My Experience & Qualifications
I am certified through the Orton-Gillingham Online Academy. My experience has consistently involved helping others learn, understand, and build confidence in their abilities. I began tutoring while attending college, where I gained valuable experience working one-on-one with students and explaining concepts in ways that matched their individual needs and learning styles.
Today, alongside tutoring, I work professionally in accounting in a role that involves supporting clients and colleagues, answering questions, explaining complex information in understandable terms, and helping others gain clarity and confidence. These experiences have strengthened my ability to communicate clearly, remain patient, and adapt how I explain something when a different approach is needed.
I have also completed Level 1 Orton-Gillingham training, providing me with a strong foundation in structured, multisensory literacy instruction. I use these principles to provide individualized support for students with dyslexia and other reading and writing difficulties.
At Everbright, I bring these experiences together to create patient, personalized lessons that meet each student where they are. My focus is not only on developing stronger reading and writing skills, but also on helping students become more confident and independent learners.
What is Dyslexia
How Does It Affect My Child’s Learning?
Dyslexia is a learning difference that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent reading and spelling. Children with dyslexia may have difficulty recognizing the sounds within words, connecting those sounds to letters, and developing automatic word-reading skills.
Dyslexia is not a reflection of a child’s intelligence, motivation, or potential. A child can be bright, creative, curious, and capable while still finding reading and spelling much more difficult than their peers.
Every child with dyslexia is different, but some common challenges may include:
Reading
Reading may be slower or require more effort. A child may have difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, recognizing familiar words automatically, or reading smoothly and accurately.
Spelling
Spelling can be particularly challenging. A child may spell the same word differently at different times, leave out sounds, or have difficulty remembering common spelling patterns.
Phonological Awareness
Many children with dyslexia have difficulty identifying and working with the individual sounds in spoken words. This can make skills such as rhyming, blending sounds, breaking words into sounds, and connecting sounds with letters more difficult.
Writing
When so much attention is being used for spelling and getting words onto the page, expressing ideas in writing can become more difficult. A child may have wonderful ideas but struggle to communicate them as easily in writing.
Reading Comprehension
A child may understand a story very well when it is read aloud but have more difficulty understanding the same material when reading independently. When reading requires significant effort, it can be harder to focus attention on the meaning of the text.
Confidence
Repeated difficulty with reading and spelling can become frustrating, particularly when a child is working hard but sees classmates progressing more quickly. Over time, some children may begin to lose confidence or avoid reading altogether.
What Are Some Common Signs of Dyslexia?
The signs of dyslexia can look different from one child to another. Parents may notice:
Slow, hesitant, or effortful reading
Difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words
Trouble remembering letter-sound relationships
Difficulty blending individual sounds into words
Frequent or inconsistent spelling errors
Difficulty recognizing words they have seen before
Avoidance or frustration with reading and writing
Difficulty putting thoughts into writing
A noticeable difference between verbal ability and reading or spelling ability
Letter reversals, such as confusing b and d, can occur, but they are not by themselves an indication that a child has dyslexia.
Dyslexia Does Not Limit Your Child’s Potential
Dyslexia is lifelong, but that does not mean a child cannot become a successful and confident reader. With appropriate instruction, students can develop stronger literacy skills and strategies that support them throughout school and beyond.
Structured, systematic approaches such as Orton-Gillingham are designed to teach the connections between sounds, letters, syllables, and words in a clear and sequential way.
At Everbright Dyslexia Tutoring, I use Orton-Gillingham-based instruction to meet students at their current skill level and build their reading and spelling foundations step by step. Lessons are individualized, allowing students to progress at a pace that supports both skill development and confidence.
How Long are Sessions?
Tutoring sessions are 50 minutes long, allowing enough time for focused instruction, guided practice, and reinforcement without becoming overwhelming.
For most students, I recommend two sessions per week. Regular, consistent instruction provides more opportunities to practice new skills, reinforce previous learning, and build steady progress over time. I also understand that every family’s schedule and circumstances are different, so I’m happy to work with you to find a routine that is both beneficial for your child and manageable for your family.
Tutoring is available year-round, including throughout the summer months. Maintaining a consistent routine over school breaks can help students continue building on their progress, strengthen their confidence, and return to school feeling more prepared for the year ahead.
Why Virtual Tutoring?
Virtual tutoring allows your child to receive personalized, one-on-one Orton-Gillingham-based instruction from the comfort and familiarity of home. Each session is thoughtfully planned around your child’s individual needs, pace, and progress, creating a focused learning experience without the added time and stress of travelling to appointments.
Online sessions are designed to be interactive and engaging. Through a combination of direct instruction, visual supports, guided practice, and digital learning tools, students remain actively involved throughout each lesson. The virtual format also allows me to easily adapt materials and activities as we work together, providing additional practice or support when needed.
For families, virtual tutoring offers greater convenience and flexibility. There is no travel time between school, home, and tutoring, making consistent sessions easier to fit into busy family schedules. It also means your child can continue working with me during the summer, while travelling, or if your family's circumstances change.
Most importantly, learning from home can provide a comfortable and familiar environment where children feel at ease asking questions, making mistakes, and developing new skills.
My goal is to make online tutoring feel personal. By working one-on-one with each student and maintaining open communication with parents, I aim to create a supportive learning relationship that helps your child build stronger literacy skills, greater independence, and confidence in their ability to learn.
What is Our Payment Model?
Invoicing & Payment
Invoices are sent approximately one week before the end of each month for the upcoming month of tutoring. Payment is due before the 1st of the month to secure your child’s scheduled tutoring sessions.
Monthly invoices are based on the number of regularly scheduled tutoring sessions that fall within that month. As a result, the total may vary slightly from month to month depending on the number of tutoring days.
There is no charge for lessons that fall on scheduled holidays or planned closures when tutoring is not being offered. Any planned closures will be communicated to families in advance.
Payment can be made by e-transfer or direct deposit. Once payment is received, a paid invoice will be emailed to you for your records and, where applicable, tax or funding purposes.
Missed Lessons & Cancellations
I understand that unexpected circumstances come up from time to time. To provide families with some flexibility while maintaining a consistent tutoring schedule, each student may reschedule up to two missed lessons per school semester, for a maximum of four per school year.
A minimum of 24 hours' notice is required for a lesson to be eligible for rescheduling. Parents are responsible for contacting me to arrange a makeup session, which will be scheduled based on mutual availability.
Once the two makeup lessons available for the semester have been used, any additional missed lessons will not be eligible for rescheduling or refund.
Lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are considered missed and cannot be rescheduled or refunded.
If I need to cancel a lesson, the session will either be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time or credited toward the following month's invoice.
Discontinuing Tutoring
If you decide to discontinue tutoring, I ask that you provide at least 30 days' notice. This allows me to manage my tutoring schedule and make the reserved time available to another family.
If less than 30 days' notice is provided, any prepaid sessions falling within the 30-day notice period will not be eligible for a refund.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions about payment options, funding support, or these policies, please feel free to reach out. I look forward to supporting your child on their learning journey.
What is the Orton-Gillingham Method?
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) method is a structured, multisensory approach to teaching reading and writing, primarily used to support individuals with dyslexia and other learning differences. It is based on the understanding that reading and spelling are not natural for everyone, and some children need explicit, systematic instruction to succeed. The method was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel Orton, a neurologist, and Anna Gillingham, an educator, who sought to create a program that could address the unique challenges faced by children with dyslexia.
Key Features of the Orton-Gillingham Method:
Multisensory Approach: OG engages more than one sense at a time—visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), and kinesthetic (touch/movement)—to help students connect language and sounds. For example, students might trace letters while saying the corresponding sounds aloud.
Structured and Sequential: The method uses a step-by-step progression, starting with the basics (such as letter sounds) and moving toward more complex concepts (like word structure and spelling rules). This structured progression ensures that students master each skill before moving on to the next.
Explicit Instruction: Unlike traditional reading instruction, which may be more passive, OG requires teachers to directly explain and model the reading and writing process. Concepts are broken down and taught explicitly, often with repetition and reinforcement.
Individualized: The OG method is highly flexible, making it easy to tailor lessons to the unique needs of each student. The pace of learning is adjusted based on the student’s progress and understanding.
Focus on Phonics and Word Structure: OG places heavy emphasis on phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling rules, and the structure of words. Students learn how letters combine to form sounds and how those sounds form words.
Why is the Orton Gillingham helpful for children with learning differences?
Effective for Dyslexia: OG is one of the most widely recognized and researched methods for teaching individuals with dyslexia. Its multi-sensory and explicit nature helps students who struggle with reading and writing to build connections between sounds, letters, and words.
Promotes Reading Fluency: Because the method is systematic and repetitive, students gradually become more fluent readers, gaining confidence in their abilities to decode words and comprehend text.
Addresses Learning Differences: OG’s tailored approach supports not just children with dyslexia, but also those with ADHD, autism, and other learning challenges. It accommodates different learning styles and needs, providing a strong foundation for all types of learners.
Improves Writing and Spelling: In addition to reading, OG instruction also targets spelling and writing, helping students organize their thoughts and communicate more clearly.
Builds Confidence: Through consistent, structured instruction, students develop stronger skills and confidence in their reading and writing abilities. This can improve overall academic performance and self-esteem.
Overall, the Orton-Gillingham method is beneficial because it empowers students to overcome reading and writing challenges by breaking down language into its simplest, most manageable parts, ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed.