Branches of Literacy
At Branches of Literacy, our mission is to empower children to embrace reading and spelling with confidence and joy, by providing personalized in-person support that nurtures a love of learning. Our dedicated approach helps struggling readers and spellers discover their potential, ensuring they not only succeed academically but also thrive as independent learners.Branches of Literacy is a women-owned small business, founded by a military spouse dedicated to providing personalized, one-on-one tutoring.
About Me
I have a passion for helping students become confident communicators; capable in reading, spelling, and writing. I bring a patient, individualized approach to each session, tailoring every lesson to the student’s needs, carefully monitoring progress, and adjusting pace and content as needed.With over 20 years of experience in education, leadership, and personal development, I’ve worked with children in a wide range of settings—from homeschooling my daughter to teaching in classrooms and leading youth programs.
What is Orton-Gillingham?
Orton-Gillingham (OG) is widely recognized as the gold standard for reading intervention, especially for students with dyslexia or other reading challenges. It’s grounded in the work of Dr. Samuel Orton, a pioneering neurologist, and Anna Gillingham, an educator and psychologist who developed a structured, multisensory approach to teaching reading and spelling.What sets OG apart is its individualized nature — lessons are tailored to each student’s unique pace and needs, leading to lasting progress and increased confidence.
The Orton-Gillingham Lesson
Lessons are 40-60 minutes 2-5 times per week. Each lesson is custom-made to the needs and interests of the student, while also following a specific scope and sequence to guarantee everything gets covered.-Handwriting warm-ups
-Practice listening to, recognizing, and writing sounds and letters
-Blending sounds
-Learning a new reading or spelling concept
-Practicing non-phonetic/sight words
-Reading and spelling individual words
-Exploring vocabulary
-Reading and writing simple sentences
-Reading short passages
-Answering comprehension questions
-Reviewing what was learned through gamesAdditionally, for students who need more focused support in spelling, I offer individualized lessons designed for learners of all ages.