First, Joanne starts with assessing each child to find out where the gaps are.  

After she assesses the child, she chats with the parent and lets him/her know what she is noticing.  

She comes up with a customized plan for your child that will close the gap quickly for him or her and then she meets with your child weekly.  

Every 3 months Joanne reassesses the child to find out what gains have been made and what changes need to be made to the instruction to continue to close the gap.

Take a look at an example session here.

Online tutoring session length is determined by a couple of factors.

1.       Child’s age

2.       Child’s attention span

3.       Schedule

I find that children in Kindergarten to 2nd grade work best In 30 minute sessions. 

For kids in 3rd grade on up more can be accomplished in a 60 minute class. 

Some kids who are in 3rd through 6th grade and have ADHD do better with 30 minute sessions than a full hour session. 

Sometimes, the students’ schedules and my schedule have unique needs that determine whether a 30 minute or a 60 minute session would be better.

Signs of Dyslexia

Common signs: Preschool

• May talk later than most children

• May have difficulty pronouncing words, i.e., busgetti for spaghetti, mawn lower for lawn mower

• May be slow to add new vocabulary words

• May be unable to recall the right word

• May have difficulty with rhyming

• May have trouble learning the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, colors, shapes, how to spell and write his or her name

• May have trouble interacting with peers

• May be unable to follow multi-step directions or routines

• Fine motor skills may develop more slowly than in other children

• May have difficulty telling and/or retelling a story in the correct sequence

Common signs: Kindergarten through fourth grade

• Has difficulty decoding single words (reading single words in isolation)

• May be slow to learn the connection between letters and sounds

• May confuse small words – at/to, said/and, does/goes

• Makes consistent reading and spelling errors including:

• Letter reversals – d for b as in, dog for bog

• Word reversals – tip for pit

• Inversions – m and w, u and n

• Transpositions – felt and left

• Substitutions – house and home

• May transpose number sequences and confuse arithmetic signs (+ - x / =)

• May have trouble remembering facts

• May be slow to learn new skills; relies heavily on memorizing without understanding

• May be impulsive and prone to accidents

• May have difficulty planning

• Often uses an awkward pencil grip (fist, thumb hooked over fingers, etc.)

• May have trouble learning to tell time

• May have poor fine motor coordination

Difficulty with reading

• Difficulty learning to read

• Difficulty identifying or generating rhyming words or counting syllables in words (Phonological Awareness)

• Difficulty with hearing and manipulating sounds in words (Phonemic Awareness)

• Difficulty distinguishing different sounds in words (Auditory Discrimination)

• Difficulty in learning the sounds of letters

• Difficulty remembering names and/or the order of letters when reading

• Reverses letters or the order of letters when reading

• Misreads or omits common little words

• "Stumbles" through longer words

• Poor reading comprehension during oral or silent reading

Difficulty with written language

• Difficulty putting ideas on paper

• Many spelling mistakes

• May do well on weekly spelling tests, but there are many spelling mistakes in daily work

• Difficulty in proofreading

Difficulty with oral language

• Late in learning to talk

• Difficulty pronouncing words

• Difficulty acquiring vocabulary or using age appropriate grammar

• Difficulty following directions

• Confusion with before/after, right/left, and so on

• Difficulty learning the alphabet, nursery rhymes, or songs

• Difficulty understanding concepts and relationships

•   From http://www.readingrockets.org/article/dyslexia-beyond-myth

This answer is going to vary based on a couple of factors.

1.       Learning speed

2.       Dyslexia

3.       Consistency

I am able to close a 12 month reading gap with only 8 to 12 hours of instruction. 

So if your child is two years behind and you schedule one-hour sessions each week, your child will be at grade level in six months.  If you choose to do two hours of tutoring a week, then it will take only three months. 

This schedule varies if your child has dyslexia, because it depends on the severity of the dyslexia which can range from mild to severe.

Other factors which can affect quick progress is learning speed.  Some kids just need more repetition than others. 

In these cases it may take a bit longer, but not too much.

Another factor is consistency. 

Sometimes life gets in the way of students being able to show up for their tutoring sessions. 

If students miss too many sessions, then it becomes harder to close the gap. 

The more consistent we both are, the better results your child gets.

Yes, I do in home tutoring.

When students live by me they have the option of doing tutoring online or at my house.

My priority lies in what is best for each individual child.

Many children that come to my house have ADHD, so I have created an ADHD classroom for them to learn in that includes standing options, stuffed animals, bean bag, sitting on a therapy ball to bounce on while learning and fidgets.

Students can write on the desk to figure out new words and practice spelling.

Reading tutoring with Joanne Kaminski ranges from $250 to $1000 per month depending on session length, while tutoring with a trained tutor on Joanne’s team starts at $160 per month.

As a certified reading specialist, I offer personalized tutoring designed to close reading gaps and make school easier for your child.

Using the Science of Reading, I focus on helping students who are struggling with phonics, comprehension, fluency, dyslexia, and other reading challenges. Every tutoring plan is tailored to your child’s specific needs so they gain both the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

Before starting tutoring, every student receives a free assessment so we can clearly identify where support is needed and create the right plan.

In addition to tutoring sessions, families also receive:

• A free assessment before tutoring begins

• Quarterly progress assessments at no additional cost

• Data and support for IEP meetings if needed

• Access to Kids A-Z, where your child can read books at their level between sessions

Tutoring Options

Families can choose to work directly with me or with one of the trained tutors on my team.

Work With Joanne (Certified Reading Specialist)

Monthly packages are designed to provide consistent progress:

30-Minute Weekly Sessions – $250/month

4 sessions per month

60-Minute Weekly Sessions – $500/month

8 sessions per month

2 (60)-Minute Weekly Sessions – $1000/month

Work With a Tutor on My Team

Students can also work with one of the tutors I have personally trained in my reading methods. Sessions are $80 per hour, and families can choose the schedule that fits their child’s needs.

30-Minute Weekly Sessions – $160/month

4 sessions per month (30 minutes each)

60-Minute Weekly Sessions – $320/month

8 sessions per month (60 minutes each)

Two 60-Minute Sessions Per Week – $640/month

This option is a great fit for families who want high-quality reading instruction using the Science of Reading at a lower monthly investment.

Students working with my tutors still receive the same structured approach and reading support.

Yes, I offer summer tutoring. 

I work all year long and work hard to tailor a summer reading program specifically for your child. 

Summer is the time of year where kids will suffer from summer reading loss if they are not consistently reading. 

It is important to me that my students do not miss out on this opportune time to close the gap and be secure in reading for the following school year.  

This is why I have created and stay committed to a strong summer reading program.

I am approved in several states. Message me what state you are in and I can let you know if I am currently approved as a vendor in that state. If I am not a vendor, I can go through the application phase.