SkyWord Tutoring

Where the reading journey begins…the Alphabetic Principle. Learning sounds…attaching them to letters/letter teams.

Which “letter is better?”

Hello and welcome to my page!

I have created this page as a community resource for the many families out there that have a struggling reader either in the public, private or homeschool arena.

I am passionate about gardening, nature, and vintage homes. I absolutely love working with children that struggle with reading, finally creating successful readers using the program that meets their needs.

I have worked in the public school system as a reading interventionist and experienced the lack of progress in my small groups of children, despite consistent work in the school-provided intervention programs.
I became aware of the wonders of dyslexia and was guided to get training in the Barton Reading & Spelling System, and I haven't looked back!

I live in beautiful Portland, Oregon and I live and work in a sweet vintage Craftsman home. I welcome children and families into my cozy studio, one that I feel is inspiring and comfortable. I am an enthusiastic tutor and I do enjoy making learning fun!

I offer convenient remote sessions for families near and far, as well as exclusive in-person sessions on a limited basis. I also can provide "hybrid" sessions that offer mostly remote with some in-person sessions interspersed throughout the month/year.

A few random facts about me:

I love to walk and try to do it daily. There is a local park nearby, Mt. Tabor, and all along the way I love to take photos of the flora and fauna that graces my way! (I will post some here as well).

I adore ice cream. There is a Salt & Straw Ice Cream Shop just down the way!

I love second-hand shopping and enjoy repurposing when I can.

I have been a Landscape Designer in my life as well. See www.secondnature-landscapedesign.com and view my work!

I seek joy each and every day! I am grateful for this life and my students bring alot of this joy my way.

Okay...that's a little about me. I would love to know a little about you below!

It's that time of year again! As Parent/Teacher conferences approach just before Thanksgiving, are you ready to discuss your child's progress? Is your child getting what they need to learn to read? https://wix.to/FNfE25N

School Report Cards Time is Here!In just a few weeks, teachers will be conducting Parent/Teacher conferences, right before Thanksgiving Break. My local district utilizes a scoring platform called MAPS which provides some general information on... In just a few weeks, teachers will be conducting Parent/Teacher conferences, right before Thanksgiving Break. My local district utilizes a scoring platform called MAPS which provides some general information on what percentile the student fall at compared to others in their grade. It is not a partic...

Orthographic Mapping - explained.Learning about dyslexia means that we have a cadre of terms and "Big Words" that require a bit of explaining to understand...and this is one of them!What is Orthographic Mapping? It is the mental process that... Learning about dyslexia means that we have a cadre of terms and "Big Words" that require a bit of explaining to understand...and this is one of them!What is Orthographic Mapping? It is the mental process that readers use to remember words so that they don't need to sound them out."As an adult fluent...

Unlock the world of reading! Understanding Orthographic Mapping is crucial for working with dyslexia. It’s the mental process that helps us remember words without sounding them out. As a fluent adult reader, we recognize 30,000 to 70,000 words instantly! Explore more about this fascinating topic here: https://wix.to/XDajeuo

Orthographic Mapping - explained.Learning about dyslexia means that we have a cadre of terms and "Big Words" that require a bit of explaining to understand...and this is one of them!What is Orthographic Mapping? It is the mental process that... Learning about dyslexia means that we have a cadre of terms and "Big Words" that require a bit of explaining to understand...and this is one of them!What is Orthographic Mapping? It is the mental process that readers use to remember words so that they don't need to sound them out."As an adult fluent...

Oregon's special education programs are facing a financial crisis that threatens the education of students with disabilities. Discover the causes, effects, and potential solutions in our latest blog post: https://wix.to/z4ZMMOo

Considering the Financial Crisis in Oregon's Special Education ProgramsIf you have been watching the news lately, you have undoubtedly heard about the funding cuts for Oregon's special education as of late. These special education programs face a... If you have been watching the news lately, you have undoubtedly heard about the funding cuts for Oregon's special education as of late. These special education programs face a financial crisis that could jeopardize the public education of students with disabilities. As the number of students needing...

As we approach the end of the first quarter for schools this October, it's important to assess how far we've come and what next steps we can take to ensure continued success. Dive into our latest blog post and learn more: https://wix.to/NSilLBb

Success from the FieldIt is October 12, that time of year which results in the beginning of first-quarter school reports from the public or private schools that many of my students attend. One of "my moms" just forwarded to me the general report... It is October 12, that time of year which results in the beginning of first-quarter school reports from the public or private schools that many of my students attend. One of "my moms" just forwarded to me the general report overview from her daughter's teacher. Daughter has been with me for about 1....

It's October, and you know what that means—Dyslexia Awareness Month! 💙✨ I found an inspiring trailer for the movie "Left Behind" that offers some great insights for parents. Don’t miss it! Watch the trailer and read the full blog post here: https://wix.to/1dOlXZz

Every child deserves the right support. Dive into 'Painting the Picture' and discover how parents can advocate for their children with dyslexia. Let's empower our kids together! Read more at: https://wix.to/MUmDClC

Painting the Picture An excerpt from Literacy Untangled, one of my favorite sites to follow regarding dyslexia and how as a parent, one must advocate and take charge to get results that your child needs and deserves. I would suggest you visit her site at www.literacyuntangled.com for more amazing information.The school....

It's amazing the amount of innate brilliance with dyslexia!
Have you watched Erin Brockovich again lately? Entertaining...yes! Her ability to touch so many people's lives and master mind justice...makes me smile!

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Not a Sculptor...but Instead a Gardener"I used to think that my kids were blobs of clay and my job as a parent was to mold them according to a societal checklist of expectations. But after a while, I realized that that’s not the gig at all. Just... "I used to think that my kids were blobs of clay and my job as a parent was to mold them according to a societal checklist of expectations. But after a while, I realized that that’s not the gig at all. Just not at all.Kids aren’t clay and parents aren’t sculptors. It is not our job to make our...