Classtime is devoted to intentional reading instruction and practice so students can rapidly gain skills.
It’s a Science and It Works
Here is an example of the massive impact effective instruction and a student’s hard work can have: as a middle school teacher, I (Karen Lemons) brought a group of incoming seventh graders under my wing. We offered intentional and regular interventions because they were reading at the first or second-grade level…in middle school! Every single student that attended regularly left middle school reading at the high school level, and many were reading at a post-high school level! Their progress was amazing! Students do not need to flounder and wonder why they are having trouble reading. They don’t need to feel like they’re incapable and can’t learn. We can figure it out! As students build skills and gain reading fluency and comprehension, they also gain confidence. And it’s really rewarding to see them develop a love of reading.
Individualized
Depending on the needs of the student, we may recommend the purchase of materials, but this will all be discussed with the parent. Since this is an ongoing class, the instructor and teacher will determine the best plan of action to support your learner. We may meet once per week or four times per week. The price listed here is for one class, but we can customize it according to your needs and schedule.
When you sign up for this class, your instructor will meet with your student to determine our course of action. Parents and the teacher will communicate by email and during the 1-1 class time. If you don’t see a spot that works with your schedule, reach out and we will see if we can get something scheduled.
