What kind of services does MindRise Learning offer?

MindRise Learning offers the following educational services:

• Intensive Reading Intervention using Structured Literacy (Wilson Reading System)

• Grammar and Writing Instruction with IEW

• Reading Comprehension Support

• Speech-Language Pathology Services

• Handwriting Instruction using Learning Without Tears

• Homeschool Language Arts Support

What is the Structured Literacy?

Structured literay  is a direct, explicit, multisensory, and structured way to teach literacy. It is used when reading, writing, and spelling do not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia.  It is regarded and practiced as an approach, not a program or system. In the hands of a well-trained and experienced instructor, it is a powerful tool. It focuses on the learning needs of the individual student by introducing new materials and pacing to his or her unique strengths and weaknesses.

The structured literacy approach has been validated over the past 80 years with a proliferation of scientific evidence about how individuals learn to read and write. The turn is often used interchangeably with the Orton-Gillingham approach, which was named after Samuel T. Orton, a neuropsychiatrist, and Anna Gillingham, an educator and psychologist. Encouraged by Dr. Orton, Gillingham compiled and published instructional materials as early as the 1930s, which provided the foundation for student instruction and teacher training in what is now known as the Orton-Gillingham Approach.

While structured literacy was originally designed for those with dyslexia or other language-based disabilities, this method is beneficial to any individual struggling with reading and spelling. MidRise Learning utilizes the Wilson Reading System, which is a curriculum based on the science of reading and the structured literacy approach and is considered by many experts to be the gold standard in reading intervention.

How do I know if my student needs intensive reading intervention through structured literacy?

Most of the time, students that need intensive reading intervention may be:

-those that have significant gaps in their reading and/or spelling skills,

-reading below grade level,

-suffering from a lack of confidence or low self-esteem due to lack of reading skills,

-other methods of instruction have not been successful,

-or already have been identified by their teacher or school as needing intervention.

My student needs extra help with reading but may not need intensive reading intervention. Can MindRise help with that?

Yes. After the initial evaluation, you will work with MindRise Learning to decide on the best path to success for your student.If it is determined that intensive reading intervention is not necessary, other options are available that will be tailored to your student’s needs.

My student just struggles with writing and/or literature studies. Can MindRise help with that?

Yes. A path to success will be formulated to help your student succeed in these areas. However, many will think that a student has problems with reading comprehension when it is actually an issue with reading skills due to an underlying language-based learning gap or a disability. An evaluation will be able to give you more information as to the source of the reading comprehension issues. The Director has many years of experience coaching writing and teaching literature in an engaging, supportive manner.

How often does my student need to come to tutoring?

Each student is different, but in general, we require for students requiring intensive reading intervention to attend lessons a minimum of twice a week. However, it is often ideal to do as many as four sessions a week to ensure adequate progress.

How long will my student need MindRise’s services?

It depends on the student’s needs and goals. If the student has a language-based learning disability, there is no quick fix. It depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the student’s dyslexia, other co-occurring conditions, how frequently the student receives services, and how engaged the student is with his or her progress overall. On average, students participate in tutoring services at least two-three times a week for 1 to 3 years. He or she will be supported and guided throughout the duration of services with MindRise with frequent progress updates and resources to enhance his or her achievement.

When are lessons offered? Are they year-round?

Lessons are about 55-60 minutes and are offered Monday-Friday MindRise Learning follows the St. Johns County School Calendar.

Lessons occur over three semester sessions:

-Winter/Spring Session: January - May

-Summer Session: June - August. We work to accommodate busy summer schedules.

-Fall Session: August  - December

Do I have to commit to a certain period of time?

Yes, you must commit to completing the session you begin. The Director will advise you and your student of how often he or she should come for the best results.

How do I pay?

You will be invoiced monthly for lessons. MindRise Learning, LLC accepts cash, credit card, bank draft, or check (make checks out to MindRise Learning, LLC), or PayPal (username amandahopedavis@yahoo.com). We also participate as a provider for Step Up for Students

What if my student is dyslexic?

Most of our students exhibit some signs of having dyslexia. Many are diagnosed; some are not. The Director is a member of The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and is trained in the Wilson Reading System, which is a strucuctured literacy program.

 What is dyslexia?

The definition of dyslexia, as Adopted by the IDA Board of Directors, is “a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”

Dyslexia is a disability that affects reading, yet it in no way reflects low intelligence. While dyslexia cannot be cured, individuals with dyslexia can become successful students and adults with the proper resources. Dyslexia does not hinder creativity or ingenuity; in fact, those with dyslexia have been shown to be quick and innovative thinkers with superior reasoning skills.

 How do I know if my student is dyslexic?

While only trained specialists can officially diagnose an individual with dyslexia, there are many tools available to screen for signs of dyslexia.

Common Signs of Dyslexia

For Young Children:

• Late talking

• Learning new words slowly

• Problems forming words correctly, such as reversing sounds in words or confusing words that sound alike

• Problems remembering or naming letters, numbers, and colors

• Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or playing rhyming games

For School-Aged Children:

• Reading well below the expected level for age

• Problems processing and understanding what he or she hears

• Difficulty finding the right word or forming answers to questions

• Problems remembering the sequence of things

• Difficulty seeing (and occasionally hearing) similarities and differences in letters and words

• Inability to sound out the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word

• Difficulty spelling

• Spending an unusually long time completing tasks that involve reading or writing

• Avoiding activities that involve reading

For Teens and Adults:

• Difficulty reading, including reading aloud

• Slow and labor-intensive reading and writing

• Problems spelling

• Avoiding activities that involve reading

• Mispronouncing names or words, or problems retrieving words

• Trouble understanding jokes or expressions that have a meaning not easily understood from the specific words (idioms), such as "piece of cake" meaning "easy"

• Spending an unusually long time completing tasks that involve reading or writing

• Difficulty summarizing a story

• Trouble learning a foreign language

• Difficulty doing math problems