Karen Isaacson
Developer,
Unleashing Literacy: Designed for Dyslexia
Founder,
Path to Reading Success
Master-Certified Barton Dyslexia Tutor,
The Barton Reading and Spelling System
Helping Dyslexic Students
Succeed!
Common Signs of Dyslexia
• Slow, choppy reading with frequent mistakes
• Guesses at words, instead of sounding them out
• Poor spelling, even on common words
• Mixes up letters such as b - d - p
• Trouble with alphabetical order
• Slow, sloppy handwriting
• Confusion with left vs. right
• Difficulty telling time on a clock with hands
• Trouble memorizing math facts and times tables
• Difficulty copying notes off the board
• Avoids reading aloud in public
• Doesn’t use proper punctuation, forgets capitals and periods
• Disorganized, cluttered, and messy
• Loses track of time and belongings
What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is an inherited condition that makes it extremely difficult to read, write, and spell, despite being an intelligent person. It’s “the smart person’s learning disability.”
WHY do intelligent people have difficulty reading, writing, and spelling?
In a nutshell, brain-imaging studies show that...
• Non-dyslexic people have a highly activated left hemisphere when reading and spelling.
• Dyslexic people have an under-activated left hemisphere while reading and spelling.
Dyslexic brains process language differently from non-dyslexic brains. There is abundant research available now on the neurological causes of dyslexia. In formal terms, the International Dyslexia Association describes dyslexia this way:
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is
characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by
poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
Dyslexia is NOT....
...the result of laziness, poor motivation, or low intelligence. It's exactly the opposite! Dyslexic people are smart, creative individuals with an abundance of gifts and talents. But their strengths lie in areas other than language processing, which means they have to work overtime to compensate when it comes to reading and writing.
In those arenas, dyslexic people generally work incredibly harder than their peers, with less impressive results. This struggle takes its toll, emotionally and physically.
Dyslexic people rarely reveal how intensely they are struggling, and many hide their weaknesses for fear of the stigma. They are terribly afraid of being labeled “stupid” for not knowing how to spell and read like everyone else.
In fact, this frequently results in distracting behaviors such as clowning around, getting in trouble, and finding clever ways to avoid reading or spelling in public. Better to be thought a jokester or even a delinquent than to be thought of as stupid.
Two Solutions: The Right Curriculum and the Right Tutor
“Here’s what made my son’s tutoring experience so successful: the combination of the right curriculum and the right tutor – Karen.”
Jennifer Barnes
Elementary School Teacher
San Jose, CA
The Barton Reading and Spelling System
Research shows that dyslexic people need one-on-one instruction that is highly structured, multisensory, and emphasizes both reading AND spelling. My approach, Unleashing Literacy: Designed for Dyslexia, does exactly that.
What makes Unleashing Literacy: Designed for Dyslexia so effective?
• Phonemic awareness skills are taught from the very beginning, to ensure that students develop the critical ability to hear and identify all of the sounds in the English language.
• Clear, systematic rules teach predictable spelling and reading patterns.
• The logic behind the rules is explained, making it sensible and memorable.
• Multi-sensory, color-coded materials provide visually stimulating, hands-on learning.
• A host of creative memory aids help students remember what they learn.
To learn more about what makes Unleashing Literacy: Designed for Dyslexia so effective, click here.
Karen Isaacson - Experienced, Creative Tutor
Hi! I’m Karen Isaacson, Master-Certified Barton Reading and Spelling Tutor.
Here's a quick summary of what I offer my students...
• Almost 40 years' experience as an educator
• 15 years' experience as a developer of my own unique curriculum
• A Master's Level Certification in the Barton Reading and Spelling System
• My expertise as an educational advocate for my students, inside the school system
• Guidance and advice for parents struggling with their child’s dyslexia
• Creative activities that appeal to individuals with an artistic flair
• My empathetic personality and supportive listening ear
• My warm, fun-loving, interactive teaching style
• Extensive experience working with students suffering from anxiety, emotional trauma, low self-esteem, and attention deficit issues
The Sweet Taste of Success!
Contact me to set up a FREE screening and demo lesson.
Let's Get in Touch!