Is your bright child struggling in school?

Is your bright child struggling in school?

Is their reading slow, choppy, or just plain inaccurate?
Is their spelling a mess?
Are they beginning to dislike school, or coming up with ways to avoid it?
Or maybe their teacher says they are behind or need extra help?
And what about those math facts? Are they a nightmare for your child to remember?

If any of this is true, you've come to the right place!

Research shows that dyslexia is the most common learning difference, involving up to 20 percent of our population, to varying degrees. Dyslexia often runs in families and makes it hard for people to read, write, and spell - despite having normal intelligence (and often times very high intelligence). Many families struggle for years trying a variety of programs to help their child. Often times, little progress is made.

There is Hope.

I'm here to tell you that there is hope for people struggling with dyslexia! Research has shown which methods work best to teach dyslexic students to read and spell. I'm happy to be using these proven methods to help students reach their highest potential.

The International Dyslexia Association recommends reading instruction that focuses on the decoding skills struggling readers with dyslexia need to succeed in reading, taught in an explicit and systematic manner. This is the approach the Barton Reading and Spelling System uses, which is why I use it and why it has been so successful since 1998.

To learn more about the Barton System, go to: www.bartonreading.com

In Preschool

Delayed speech
Mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words
Chronic ear infections
Stuttering
Constant confusion of left versus right
Late establishing a dominant hand
Difficulty learning to tie shoes
Trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet
Can’t create words that rhyme
A close relative with dyslexia

In Elementary School

Dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
Letter or number reversals continuing past the end of first grade
Extreme difficulty learning cursive
Slow, choppy, inaccurate reading:
- Guesses based on shape or context
- Skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of)
- Ignores suffixes
- Can’t sound out unknown words
Terrible spelling
Often can’t remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they’re, and there)
Difficulty telling time with a clock with hands
Trouble with math
- Memorizing multiplication tables
- Memorizing a sequence of steps
- Directionality
When speaking, difficulty finding the correct word - lots of “whatyamacallits” and “thingies”
- common sayings come out slightly twisted
Extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
Dreads going to school
- complains of stomach aches or headaches
- may have nightmares about school

In High School

All of the above symptoms plus:

Limited vocabulary
Extremely poor written expression
- Large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions
Unable to master a foreign language
Difficulty reading printed music
Poor grades in many classes
May drop out of high school

In Adults

Slow reader
May have to read a page two or three times to understand it
Terrible speller
Difficulty putting thoughts onto paper--dreads writing memos or letters
still has difficulty with right versus left
Often gets lost, even in a familiar city
Sometimes confuses "b" and "d," especially when tired or sick

To learn more about dyslexia, go to www.BrightSolutions.US

About

Everybody-Reads offers one-on-one tutoring using the Barton Reading & Spelling System. The Barton System is different from many other reading and spelling programs because it is based on modern brain research and is a multi-sensory, direct, explicit, structured and sequential program designed for intense intervention. These methods were designed by the research team Orton-Gillingham and have been used successfully since the 1930s. The International Dyslexia Association advocates reading education systems that use this explicit and direct teaching method to teach phonemic awareness and phonics.
Reliable screening for dyslexia is also available.

To learn more about dyslexia research findings and the Orton-Gillingham methods, go to BrightSolutionsforDyslexia.
What I Teach

Click on the tabs to learn more.

Simultaneous Multisensory Instruction

People learn best when they use all their senses - visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic.

Intense Instruction with Lots of Practice

I ensure mastery before moving on to the next concept.

Direct, Explicit Instruction

I teach directly and explicitly each and every concept that affects the English language.

Systematic and Cumulative

Lessons are logically arranged, and each lesson builds upon the last. Learned knowledge is continually reviewed and practiced.

Synthetic and Analytic

I teach students how to combine individual letters or sounds together to form a word (synthetic), and also how to break a long word into smaller pieces (analytic).

Diagnostic Teaching

I constantly assess my students' understanding of concepts and adjust the pace accordingly. I strive to keep material challenging, while also ensuring mastery of previously taught concepts.

Get Started

About Tutoring

All tutoring is one-on-one.
I tutor in my home in Poulsbo or online.
Students must complete two, 60-minute sessions each week. More sessions each week will result in faster progress.
Sessions are $55 per 60-minute in-person or remote lesson. Payment is required in advance of the lessons.
My tutoring schedule is flexible and I cooperate with you.

How it Works

1. Dyslexia Screening is Available

2. Make a Schedule

3. Regular Progress Reports

New Student Requirements
Not everyone is ready to be tutored using the Barton System. New students must:

Struggle with spelling when writing
Struggle to easily sound out unknown words when reading
Be at least 5 years old and in kindergarten
Speak and comprehend spoken English
Have an IQ of 70 or higher
Pass a student screening

Ready to Get Started?
Schedule your introductory meeting below.

Meet Your Teacher

JoAnn Fitch got a B.A. in psychology from California State University, Northridge in 1977 and a teaching credential from the same university in 1980. Pursuing an interest in effective reading instruction led her to attend Seattle Pacific University and receive a Masters in Reading and Language Arts in 1988. During her 38 year teaching career, she has taught elementary grades, with 23 years in fourth grade at Gateway Christian Schools. In 2013, she completed studies to receive a Special Education Endorsement from the University of Washington and joined the Bremerton School District special education department, satisfying a lifelong passion to meet the needs of all learners. A growing knowledge of the instructional successes available to dyslexic students propelled JoAnn to retire from public education in 2019, and to develop a tutoring service called Everybody-Reads.

JoAnn married her husband, Tom, in 1987. Together they have two children; a son, Joseph, born in 1992 and a daughter, Christie, born in 1994. Also, an important part of her family are their two little dogs, Taffy and Chico. JoAnn’s hobbies include traveling with her husband, learning to play the violin, walking and enjoying our beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Barton Reading and Spelling System tutor
Certified teacher since 1980
Special Education teacher for 6 years
M.A. in Reading and Language Arts

"With the right instruction and effort, everybody can learn to read." JoAnn Fitch

Success Stories

These are the testimonials for Everybody-Reads and the Barton Reading and Spelling system.

We are so thankful for JoAnn and the Barton system.

Our 13 year old son went from disliking school, complaining of headaches when trying to read or write for an extended time, and reading well below grade level to receiving excellent grades, coming home confident, and reading for pleasure.

We had tried many other things before finding JoAnn and nothing has been effective until now. JoAnn has given our son the greatest gift; the confidence and tools to spell and read.

We highly recommend JoAnn and Barton!

JoAnn has done miracles with our son. When we first reached out to her about his dyslexia he was unable to identify his alphabet let alone read and he hated school. Second graders shouldn't hate school! We were devastated and didn't know what to do.

She skillfully guided him through her process this last year. Now he reads to me almost every night and is excited to go see his JoAnn because "she understands me, and knows what my brain needs" he tells me.

He reads every chance he gets and we can see the self esteem boost that he needed.

I couldn't recommend her more. Thank you, JoAnn, for everything you have done.

I am such a huge supporter of Barton Reading and Spelling System. My dear daughter, who loved books but couldn’t read them very well, never made the “jump” beyond Go, Dog, Go By her 2nd or 3rd grade year, I knew my bright little girl should be reading more fluently. She became so discouraged. This was in 2001. Fast forward to 2012 – she finished the Barton System a few years back, reads books and enjoys it.

She has now finished her Sophomore year of High School – her GPA is (this brings tears to my eyes) 4.0. I am proud, not because her GPA is awesome, but because she is so proud of herself, her excitement for learning is beyond anything I would have ever imagined.) I absolutely endorse and love Bright Solutions and to Susan, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your commitment to literacy, to our children."

Betsy Lester

To read more success stories, visit this website: bartonreading.com/what-people-say/#6

There is Hope
for Reading Improvement for People With Dyslexia.

Reading Rockets
At the University of Texas--Houston, Dr. Papanicolau is using technology to show eight-year-old Peter Oathout his difficulties with reading are rooted n his brain.
Published on Apr 14, 2014

Dyslexia and the Brain
What parts of our brain light up when we read? How does the brain of a child with dyslexia work differently? In this video, Guinevere Eden, PhD, walks us through dyslexia and the brain: which parts of our brain we use when we read, how our brains change when we learn to read, and the difference that a successful dyslexia intervention can make in brain function.

Dyslexia: A Hidden Disability
An excellent documentary on adults and children who have dyslexia and the doctors and educators who are working to make a difference in their lives. It features interviews with Steven Spielberg, Charles Schwab, Whoopi Goldberg, Sally Shaywitz, and Craig Watkinson.

The D Word: Understanding Dyslexia
Additional accounts of the dyslexic experience from children, experts, and Iconic leaders help us understand that dyslexia is as much a gift as it is a challenge.

FAQs

Can you help with other reading problems, like comprehension?

My services are designed to help students who are dyslexic, or those who struggle to accurately read and spell. If your child has difficulty with ONLY comprehension, for example, but can read and spell with ease, my type of tutoring would not be a good fit.

However, children with dyslexia will typically struggle with reading comprehension until they learn to read accurately and fluently at their grade level. At that point, comprehension usually comes up on its own.

What classroom accommodations may be helpful to my child?

Until children are able to read, write, and spell at their grade level, classroom accommodations are essential to help them learn and demonstrate their knowledge. Some examples of accommodations include oral tests, extended time, keyboarding, and taking modified spelling tests.

The Barton System offers spelling tests that correlate to each lesson. Many teachers will accept these spelling words in place of their regular spelling list each week.

For more information about classroom accommodations, read this list or watch this video.

How long does it take to finish all 10 levels of the Barton System?

While individual progress varies, a student that is moderately-dyslexic who is tutored twice a week year-round will take around 3 years to complete the program. Each student's progress is determined mainly by how often they are tutored and the severity of their dyslexia.

Is tutoring a long-term commitment?

While you may stop tutoring at any time, it's best to consider tutoring a long-term investment. Teaching dyslexic children to accurately read and spell takes a lot of time and effort. Please do not think that a few months of tutoring will quickly solve your child's difficulties. Over time they will make great progress, but it's important to understand that completing the program takes several years.

Should I ask my child to read to me every night while they are being tutored?

No. Most children with dyslexia have developed guessing strategies to help them read. These guessing habits are difficult to stop. So until a child has completed Level 4 in the Barton System, please do not allow them to read outloud. That's because until they have completed that level, most text that students encounter will contain words they are unable to decode accurately. If a child is asked to read that text out loud and they don't know how to decode it, they will be forced to guess - and that keeps reinforcing their guessing habit. Instead, you may enjoy reading to your child.

However, since every Barton lesson offers many opportunities to read words, phrases, sentences, and stories, I will have lots of decodable text that your child can take home and read aloud.

Home

Is it Dyslexia?

Tutoring

Research and Hope

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