Our Services
What We Offer
Orton-Gillingham Literacy Lessons
We provide personalized Orton-Gillingham lessons, delivered one-on-one by a fully certified Orton-Gillingham Practitioner, in-person. For optimal progress, we recommend a minimum of two lessons per week, with the option to schedule up to five lessons per week. Each lesson is one hour in duration. Our standard registration period is for the full academic year (until June), but we also accommodate mid-year starts and early program completion, subject to availability. We strive to be flexible and adapt to the unique needs of each child and family. Additionally, we offer summer lessons for both current students and those seeking summer instruction only. Please contact us to discuss summer lesson options and availability. We look forward to supporting your child's educational journey.
Tutoring services are available for students of all ages and skill levels, from young children to teenagers. With extensive experience in supporting students across various age groups, I tailor my approach to meet the unique needs of each individual. Lessons are carefully designed to align with your child's current abilities and progress at their own pace. While many students focus on developing their reading and spelling skills, more advanced learners will also have the opportunity to explore writing techniques, including sentence structure, paragraph development, and essay composition. Recognizing that every child learns differently and at their own speed, I adapt my teaching methods to ensure a personalized and effective learning experience.
Lessons are conducted in-person at my dedicated home office, conveniently located in Langford, British Columbia, within the Greater Victoria area. Please note that we currently do not offer online or virtual lessons, and all sessions take place in-person at our Langford location.
Our fees are calculated on a per-lesson basis and invoiced at the beginning of each month. For detailed information on our current fees and availability, please don't hesitate to contact us. We also offer direct billing to select organizations and funding sources, and we're happy to discuss this option with you
Fees
- Regular Lesson: $100 per session
- Supplies Fee (one-time payment): $115
Note: Each lesson requires 60 minutes of preparation time, which is included in the regular lesson fee.
Options for funding:
Many parents inquire about potential funding sources for their child's Orton-Gillingham tutoring. Below are some possible options to explore:
- Home School Organizations: Various home school organizations offer funding for extracurricular activities and services, including Orton-Gillingham tutoring. Some require a diagnosis, while others do not. If considering homeschooling, carefully review their funding policies. I have worked with students from organizations such as HCOS, SelfDesign, SIDES, NIDES, and ORCA.
- Grants: Organizations like Variety Children Charity (https://www.variety.bc.ca/support/tuition-tutoring/) and CKNW Kids Fund (https://www.cknwkidsfund.com/apply-for-a-grant) offer grants for tutoring services.
- Extended Benefits: Some extended benefits plans may cover Orton-Gillingham tutoring services, classified as therapy for students with diagnosed learning disabilities. *Please note that I've only heard of this, but haven't seen it used yet.
- Medical Expense Tax Credit: Orton-Gillingham lessons may be eligible as a medical expense tax credit. Consult your accountant to explore this possibility.
- Disability Tax Credit: Although technically available for children with dyslexia, the approval process is lengthy and challenging. Organizations offering assistance with the application process often take a percentage of the benefit as their fee, but typically do not charge if the application is unsuccessful.
Remember to thoroughly research and review each option's requirements and eligibility criteria.
My Philosophy:
The research is clear that students who are stressed do not learn well. I strive to make my lessons as enjoyable as possible. I want my students to feel safe and comfortable, and to grow in confidence. I also attended reading classes as a child and dreaded my lessons. It makes me extremely happy to hear from so many of my families that their child or teen doesn't complain about attending lessons but actually looks forward to it. I give the students the flexibility to work harder on some days and work slower on days they are feeling more stressed or tired. It's a careful balance to accomplish as much as possible in lessons while knowing when to take it slow on a harder day. Building a comfortable relationship with my students is an important part of the therapeutic teaching relationship. I always encourage my students to share about their days, their interests, and any questions they may have, or make requests about things they'd like to work on.