Love To Read Inc.

My typical process when working with a new student is  first I have a parent consualtion. I asked the parent various questions regarding the child's reading challenges. Based on the information provided a free reading assessment is given  to the child. This assessement will let me know where they are struggling and I create a plan of attack that will close those reading gaps.

The education I have that relates to my work is I have a M.Ed. from the University of Phoenix. In addition, I have attended various professional development and currently I am obtaining a certificate as a Reading Interventionist. I have over 20 years of experience in the classroom. I have helped struggling readers read. 

 I don’t have a standard pricing system. My prices are $45 per hour and if paid upfront a 10% discount is given upon signing up. 

The reason I decided to tutor was as a teacher I witnessed children that struggled with reading and were embarrassed to read. This embarrassment caused the child to shut down, reluctant to come to school or have behavior issues. To help the child overcome feeling embarrassed I would read along with the child or the entire class would read out loud together. In addition, I would let the child/children have lunch with me and that would be our reading time. This afforded me the opportunity to develop their reading skills without them feeling alone, ostracized or believing they were not smart as their classmates. I wanted them to feel the love from a teacher that cared. I remember a former student of mine with tears in his eyes said, “I don’t know how to read, Ms. Gulley.” His struggle to read caused him frustration. His words resonated in my heart and mind years later. His words were one of the reasons why I became even more passionate to leave the traditional classroom and tutor reading one-on-one. Tutoring allows me to maximize the child’s learning potential. 

 The type of customers I have worked with are dyslexic students, ADHD students and students with behavior issues and learning challenges. 

 I would not say this was a project but I am able to close the reading gaps with struggling readers. The amount of time is predicated upon where the child is in reading. However, parents have seen reading gains within a year. Again, it is predicated upon where the child is in reading.  

 The advice I would give a customer is if you know your child is struggling in reading do not wait get the necessary intervention needed so that those reading gaps are closed quickly. The longer you wait the further the child will be left behind. I have a parent who contacted me 6 months ago about her kindergartener and stated she is going call me to tutor her son. I did not hear from her until last week. She called me crying because her child is going to 1st grade and can’t read words, blend sounds or read 2 to 3 word sentences. He only read pictures. She has signed up for me to tutor him this summer. The reason I shared this story, please do not wait to get your child the necessary help so they will succeed academically. 

 The questions customers should think through is am I willing as a parent to investment my time and finances in my child’s education? What is the value of my child’s education?  Is this the right person for my child? Have you worked with children who have the same learning challenges as my child? As a parent what can I do to support the process? What is your policy for make-up sessions? How do you measure progress?