Who Will Be Providing the Reading/Spelling/Writing Instruction?

 Good instruction begins with an experienced and caring teacher. In addition to her teaching degree, Robin has thousands of hours of specialized training and experience working with both children and adults. Successfully completing all four levels of the Orton-Gillingham of Minnesota's challenging coursework, with supervised practicum, along with graduate level intensive reading instruction, allows Robin to offer the expert instruction that a learner needs to succeed. By attending professional workshops and conferences, she stays current with advances in reading research. Robin has achieved the national certification of Academic Language Therapist, one of only three certified ALTA therapists in Minnesota, as well as being a Wilson Reading System certified Level I Teacher. Additionally, she is a Certified Dyslexia Therapist through the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI).

​Having family members who struggled with dyslexia and learning issues has given Robin the background and motivation to work with parents and adults who deal with these issues everyday of their lives. Serving on the Board of Directors of IDA-UMB (International Dyslexia Association - Upper Midwest Branch) and the board of Orton-Gillingham of MN for many years, as well as providing tutoring services at Groves Academy, has given her the opportunity to collaborate with other organizations and professionals dedicated to helping learners with language-based learning differences. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Great Lakes Region ALTA and the Advisory Board for the International Dyslexia Association - Upper Midwest Branch. She is a mom, an educator, and an advocate.
​

What Does it Mean to be a Certified Academic Language Therapist?​

CALT is a national professional credential that is awarded to an individual who has the expertise to provide services to individuals who have difficulty acquiring the basic language skills necessary to read, write and spell. CALTs have a deep knowledge of the structure of the English language and the experience to apply these skills in creating an individualized treatment plan for the remediation of dyslexia and related learning disorders. Although some organizations have given their tutors the title academic language specialists, they have not actually studied and passed the national exams. Unfortunately, within the dyslexia field, a person can claim almost any title they want without the actual credentials so it is important to make sure they have actually earned the right to use this designation. Some organizations call their tutors academic therapists but there is no credentialing involved.
 
The credential CALT means that an individual has completed a Comprehensive Therapist Level Multisensory Structured Language Training course that is Orton-Gillingham based and accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language  Education Council (IMSLEC) and successfully passed a rigorous and comprehensive test. The CALT is the highest level of certification awarded to Academic Therapists.

What Does a Tutoring/Academic Therapy Lesson Include?

All lessons are one-on-one and designed specifically for that student based upon initial assessments and the mastery of previously introduced material. This dedicated instruction is done at least twice a week to make meaningful progress. Some struggling readers benefit from more frequent lessons, which can be adjusted after working with the student. Students work on phonemic awareness, phonological skills, decoding, fluency, handwriting, sentence structure, grammar, and additional skills based upon their individual needs. Reading skills are developed for increased fluency, prosody, vocabulary, and comprehension. Handwriting is also addressed, as it is more than a motor skill - it is an important language skill. The act of handwriting engages and integrates the visual, motor, and oral language systems and handwriting is proven to have a positive impact on the development of reading and writing skills.

Is This Homework Help?

No, the instruction is not homework help, although reviewing a project or writing assignment from time to time in order to apply mastered skills for academic or employment demands is an option. The individualized multi-sensory instruction enables people with dyslexia to use the strengths of their brain to overcome their language processing weaknesses, changing the way the brain processes written language. That is a major difference from homework help!

Do You Work With Adults?

Yes, this is a significant area of the tutoring and remediation practice. Many adults didn't know that they had dyslexia until watching their child struggle and realizing it was similar to what they had experienced as a child, or thought they just weren't "smart" because school was such a difficult experience. Reading and spelling assessments are completed to find out what "pieces of the puzzle" are missing and what foundation skills need to be taught and strengthened.

Do You Test An Incoming Student?

Criterion referenced assessments, along with phonemic and phonological awareness, handwriting, fluency reviews, are conducted with a follow-up session to discuss the results and plan of action. These assessments do not compare the student with other students, but with the skills needed to read and write successfully. Outside evaluations from psychologists and qualified academic professionals are reviewed thoroughly and factored into the student's learning plan. School visits and observation can be arranged for an additional fee.

Where Are You Located?

Tutoring is done at the Minneapolis location, conveniently located minutes from Highways 694, 35W, and 280. Travel time from either St. Paul or Minneapolis downtown areas is approximately fifteen minutes.  Currently, most therapy is provided by well-designed online instruction using the latest software and hardware technology.

Am I Required to Sign a Long Term Contract?

It is important to give a learner time to build skills, so a minimum commitment of eight lessons is expected of a new student. There are no long-term contracts that you would sign at a franchise. A beginning student learns the techniques that underpin the learning that will be taking place, with an emphasis on the multisensory tools to support both reading and spelling. A customized notebook is given to each new student to facilitate their immediate access to tools and strategies. Each lesson is diagnostic, with on-going feedback about progress. Each lesson is designed based upon mastery of the previous lessons and an individualized scope and sequence of instruction. This is not a "canned" program or one-size-fits-all approach.
​

What Other Services Do You Provide?

As an Academic Language Therapist and Dyslexia Specialist, I do presentations to schools, parent organizations, and corporations on the topics and issues of dyslexia, structured literacy, teacher preparation, the mental health aspects of a language processing disorder, just to name a few. I am passionate about getting accurate and research-based information out into the public sphere, as there is an enormous amount of misinformation. Knowledge is power and good data drives good instruction.

In addition to providing one-on-one remediation services, I provide teacher training through group presentations, one-on-one coaching, and mentoring teachers and those in private practice as tutors. Being able to support those who will be the "multipliers" of life-changing experiences for children, families, and other professionals is a major focus of my practice.