I noticed a pattern in the first few years of school that my son was struggling to keep up in his English Language Arts class. Slowly I saw him fall more and more behind and the solutions coming from the school weren’t making a big enough difference. This prompted me to seek outside help and we signed our son up to start working with Deanna twice a week. I noticed shortly that he not only wanted to see Deanna, but he was engaged and invested. This was coming from a kid who told me regularly that he hated school! Over time, I saw his confidence grow and with that a greater understanding of written and spoken language. This in turn changed his attitude about school and he no longer tells me he hates it!
Damaris – Parent
Before and after my daughter was diagnosed with a reading and writing disability, I saw her struggling. All the ways I thought we learned to read were not working (letter/sound knowledge, sight words, word families, etc.). I saw her frustration grow each day. Her self-esteem and self-worth began to plummet. She began to act out and throw fits when told to keep working and practice. She lost her love of books and her desire to learn to read. Writing was a daunting task. Her notebooks at school were empty. She began to find ways to compensate and hide her disability. We had tried several interventions- tutoring, resource room help, reading groups, reading apps, online programs- and it didn’t help her grow. As a parent it was heartbreaking to witness. As a teacher, it was frustrating because I could not figure out how to help her.
Finally, we found a method that is helping to make a difference. Structured Literacy. At last, I am seeing growth and confidence in my child. My daughter is again asking to borrow or buy books. She is excited to read them and tell us all about them. She now enjoys writing lists, writing in her journal, and researching and creating presentations. You know you are on the right path when your child requests that tutoring is scheduled as one of her activities
Rochelle – Mom and Teacher
Deanna is amazing. My child was below reading level and hating school in grade one. After a few weeks we saw great improvement and she started to like school again. By the end of the year, she was above grade level and reading for fun. I highly recommend her.
Ashley – Parent
Deanna is patient and encouraging. She was a huge help for our child, whose reading and comprehension skills have increased significantly!
Dana – Parent