How long will reading tutoring take and what results can I expect?

One of the questions I get most often from parents who are considering reading tutoring is:

“How long will this take, and what results can I expect?”

I understand the reasons people ask this.  

You might be worried about your child being behind in school and you want them to catch up as soon as possible. Maybe your child is older and has already been working on reading for many years but hasn’t made much progress.

You might be thinking about how  busy you are and wondering how you will fit tutoring into your schedule.

You might be thinking about how expensive it is going to be and wondering if you can afford to do it for very long. And you may be wondering if the investment in time and money will be worth it.

Maybe you have heard  people in facebook groups talking about how some programs are faster than others.

So I understand the question but the answer is not so easy.

There is no set number of months in which I can promise will solve every child’s reading difficulties.

Every student is different, and there are many things that affect both how quickly a student progresses and what results we can expect.

What I can do is meet your child where they are, figure out what they need to work on, and help them become the best reader they can be.

Let’s talk about what that actually means.

Dyslexia Isn't Something I Can “Fix”

First, I want to clear up one important misconception.

Dyslexia is not something I am going to “fix.”

There is no magic wand I can wave that will make dyslexia disappear, and I will not be “curing” your child’s dyslexia.

Dyslexia is something that comes on a spectrum. Children can be affected in very different ways and to very different degrees. The amount of difficulty a child experiences will affect how quickly they progress in reading.

Two important areas of difficulty for many students with dyslexia are phonological awareness and processing speed. How much these areas are affecting your child will make a difference in how quickly they are able to learn and apply new reading skills.

Another major variable is attention. Attention deficit issues (ADHD) will affect wether your child is paying attention and how much they will remember and be able to build on during the next session.

It is very common for children with dyslexia to also have ADHD and in my experience attention issues are some of the biggest barriers to getting the things we are learning into long term memory.

These are some of the reasons I don't like giving parents a specific timeline. 

My goal is to help your child develop the skills they need to become a stronger, more confident reader. 

And I am committed to doing that at a speed your child can handle.

One-on-One Tutoring Makes a Difference

One of the biggest advantages of working with me one-on-one is that I don't have to make every student follow the exact same path.

If something is difficult, we can spend more time on it.

If something is easy, we can move through it quickly.

And if your child has already mastered something, we don't need to spend weeks reviewing it simply because that is what the curriculum says we are supposed to do.

Of course, I want to make sure there isn't a gap in your child's knowledge or skills before we move on. But once I know they understand something, we can keep going.

That flexibility is important . I don't do exactly the same thing with every student.

I have students who are beginning readers. I have had middle school students who have already spent years working on phonemic awareness and phonics. Some students need help with reading. Others need help with spelling. Some want to increase their vocabulary. Others need help passing a grammar class.

Reading tutoring with Defeating Dyslexia with Darci is personal and adaptable.

There is no point at which someone has learned everything there is to know about the English language.

In fact, I enjoy my job enough that I am perfectly happy to continue working with you or your child for as long as tutoring is helpful!

But I also understand that your time and money are limited.

You get to decide how long you want to continue.

There Isn't a Set “Finish Line”

When I first finished my master's degree and started my online tutoring business, I used a curriculum that had a set way to do everything and a definite timeline. Because of that, I could give parents an idea of how long the curriculum was supposed to take.

But even though the curriculum  had a timeline, which was set up so that students could finish it in 2 school years, I found that some students didn’t catch on as fast.  I found myself spending more time with those students making sure they grasped a concept before moving on.

I have now used three different curriculums from beginning to end, and I have learned something from each of them. Every curriculum has strengths and weaknesses.

Now I am branching out more on my own. I can use the parts of different programs that I think are most helpful while adapting what I do with each individual student.

And now I am incorporating Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) into pretty much everything I do. I think it is one of the best ways to make the English language actually make sense.

Instead of asking children to memorize endless lists of rules and words, we can investigate words. We can look at what words mean and why they are spelled the way they are.

When something makes sense, it is easier to remember.

And understanding something can reduce the amount of information a child has to hold in their memory simply through rote memorization.

So I believe that Structured Word Inquiry reduces cognitive load, making learning easier.

But when you don’t use a curriculum from start to finish there isn’t a convenient finish line.

The English language had multiple layers of things that can be learned.  I believe I will continue learning them all my life but your child doesn’t need to be in tutoring all their lives!

Ultimately the answer to the question how long will my child be in tutoring is up to you.

You get to decide when your goals have been met.

What is your goal?

Is it for your child to read at grade level?

Is it to improve comprehension?

Do you want them to be able to read a book independently?

Do you want them to win a spelling bee?

Do they need help with vocabulary or grammar?

Is the goal simply to feel confident enough to participate successfully in school?

The answer to those questions can make a big difference in determining what we work on and how long we work together.

So, How Long Do Students Actually Stay?

While I can't predict how long your child will need tutoring, I can tell you what has happened with former students.  Here are some examples:

I have had students stay for as little as two months and students who have stayed for more than three years.

More than half of my students stay for over a year, and just under a quarter stay for more than three years.

I've also had three students who stayed for only about two months. Looking back, I think we probably just weren't a good fit for each other.

And that's okay.

Tutoring isn't supposed to be a lifetime contract.

You may decide that your child has made enough progress and is doing well enough in school that they no longer need tutoring. Or you may decide that your child isn't making as much progress as you had hoped.

Either way, you are free to stop.

I do not have parents sign a contract committing to staying for any period of time.

Here are a few examples that show just how it has worked out for some of my previous students.

One student stayed for three years long enough to make sure that he was doing well in school and would be able to continue without support.

One student finished the curriculum I was using, and I assumed his parents probably wouldn't want him to continue tutoring after that.

Instead, they wanted to make sure he was really on solid ground.

So we continued working together, focusing more on fluency and comprehension.

After several more months, his parents talked with his teachers and felt comfortable with the progress he was making. At that point, they decided he was ready to stop tutoring.

He had attended tutoring for right at three years.

Another student needed help with grammar and quit after passing the grammer class.

Another student came to me in seventh grade because she was having difficulty with a grammar class.

We worked together twice a week on grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and related skills.

Because she was older, I let her have a say in what she wanted to work on.

After just over a year, she passed the grammar class and decided she was finished with tutoring.

Her goal had been met.

Another student came for reading and later returned for spelling.

Another student came to me for about five months to work on reading.

His mom was homeschooling him and came to all of his tutoring sessions. He made good progress, and his mom became more confident about what to do, so they decided to stop tutoring.

A few years later, he came back.

This time, his reading was fine, but he needed help with spelling.

He was older by then and attended the sessions by himself. We had a great time working together and trying to make sense of spelling instead of simply memorizing a bunch of words.

After about four months, he stopped tutoring again.

These are just a few examples, but they show why I can't give every family the same answer to the question, “How long will this take?”

What About Parents Who Can't Afford Years of Tutoring?

I understand this concern personally.

Before I became a reading tutor, I was the parent trying to figure out what to do. I remember not being able to afford to hire a tutor.

Fortunately, I was genuinely interested in learning how to do it myself.

I ended up purchasing the Barton Reading and Spelling System and doing the tutoring myself.

I do recommend this option for parents who are motivated and genuinely interested in learning how to do the work themselves. It can be a less expensive way to provide structured reading and spelling instruction.

I don't necessarily think it is faster.

I spent years working through Barton five days a week before we made it through all ten levels. It was definitely worth it and my daughter now reads for pleasure and at college level.

So if you are considering doing the tutoring yourself because of the cost, know that it can be a valid option. It simply requires a significant investment of your own time and energy.

For some families, that trade-off makes sense.

For others, working one-on-one with a tutor is a better fit because the parent doesn't have to become the teacher.

There isn't one right answer for every family.

What Results Can You Expect?

This is another question where I want to be honest with you.

I cannot promise that your child will reach a particular reading level in a particular number of months.

What I can promise is that I will pay attention to what your child actually knows and can do.

I will adjust what we are doing based on their needs.

I will slow down when something is difficult.

I will move more quickly when something comes easily.

And I will continue looking for ways to help your child understand the English language rather than simply asking them to memorize more information.

Your child's results will depend on where they are starting, what difficulties they are experiencing, how much those difficulties are affecting their reading, and what goals we are working toward.

And sometimes the goal changes along the way.

We can work toward your goals and adjust as your child's needs change.

“Will You Test My Child to Show Me That We've Reached Our Goals?”

This is a logical question.

And the answer may surprise you.

I don't do testing.

I don't have fancy graphs or charts that I hand you at the end of tutoring to prove that your child has improved.

And I'll let you know a little secret:

I just don't like doing testing.

When I'm working with a student, I want to help them. On a test, I can't do that.

For teachers in schools who have multiple students I see a value in testing so that none of the students are accidentally overlooked. But...

My philosophy is that kids are already tested plenty at school. In my opinion, most children are tested too much already.

I would rather spend our tutoring time working on the skills that will actually help your child become a better reader.

Because I work one-on-one with students, I can tell when they have grasped a concept and are ready to move on without testing.

I see what happens when they encounter something new.

I can listen to how they read.

I can see where they struggle and where they are becoming more independent.

And I believe that you will see the results, too.

You'll see them in school grades and testing. You'll see them when your child is more willing to read a book with you. You'll see them when reading becomes easier or when something that used to cause frustration becomes manageable. You might notice them using big vocabulary words we have learned together.

Those changes matter.

I also don't expect you to simply take my word for it.

I am happy to meet with you to discuss your child's progress and goals. I can tell you what I am observing, and I want to hear what you are observing, too.

You can ask questions and share your concerns as often as you would like.

Ultimately, You Get to Decide

I wish I could give every parent a simple answer:

“Your child will need exactly nine months of tutoring and then they will be completely caught up.”

But that wouldn't be honest.

Children aren't that predictable.

Reading isn't that simple.

And dyslexia isn't something that can be magically fixed in a certain number of sessions.

What I can do is work with your child as an individual.

I can help them build the skills they need, explain the English language in ways that make sense, and adjust our work as they grow.

And ultimately, you decide when your goals have been met.

Maybe your child needs a few months of focused support.

Maybe they need a year or more.

Maybe they will work with me for several years, stop, and come back later when a new need develops.

All of those things are possible.

The important question isn't necessarily, “How quickly can we finish?”

Instead, I think a better question is:

“What does my child need, and how can we help them become the best reader they can be?”

If you're wondering what that might look like for your child, let's talk.

Ready to Talk About Your Child?

I offer a free 20-minute consultation so we can talk about your child's needs and your goals.

During our conversation, you can ask me your questions. I'll ask you some questions about your child, their reading history, and what you're hoping to accomplish.

Then you can decide whether moving forward with tutoring feels like the right choice for your family.

There is no requirement to commit to a certain number of months or years.

Let's start with a conversation and figure out what your child needs.

Click here to schedule a free consultation with Darci

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