Struggling Reader? There’s a simpler way forward
Streamlined Instruction. Targeted Support. Confident Readers.
When your child struggles with reading, it’s hard to know what to do next.
Should you practise more sight words? Spend more time on phonics? Try another reading program? Find easier books?
After a while, it can feel as though you’re trying everything without getting the progress you hoped for.
But what if you could stop guessing and start knowing exactly what your child needs?
At The Reading Specialist, I help beginning and struggling readers build the skills they need to read accurately, fluently, and confidently. Through focused assessment and streamlined, evidence-based instruction, we identify the gaps, target the skills that matter, and build a clear pathway toward reading success.
Your child doesn’t need more guesswork. Your family needs a plan.
The First Step: Find Out What Your Child Needs
Every reader has a different starting point.
Some children struggle to hear and work with the individual sounds in words. Others know their letter sounds but have difficulty blending those sounds to read unfamiliar words. Some can decode words but read slowly, inaccurately, or without understanding what they read.
Until you know where the difficulty lies, it’s easy to spend time practising skills your child has already mastered—or overlook the skills that need attention.
That’s why we start with a free reading assessment.
Together, we’ll look at your child’s current reading skills, identify areas of strength and difficulty, and discuss the most useful next steps.
You’ll gain a clearer understanding of your child’s reading development and how targeted instruction can help.
No more guessing. A clearer picture of what comes next.
A More Streamlined Path to Reading Success
Less Guesswork. More Focus.
Reading instruction doesn’t have to be complicated.
With the right sequence of activities, children can build essential reading skills without getting lost in a maze of disconnected exercises, worksheets, and reading programs.
My instruction draws on the Science of Reading and a simplified approach to help children develop the foundational skills that make reading possible.
Lessons are purposeful, structured, and responsive to what your child can already do. We build on strengths, address gaps, and introduce new skills as your child is ready.
Rather than simply assigning more reading practice, we focus on the skills that will help your child become a more capable reader.
The goal is not just to get through today’s lesson. It’s to help your child develop the tools to read new words, tackle unfamiliar text, and grow in independence.
Take a moment and see what other parents are saying about this approach.
I’ve noticed such a confidence boost in my daughter.
She read one of her library books to me this morning,
and even said she used her lunch time to read!
Melanie
Thank‑you very much for tutoring my daughter all this time.
She has made all‑round progress in her English over the summer holiday.
We will plan to resume your classes in the winter vacation.
Yang Yang
Thank you so much for supporting my daughter’s learning journey!
She’s getting better and better. While reading her most recent homework,
her tone, intonation, pronunciation of individual words, and overall delivery
have all improved significantly with noticeable changes. I’m pleased with her
recent progress. We will be renewing our lessons for another 12-week session!
Mo Xiang
What We Work On
- Sound awareness: Recognizing and working with the sounds in spoken words.
- Phonics and decoding: Connecting letters to sounds and blending them to read words.
- Word recognition: Developing accurate, increasingly automatic recognition of words.
- Fluency: Building accuracy, appropriate pace, and smoother reading.
- Comprehension: Understanding and thinking about what is read, as decoding skills allow.
Instruction is individualized to your child’s needs, so we can concentrate on the skills that need attention rather than following a one-size-fits-all sequence.
Choose Your Path to Reading Progress
The 12-Week Reading Pathway
Build strong foundations for lasting reading success.
Reading difficulties often stem from foundational skills that haven’t been fully developed or understood. Simply practising reading more isn’t always enough; students need explicit instruction in the concepts and skills that may be holding them back.
This comprehensive 12-week programme provides the time and individualized instruction needed to identify and address those gaps. We’ll systematically work through essential reading skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, spelling, fluency, and comprehension, according to your child’s individual needs.
Ideal for: Students who struggle with reading, have persistent difficulties despite previous instruction, or need a more comprehensive approach to developing strong reading foundations.
The 8-Week Reading Bundle
Targeted support. Meaningful progress. Greater reading confidence.
An eight-week program of individualized reading instruction designed to address specific areas of difficulty and strengthen essential reading skills.
Through focused lessons and structured practice, we’ll work on the skills your child needs most, whether that’s decoding unfamiliar words, improving fluency, strengthening spelling, or developing reading confidence.
Ideal for: Students who need targeted support with particular reading skills or additional practice to strengthen areas of weakness.
Homeschool Parent Coaching
A Customized Family Roadmap
Homeschooling can feel lonely when your child is struggling to read. But you don’t have to navigate your child’s reading journey alone. Homeschool parent coaching provides the knowledge, resources, and practical guidance to help you do just that.
Together, we’ll develop a customized family reading roadmap based on your child’s current abilities, learning needs, and goals. You’ll receive guidance on how to teach essential reading skills, choose appropriate materials, structure effective lessons, and recognize and address areas of difficulty.
For parents homeschooling a child who struggles with reading, this is an opportunity to gain additional support and a clearer understanding of how to help your child progress.
Ideal for: Homeschooling parents who want to take an active role in teaching their children to read, particularly those supporting a child with reading difficulties.
Regardless of which solution you choose, start with the FREE reading assessment.
We’ll discuss your child’s needs and the most appropriate next step.
Ready to Get Started?
Consistent, focused support can make a significant difference in a short time.
Choose a time below that fits your family’s schedule, and select a free reading assessment
or tutoring bundle (8 or 12 weeks) to begin your child’s progress plan.
Don’t see a time slot that works for you? Please contact me directly to make your booking.
Want to use a Canadian e-transfer instead? Contact me with the subject line “E-transfer Booking.”
Note: Prices are in Canadian dollars.
