What a Session Looks Like

Here’s what happens when your child walks through the door.

Warm-up & check-in

We start with a few minutes of easy conversation. How was their day? What are they reading at home? This builds rapport and helps your child settle in. For younger readers, we might do a quick phonemic awareness warm-up game.

Read together

This is the heart of every session. We read a book your child is genuinely interested in — together, out loud, at their pace. While we read, I'm listening for patterns: decoding strategies, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary. This isn't a test. It's a conversation about a story they care about.

Targeted skill work

Based on what I hear during reading, we spend focused time on the specific skills your child needs — whether that's phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, or comprehension. This is structured and intentional, but it never feels like a worksheet. We use the book itself, word games, and hands-on activities.

Wrap-up & what's next

We end each session by talking about what we'll read next time (giving your child something to look forward to) and I share a quick update with you about what we worked on and what I'm seeing. No jargon — just clear, honest communication about your child's progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If your child avoids reading, struggles to sound out words, reads very slowly for their age, or has trouble understanding what they've read — those are all signs that some extra support could make a real difference. You don't need a diagnosis to get started. Our reading assessment will give you a clear picture of where your child is and what they need.

  • I work with elementary-aged children, roughly kindergarten through 5th grade. The Ready to Read summer program is specifically designed for kids entering kindergarten in the fall. If your child is outside this range, reach out anyway — I’m happy to chat about how I can be a good fit.

  • Not at all. We work with all kinds of readers — kids with dyslexia, kids who are a little behind, kids who just haven't found a book they love yet, and kids whose parents want to give them a head start. If your child has a formal diagnosis, that's helpful information, but it's not a requirement.

  • Most tutors help kids with homework. I help build foundational reading skills using evidence-based methods grounded in the science of reading. Every session is anchored in real books your child enjoys, and the skill work is woven naturally into the reading — not tacked on as separate drills. It feels like a book club, not a tutoring center.

  • Life happens — sick days, family trips, de ntist appointments. We don't want your child to miss out, so we've built flexibility into every series.

    Group book club series: If your child misses a session, they can make it up by joining one of our other scheduled session times that same week. Just let us know in advance so we can save a spot. Your child might jump into a different group reading a different book, but the reading experience and skill work are the same — and most kids love getting to meet new reading buddies for a week.

    Ready to Read summer program: Every Ready to Read series includes a built-in makeup week at the end of the program. Because this program follows a sequenced curriculum with kindergarten right around the corner, we want to make sure every child gets the full experience — even if they miss a day along the way. If no makeups are needed, we use that week for a graduation celebration: a special read-aloud, certificates, and an invitation for parents to join.

    1:1 Sessions: We understand that plans change. If you need to cancel a 1:1 session, just let me know at least 24 hours in advance and I’ll do my best to reschedule at another time that works for your family within the same series week. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before a scheduled session are eligible for rescheduling, however the session and payment are forfeited. This policy helps us hold consistent, reliable time for every child on our schedule.

  • Start by scheduling a free intro call. We'll chat about your child, what you're seeing, and what you're looking for. From there, I'll send you a brief survey and we'll schedule a reading assessment (or you can send me previous results). Once I've reviewed everything, we'll talk through my recommendation and get your child placed in the right program.

    You can see more information about the “Getting Started” process on this page.

  • The reading assessment is $100. It includes a 90-minute one-on-one session, a written report with my detailed evaluation, and a follow-up call to go over the results and next steps together.

    More information about the reading assessment can be found here.

  • Your child and I will spend 90 minutes together in a relaxed, no-pressure setting. We take breaks as needed so they stay comfortable. I assess their current reading skills across multiple areas to get a full picture of their strengths and where they need support.Item description

  • Missed a session?

    Life happens — sick days, family trips, dentist appointments. I don't want your child to miss out, so I’ve built flexibility into every series.

    Group book club series: If your child misses a session, they can make it up by joining one of the other scheduled session times that week or the next. Just let me know in advance so I can save a spot. Your child might jump into a different group reading a different book, but the reading experience and skill work are the same, and most kids love getting to meet new reading buddies for a week.

    Ready to Read summer program: I don't offer makeup sessions for Ready to Read. The small group dynamic and hands-on nature of each class make it difficult to replicate outside of our scheduled time. That said, missing a session is totally okay — your child will pick right back up where the group is the next time they come in. After every class, I send home a summary of what we worked on along with supplementary activities so you can reinforce skills at home if you'd like.

    1:1 Sessions: We understand that plans change. If you need to cancel a 1:1 session, just let me know at least 24 hours in advance and I’ll do my best to reschedule at another time that works for your family within the same series week. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before a scheduled session are eligible for rescheduling, however the session and payment are forfeited. This policy helps us hold consistent, reliable time for every child on our schedule.

  • You can reach me anytime via the contact page or email. I always aim to respond quickly - usually within one business day.

  • For most children, we recommend once or twice per week. Consistency matters more than frequency — a regular weekly session builds momentum and trust. During your free intro call, we'll talk about what makes sense for your child.

  • Absolutely, if you'd like me to. I’m happy to coordinate with your child's teacher or reading specialist to make sure we're all working toward the same goals. I can also help you understand school assessments and what they mean.

  • That's actually the most common thing we hear — and it's exactly why we exist. Kids who "don't like reading" usually haven't found the right book yet, or they've had experiences that made reading feel stressful. We specialize in changing that story. Give us a few sessions. You'll be surprised.

  • Absolutely! It’s published here.

  • I'll tell you. Not every child needs formal tutoring, and I'll always be upfront about that. If I don't think it's the right step, your report will include suggestions for what you can do at home instead.

  • The intro call is free and casual — there's no set time limit. Some families have a quick chat, others have more questions. We'll take whatever time you need.

  • If your child has recent assessment results from their school or another reading specialist, you're welcome to send those to me. I'll review them and we can skip straight to the recommendation call to discuss placement.

  • No. The assessment is a standalone service that covers the session time, evaluation, written report, and follow-up call. It is not applied toward tutoring fees.

Have a Different Question?

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