Achieve Reading

Something that has been new to me as I’ve been teaching EBLI is incorporating **handwriting practice** into my instruction.

One of the goals is for students to be able to write the alphabet—**40 lowercase letters in one minute.** This may sound simple, but I was surprised by the number of my students who struggled to complete this task.

It has really made me think about the connection between handwriting and reading. Research has found relationships between handwriting, letter knowledge, spelling, and word reading. For struggling readers, this means that handwriting is not simply a separate skill to work on—it can be an important part of literacy instruction. ✏️📚

The more automatic letter formation becomes, the more mental energy a student can devote to the other skills involved in reading and spelling.

This is just one more reason I love learning new things through my EBLI training. I’m continually discovering ways to help my students become stronger, more confident readers and spellers. ❤️

If you'd like to learn more about the connection between handwriting and reading, I recommend this article from the **Iowa Reading Research Center**:

🔗 *Handwriting: Beneficial to Reading and Often Misunderstood*

Handwriting: Beneficial to Reading and Often Misunderstood Handwriting can support early reading skills. This post explains why and describes several techniques teachers can use to help their students acquire handwriting.

📚 **Why can one-to-one reading tutoring make such a difference?** 💙

When a child is struggling to read, working in a group can sometimes make it difficult to get the support they need. One-to-one tutoring gives a student the opportunity to learn **at their own pace, with instruction tailored specifically to them.**

✨ **With individualized reading tutoring, we can:**
• Identify exactly where a student is struggling
• Build instruction around their specific needs and learning profile
• Provide immediate correction and feedback
• Give students plenty of opportunities to practice without feeling rushed
• Strengthen decoding, fluency, spelling, and comprehension skills
• Adjust the pace when a skill needs more practice—or when a student is ready to move ahead
• Celebrate progress and build confidence along the way!

Perhaps most importantly, **one-to-one tutoring gives students a safe place to make mistakes and learn from them.** There is no embarrassment about being the student who reads more slowly or needs something explained again.

Every struggling reader has a different story. Some need help with phonemic awareness. Others struggle to connect sounds to letters, decode unfamiliar words, build fluency, or understand what they have read. That's why I believe tutoring should be individualized rather than simply following a one-size-fits-all approach.

❤️ **When instruction meets a student where they are, progress can happen—and confidence can grow right alongside it.**

If your child is struggling with reading or spelling, I'd be happy to talk with you about how individualized, one-to-one tutoring may help.

📖 **Achieve Reading LLC**
Online reading and spelling tutoring for students ages 5 through adult.

Send a message to learn more

As I continue working toward my EBLI certification, I’m gaining an even deeper understanding of how important it is to have students say the sounds as they write the words. 🗣️✏️

Many of my students initially balk at this step. Interestingly, those are often the same students who leave out sounds or substitute sounds when spelling.

As students get more practice and build confidence with saying each sound as they write, I see their spelling begin to improve. And that improvement leads to something just as important: greater confidence in themselves as writers and spellers. ❤️

Sometimes, a small change in how we approach spelling can make a big difference!

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I was thinking about one of my students today and just how far we’ve come in his learning journey. ❤️

When he and I started working together, he could not read.

We started with Barton. And while I absolutely love Barton—I’ve successfully taken many students through all 10 books—this particular student simply wasn’t budging past Book 3.

So, we tried something else.

The next program wasn’t Orton-Gillingham. It followed more of a Speech-to-Print approach, but I wasn’t thrilled with the progress he was making. The lessons felt scattered, and honestly, I felt like we were going in circles.

The frustration was REAL. 😩

I won’t tell you how long we had already been working together by that point, but his parents understood that his learning journey was going to be a long one. And they were incredibly supportive.

They took him for every evaluation and appointment I recommended. They had his vision and tracking evaluated by an optometrist, who ruled out tracking issues. They had auditory processing concerns evaluated by a speech-language pathologist, who ruled out an auditory processing disorder. Eventually, an educational evaluation confirmed dyslexia.

Two years ago, Speech-to-Print was recommended.

I picked up a program that was fairly simple to implement, but it didn’t have a lot of material to work with—which meant I was constantly supplementing. We were making some progress, but I still felt like something was missing.

Then, last year, I decided to invest in training in Sounds-Write.

I am SO glad I did.

Sounds-Write is a fantastic program. It’s based in the UK, but they also have trainers here in the U.S., and I was able to become certified and begin using it with this student and several others.

For the first time, I felt like I had a structured, systematic program that gave me the framework and tools I needed.

And I started seeing REAL progress.

Not just with this one student.

With every student I transitioned to Sounds-Write.

Then came 2026.

This year, I began training in EBLI.

And honestly…

WHY DID I WAIT?! 😂

I currently have four students working through EBLI, and every single one of them has increased their reading fluency and accuracy over the past 60 days.

I haven’t averaged the numbers across all four students yet, but the student I’ve worked with the longest has made the most noticeable strides—and I also work with him three days a week.

In just three months, his reading fluency has increased by 7%.

For a student who once couldn’t read, who got stuck at Book 3, and who spent years working through different approaches…

7% represents so much more than a number. ❤️

And this is why I believe it is so important for parents of struggling readers to look for a tutor who understands that one program does not necessarily fit every student.

A good tutor shouldn’t be committed to a curriculum above all else.

They should be committed to the student.

If something isn’t working, we need to be willing to ask:

Why isn’t this working?
What does this student need that they aren’t getting?
Is there another approach that might make more sense for the way this student learns?

That doesn’t mean jumping from program to program every few weeks. It means understanding different approaches well enough to recognize when a student needs something different—and having the education and training to make an informed change.

Barton has been incredibly successful for many of my students.

Sounds-Write has been a game changer for others.

And now I’m seeing incredible results with EBLI.

The common denominator isn’t the program. It’s finding the approach that allows the individual student to finally make progress.

Sometimes the child isn't lazy.
Sometimes they aren't not trying hard enough.
Sometimes they aren't "just behind."

Sometimes they simply haven't been taught in the way they need to be taught.

And when you finally find that approach?

That’s when the magic starts happening. 📚❤️

This is why I continue to invest in my own education and training. I want to have more tools in my toolbox—not because every student needs every tool, but because every student deserves a tutor who knows which tools to try.

📚 “Let’s just give it some more time.”

I hear this a lot when a child is struggling with reading. But here’s the thing: waiting doesn’t always make reading difficulties disappear.

Research continues to show that early intervention matters. The sooner we address difficulties with sounds, decoding, and word reading, the better chance we have of preventing those struggles from becoming bigger gaps.

And early intervention isn’t about rushing a child. It’s about giving them the right instruction at the right time. ❤️

If your child is struggling with reading, you don’t have to wait until they’re failing to get help.

The earlier we intervene, the more opportunities we give children to become confident, successful readers. 📖✨

📩 Have questions about your child’s reading? Send me a message—I’d be happy to chat!

Send a message to learn more

Did you know that struggling readers don't just need *more* practice—they need the *right* instruction.

I offer personalized online reading and spelling tutoring using evidence-based approaches, including **EBLI** and **Barton**, to help students build strong decoding, spelling, fluency, and comprehension skills. Whether your child has dyslexia, ADHD, or simply needs extra support, instruction is tailored to meet their individual needs.

If you're curious about the science behind the EBLI approach, this mini-course is a great place to start:
👉 https://eblistore.learnupon.com/store/2964611-ebli-online-supporting-reading-mini-course

If you're wondering whether tutoring is the right fit for your child, I'd be happy to answer your questions.

Learn more or schedule a consultation here:
🌐 https://achievereading.tutorbird.com/

Every child can learn to read with the right instruction. Let's help them build the confidence and skills they deserve! 📚✨

EBLI Mini Courses | EBLI Online Supporting Reading Mini Course Mini Course Description: Support students as they apply EBLI processes to read increasingly complex authentic texts with accuracy and confidence. In this mini course, you will learn practical strategies and activities to support your students as they continue to grow in their reading. Who this....

Research is clear: the earlier children receive effective reading instruction, the better their long-term outcomes.

Strong reading skills in the early years lead to greater confidence, stronger academic performance, and a lifelong love of learning. If a child is struggling, early intervention can make all the difference.

Learn more about my evidence-based reading tutoring services at https://achievereading.tutorbird.com/

📚❤️

Achieve Reading Online Tutoring - Home Individualized Tutoring Each tutoring session is customized to meet the specific needs of the student, ensuring they receive the greatest benefit from every lesson. READING & SPELLING I offer personalized online reading and spelling tutoring sessions using the interactive Koala Go platform, d

📚 Just 15–20 minutes a day can make a big difference! ❤️

Reading every day helps children build stronger reading skills, expand their vocabulary, improve comprehension, and grow their confidence. The best part? It doesn't have to feel like homework.

✨ Read a favorite book together.
✨ Take turns reading pages.
✨ Let your child choose what interests them—even comics, magazines, or nonfiction count!

Every page they read is another step toward becoming a stronger, more confident reader.

If reading is a struggle for your child, don't wait and hope they'll outgrow it. Early, evidence-based intervention can make all the difference and help them build the skills they need to succeed.

What's your child's favorite book right now? Share it in the comments—I’m always looking for great recommendations! 📖💙

💙 **Don't Wait and Hope They Outgrow It.**

One of the hardest things for parents is wondering, *"Will my child eventually catch up?"*

Sometimes they do—but many children need explicit, evidence-based instruction to become confident readers. The good news? The earlier we step in, the easier it is to close those gaps.

I've seen firsthand how early intervention can change a child's confidence. Kids who once dreaded reading begin volunteering to read aloud. Parents tell me homework battles become less stressful. And perhaps the best part? Children start believing in themselves again.

If your child is:
📖 Guessing at words
📖 Avoiding reading
📖 Struggling to spell
📖 Losing confidence in school

…it may be time to take a closer look. Getting help early doesn't mean something is "wrong." It means you're giving your child the tools they need to succeed.

Every child deserves to experience the joy and confidence that comes from being able to read.

🌐 https://achievereading.tutorbird.com/

Achieve Reading Online Tutoring - Home Individualized Tutoring Each tutoring session is customized to meet the specific needs of the student, ensuring they receive the greatest benefit from every lesson. READING & SPELLING I offer personalized online reading and spelling tutoring sessions using the interactive Koala Go platform, d