Why Many Well-Meaning Tutors Don’t Actually Know How to Teach Reading When a child is struggling to read, most parents’ first instinct is to find someone—anyone—who can help. A babysitter who loves books, a high school student with good grades, a college grad studying education, or even a classroom teacher might seem like a good fit. After all, they can read—shouldn’t they be able to teach reading too? But here’s the hard truth: most people, including many certified teachers,

Can kids grow out of reading difficulties? No, not usually.  While some children may improve slightly over time, research shows that reading challenges — especially those rooted in learning disabilities like dyslexia  — rarely resolve on their own. "There is no evidence that children naturally outgrow dyslexia or similar reading disabilities without instruction." — Reading Rockets In fact, studies show that without intervention: 75% of children who struggle in third grade  co

Case Study: How Dylan Jumped Four Reading Levels in Just 24 Sessions When Dylan first started online tutoring with Bright Idea Reading Tutoring, she was finishing third grade—and feeling defeated. Despite enjoying graphic novels and series like The Babysitters Club , she had just received discouraging AIMS test results and didn’t feel confident in her reading ability. Her mom reached out, looking for help. What followed was a six-month journey of growth, strategy, and transfo

Young brains love symmetry. A chair looks the same facing left or right, but letters don’t follow that rule. Letters like b and d, or p and q, share parts but face opposite directions.

Why spelling still matters (even with spellcheck) Parents often ask me, “Do kids even need to know how to spell anymore?” It is a fair question. With autocorrect and predictive text everywhere, spelling can seem old-fashioned or unnecessary. But research continues to show that spelling and reading are deeply connected. Kids who understand how words are built, and how sounds map to letters and patterns, read more fluently, comprehend better, and write with more confidence. Spe

What the Old Definition of Dyslexia Said (2002) For over two decades, the definition of dyslexia was focused almost entirely on...

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this just a phase, or could my child have dyslexia?” — you’re not alone. Many parents reach out after noticing red flags: their child has been in intervention without progress, struggles with rhyming, or can’t quite connect letters and sounds. In this post, I break down: The real signs to look for (beyond just letter reversals) How to know if there’s a gap between grade level and reading level Why it’s not your fault — and what actually help

Why a One-Size-Fits-All Tutoring Program Doesn’t Work If you’re a parent looking for the best online reading tutor, you’ve probably...

Many families in Idaho are searching for ways to help their children succeed in school, especially when it comes to reading. If your...

I totally get it ... you trust that your hard-earned tax dollars are going to fund schools with the right staff and resources. It’s...