What Happens in a 1:1 Dyslexia Tutoring Session
What Happens in a 1:1 Dyslexia Tutoring Session?
TL;DR:
A 1:1 dyslexia tutoring session offers one-on-one guidance that meets your child where they are. Stacy, a reading tutor, works with elementary students to improve decoding, spelling, fluency, comprehension, and confidence using structured, research-based methods like Orton-Gillingham, Lindamood-Bell, and UFLI. Each session is adapted to the child’s pace, interests, and learning style, often using engaging activities and tools. Real growth happens—in both reading skills and self-belief.
What Is the Goal of a 1:1 Dyslexia Tutoring Session?
Each session is designed to strengthen core reading and spelling skills while building a student’s confidence and love of learning. Stacy focuses on:
Decoding and encoding
Spelling and dictation
Reading fluency and comprehension
Identifying and supporting student strengths and challenges
Tailoring instruction to a child’s learning style and interests
What Does a Typical Session Look Like?
Every tutoring session follows a flexible structure that supports learning and engagement:
Warm-up: A personal check-in to connect and ease into learning.
Phonics instruction: Encoding and decoding activities based on the student’s current level.
Nonsense word practice: About 5 minutes to reinforce phonics without reliance on memory.
Spelling and dictation: Real-word practice and sentence writing.
Fluency and comprehension: Reading and discussion using decodable texts or leveled texts selected based on student interests to build fluency and comprehension.
Games: Age- and learning-style-appropriate games are integrated to reinforce skills in a fun way.
Session length and pacing are always adapted to the student's needs.
What Methods and Tools Are Used?
Stacy uses a combination of research-backed programs and creative tools:
Orton-Gillingham
Lindamood-Bell’s Seeing Stars and Visualize & Verbalize
UFLI and SPIRE
Handwriting Without Tears
Decodable readers, leveled texts, and stories selected to match student interests and reading level
Vision convergence and primitive reflex awareness
Lessons designed around each student’s learning style and interests
Who Is This Tutoring For?
Stacy specializes in working with:
Elementary students (K–5)
Children diagnosed with dyslexia or showing signs of it
Kids who are behind on school reading benchmarks
Students with reading, spelling, or confidence struggles
What Results Can Families Expect?
Progress is both academic and emotional:
"Our son was having a hard time with reading... Stacy was able to identify where he was struggling, help him figure out what he needed and get him reading at a third grade level in less than a year!"
"Not only has Stacy helped her improve academically, but she has also boosted her confidence tremendously... even her school teacher has taken notice!"
"We have seen so much improvement in her reading... When asked if vision therapy or Stacy has helped her more with her spelling and reading, she confidently responds—Stacy!!"
Examples of student success include:
A 2nd grader who progressed from struggling to blend sounds to reading at a 3rd grade level within 11 months
Multiple students whose vision issues were identified and addressed, leading to measurable reading gains
Every student showing improved confidence after just a few months
What Happens Before Tutoring Begins?
Stacy offers a free 20-minute consultation with families to:
Discuss concerns, goals, and classroom observations
Gather relevant background (speech, OT/PT, medical history)
Learn about the child’s interests
After that, the first session includes a Diagnostic Assessment of Reading (DAR) to determine strengths and areas for growth. This assessment informs a custom tutoring plan tailored to the child’s unique needs.
Ready to Get Support?
If your child is struggling with reading and/or spelling, I’m here to help. Click here to fill out the Contact Form and schedule your free 20 minute consultation. See how one-on-one guidance tailored to your child’s learning needs can make a lasting difference.
About the Author
Stacy Wiest is a reading tutor who works with elementary students across the U.S. She combines structured literacy programs like Orton-Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell with one-on-one guidance that meets each child where they are. With a keen eye for root causes like vision convergence issues and a passion for building confidence, Stacy helps kids not only catch up—but thrive.
Connect with Stacy: https://simplysmarttutoring.com/contact
