What do we do?

• We provide reading support services.

• We use the Barton program for reading – this PROGRAM uses the Orton Gillingham APPROACH

 

What is Orton and Gillingham?

• Samuel Orton was a neuropsychiatrist who studied children with language-processing difficulties such as dyslexia. He worked with educator and psychologist Anna Gillingham, they created techniques to teach reading, which integrate kinaesthetic (movement-based) and tactile (sensory-based) learning strategies with teaching of visual and auditory concepts

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What is the Barton program?

• Barton was developed by Susan Barton in California to support her nephew. She has researched and had the program evaluated and licensed world wide.

• Barton spends more time than most programs on spelling and goes beyond reading basics

• Barton aims to take the guesswork out of reading and spelling by teaching students rules and practicing using them with real and nonsense words

• Barton is delivered 1-1 with an experienced tutor

• Barton uses colour letter tiles to help students connect sounds with letters

• There are 10 levels of Barton. Each lesson has 18 steps, and activities change about every five minutes

• If a student can’t complete the eight steps within 50 minutes, the lesson continues at the next session

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How are Orton Gillingham and Barton linked?

• Barton is uses the Orton Gillingham approach which means that it is:

• Directed and prescriptive – Lessons are highly structured and scripted, using controlled decodable text with rules and patterns for decoding for reading and spelling vs comprehension

• Sequential – each level builds on the previous while reinforcing and no level is advanced unless the student has mastered it

• Mutli-sensory – tiles are used physically or virtually/ digitally to sound out letters and blends and connect sounds with letters and even draw in air or write out to reinforce

 

Does the Program work?

• They are both evidence -based. Not only is there science behind this – we have personal experience with its success

 

What ages do you work with?​

• The program is for all ages and levels beginning at age 5 and in kindergarten

• Everyone starts at the same place – level 1 but some move faster than others

 

How do you work?

• We start with an initial screening assessment to ensure that the student is able to hear the sounds and then recommend min 2 sessions a week (50 min sessions) for min 3 month period after which benefits start to be realized

• The program levels typically take between a year to 2 years to fully complete

• Not all students complete all 10 levels and that is ok. Most work with us for a year

 

How does scheduling work?

• We book a regular set time weekly and sessions are billed monthly

• Tutoring services for educational support are tax exempt and can be claimed as part of your income taxes – even more if you qualify for the disability tax credit which we are happy to support you with

• Any sessions missed due to holidays will be logged and made up at your convenience

• We are open to scheduling changes with 24 hour notice

• A period of 2 weeks is required for cancellation of services

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