Tutoring For Students with Reading Disabilities
Laura Chesney- Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner
If you are specifically searching for online dyslexia tutoring for your child, you have come to the right place! I’ve successfully worked with students with reading disabilities for 18 years. I also have completed extensive professional development related to the science of reading.
What is the Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner Credential?
This credential recognizes individuals as prepared to diagnostically teach students identified with a language‐based learning disability, such as dyslexia, at the beginning levels of decoding and encoding. Earning the Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner Credential requires that a Wilson Reading Tutor complete 20-50 hours of approved professional learning every five years.
What is the Wilson Reading System?
The Wilson Reading System is a multi-sensory, structured literacy program based upon phonological coding research and the principles of Orton-Gillingham. This is an intensive program designed to improve the decoding, encoding, comprehension and fluency of students in grades 2 and up, who have reading and writing disabilities.
Learn more about the Wilson Reading System, Structured Literacy and the Science of Reading here: The Wilson Way – Wilson Language Training
Information about Dyslexia can be found here: Definition of Dyslexia – International Dyslexia Association
My Qualifications:
- NH certified in Elementary Education, Special Education, and Specific Learning Disabilities
- Master Degree in Education
- Certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner
- Successful Completion of “Mastering the Science of Reading in New Hampshire” micro-credential
- Completed LETRS Professional Learning Courses: New Hampshire Leaning Into Literacy with LETRS (lexialearning.com). (Equivalent to 4 graduate courses in Reading Instruction.)
- 18 years experience teaching/tutoring students who struggle in reading
Tutoring Services Offered:
- Virtual Wilson Reading System Tutoring
- Letter/Sound Naming
- Phonemic/Phonological Awareness
- Decoding
- Comprehension
- Spelling
Tutoring Sessions:
The Wilson reading system is designed so that students must attend a certain number of sessions per week in order to make progress. As busy as life can get, it is important to set up and commit to a schedule that provides enough sessions, with enough time to ensure that your student is able to get the most out of the program.
According to the Wilson Reading System Manual, at least two sessions should be delivered per week, but students will progress more quickly with 3 sessions per week. The program highly recommends 3 to 5 complete lessons per week for students working significantly below grade level. For most students, the appropriate amount of time for each lesson in a 1:1 format is 60-75 minutes. In some cases, it may be 90 minutes, but this would be determined on a case by case basis. In the 15 years that I have been certified as a Wilson Reading Tutor, I have seen that progress is most likely when schools/families are able to commit to the guideline for time and scheduling that Wilson recommends.
What is a “complete lesson”?
A complete lesson includes all 3 blocks. It is important that all blocks are included in a lesson, so that students are able to progress in reading and writing, and so that true remediation can occur.
Block 1 is focused on Word Study/Foundational Reading Skills. It includes teaching of the skills of phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, high frequency word reading, single word accuracy/automaticity, phrasing/prosody, and Fluency and comprehension at the sentence level.
Block 2 is where students learn and practice Spelling/Foundational Writing Skills. Students learn phoneme segmentation, encoding, English spelling rules, high frequency word spelling, vocabulary, marking up of learned concepts, and sentence level comprehension and proofreading.
Block 3 focuses on Fluency and both Listening and Reading Comprehension. Students learn vocabulary and work on both silent and oral reading fluency. They also practice monitoring their comprehension as they read both narrative and informative text.
What Online Platform is Used?
Via Zoom, I use tools provided by the Wilson Reading System online platform. I’ve been really impressed with the addition of this platform, as it makes it really easy to plan for an individualized Wilson lesson and access all tools and materials. The WADE (Wilson Assessment of Decoding and Encoding) is also available through the platform to assess students’ reading and spelling abilities, in order to plan for and provide individualized instruction.
What is the cost?
- 8 one on one sessions per month: $720 per month
- 12 one on one sessions per month (weekends may be an option): $1,080 per month
Why do I tutor?
As a mom, I understand the struggle that both kids and parents go through when their child is having a hard time reading. I know the feeling of wanting to take away that struggle, and of searching for the right solution that will lead your child to success. I also know the relief that comes from finally finding the intervention that works for your individual child.
On a similar note, as a teacher, my training and experience has taught me how to determine what the right intervention may be, and how to implement it for each student. I use an individualized approach for each student, incorporating fun, humor and techniques based on current reading research to guide students to build upon their skills. Being able to be a proficient reader can open so many doors in life for our children. Each child deserves the opportunity to reach their goals.
Contact me:
Contact me today for a free 30 minute consultation to discuss whether my tutoring services might be a good fit for your family. Spots are limited, but there is also an opportunity to join the waitlist for Summer 2025.
Email: Laura@ReadingReadySkills.com