Question 1

Is this program good for students with dyslexia?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Students with dyslexia benefit from targeted instructional strategies that extend beyond traditional whole-group lessons. While they receive foundational instruction in school, additional opportunities for 1:1 or small group instruction are crucial for their development. Specifically, these students require:
Ongoing review of new concepts to reinforce retention, focusing on articulatory gestures for phonemic awareness and grapheme placement for conceptual clarity.
Increased engagement with manipulative letters to enhance phoneme blending, segmentation skills, and proficiency in encoding and decoding.
Dedicated time in blending drills to foster automaticity in decoding.
Regular review of irregular words to enhance retention skills.
Practice sessions focused on reading and rereading decodable passages to improve reading fluency.
Thoughtful monitoring of student responses, with tailored praise for correct answers and constructive feedback for errors, ensuring effective and targeted practice.
These strategies not only support students with dyslexia in mastering essential skills but also foster a supportive learning environment that promotes their academic growth and confidence.
For more information on dyslexia, please go to Information About Dyslexia | UF Literacy Institute

Question 2

What age can students attend tutoring?

Accepted Answer

Our program is designed for students in grades K-5, but preschoolers can also participate to prepare for Kindergarten. Additionally, older students with learning gaps will benefit from the instruction. At the start of their tutoring, students undergo an assessment to determine if the program is a good fit and to identify the appropriate starting point for their learning journey.

Question 3

What will my child be learning?

Accepted Answer

During the session, the tutor will introduce a new concept and then guide students through a series of engaging steps to practice it. These steps will include phoneme blending and segmenting, decoding and encoding, reading and spelling irregular words, and applying their skills to read and spell within connected texts.

Question 4

What makes tutoring different from what my child learns in school?

Accepted Answer

Unlike a reading class, Foundations Tutoring Services tailors instruction to the individual. Each child undergoes a comprehensive assessment that identifies their specific strengths and weaknesses, resulting in a customized learning plan based on their unique goals. Students are placed in groups with peers at the same reading level, ensuring focused instruction rather than a tutor teaching to multiple levels at once. Our expert tutors provide face-to-face instruction at the appropriate pace for each student.

Question 5

Is Foundations tutoring designed for advanced students or those who are struggling?

Accepted Answer

Both. If a student is facing challenges, Foundations Tutoring Services will target their learning gaps to help them catch up and advance in reading. For those who already excel, our tutors will focus on enhancing their reading skills and maximizing their potential. If your child is performing adequately but has the capacity for more, we can inspire and motivate them to reach new levels in their reading development.

Question 6

What does Foundations cost?

Accepted Answer

We offer personalized small group tutoring sessions at a rate of $60 per session, held weekly. This fee covers the hour-long tutoring session, optional at-home activities, and comprehensive guidance on how to make the most of these activities.

Question 7

Where does tutoring take place?

Accepted Answer

Tutoring sessions are conducted at multiple locations across Mankato, most taking place at Blue Earth County Library or Taylor Library. Once your child is assigned to a specific tutor, you will receive notification of the session location.

Question 8

What if my child misses a lesson?

Accepted Answer

If a child needs to miss a tutoring session, we encourage parents to dedicate extra time to the optional at-home activities provided with each completed lesson. These activities include engaging oral and written tasks, fun games, and stories that invite illustration. Each of these is designed to reinforce the skills the tutor is focusing on. For optimal progress, we recommend that students attend their tutoring sessions as consistently as possible.

Question 9

What happens at the initial assessment?

Accepted Answer

A student will participate in a one-on-one oral assessment with a tutor. This assessment involves identifying individual letter sounds, recognizing words with simple spelling patterns, and reading words with complex spelling patterns. It is designed to pinpoint learning gaps effectively. Each student will receive a version of the assessment tailored to their age and reading level.

Question 10

What program do the tutors use?

Accepted Answer

For students needing K-2 skills the tutors utilize UFLI, an explicit and systematic program that equips students with the foundational skills essential for proficient reading. This program follows a thoughtfully designed scope and sequence, ensuring that students systematically acquire each skill and learn to apply them with confidence and automaticity. UFLI is suitable for core instruction in primary grades or for intervention with students who are struggling at any grade level.For students needing grade 3+ skills the tutors utilize Word Origins, a word study program that expands students’ understanding of the morphological underpinnings of the English language. Built on a strong foundation of research, Word Origins provides instruction in reading, writing, spelling, and vocabulary.

Question 11

Does the program follow the science of reading?

Accepted Answer

If you're acquainted with Gough and Tunmer’s simple view of reading, you understand that reading involves two essential components: decoding (the ability to read the words on the page) and comprehension (the capacity to grasp the meaning of both spoken and written text). Our curriculum emphasizes the decoding aspect of reading. To learn more about the curriculum, please visit the University of Florida Literacy Institute website: UFLI Foundations | UF Literacy Institute

Question 12

How long does it take to complete this program?

Accepted Answer

We recommend that students attend tutoring for at least one hour each week until their goals are met and parents are pleased with their child’s progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this program good for students with dyslexia?

What age can students attend tutoring?

What will my child be learning?

What makes tutoring different from what my child learns in school?

Is Foundations tutoring designed for advanced students or those who are struggling?

What does Foundations cost?

Where does tutoring take place?

What if my child misses a lesson?

What happens at the initial assessment?

What program do the tutors use?

Does the program follow the science of reading?

How long does it take to complete this program?

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Phone: 507-571-2591

Email: efastreading@gmail.com