 October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, a time to shed light on what dyslexia truly is. Read on for helpful insights!
Dyslexia Facts & Myths The most difficult challenge for students with dyslexia is learning how to read. Structured Literacy is a program proven to help students with dyslexia. This program prepares students to decode words in an explicit and systematic manner. This approach not only helps with dyslexia, but there is substantial evidence that it is effective for all readers. At The Village Tutors, our team has been using these evidence-based, multisensory Orton-Gillingham methodologies for over 20 years through the Wilson Reading System. Here are some common myths: Myth: Dyslexia is just another word for a reading disorder, or a general “catch-all” term Fact: Dyslexia is a neurologically based difference that refers to a very specific set of assets and deficits that affect more than just reading. The official definition of dyslexia agreed upon in the scientific community, recognized by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education is as follows: "Dyslexia 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 consequence may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge." Dyslexia can affect the ability to speak, read, spell, write, do math and/or learn a second language. The condition can occur at all levels of intelligence, including average, high average and highly gifted. Dyslexics often exhibit strengths in creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, and they usually learn best via highly multi-sensory instruction and hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. Myth: Writing letters and words backwards are the most prominent signs of dyslexia. Fact: Only about 1/3 of dyslexics read and write letters/numbers backwards. Dyslexia does not cause children to see letters, numbers, and words backwards or inverted. However, some children with dyslexia may confuse letters, misread words, or have difficulty forming letters as a result of the lack of phonological skills (Moats, 1999). Myth: Dyslexia cannot be diagnosed until 3rd grade. Fact: Early intervention is critical to the success of students with dyslexia. Assessments of phonemic awareness - including letter knowledge, speed of naming, and end sound-symbol association - can be completed as early as kindergarten. In fact, symptoms of dyslexia can even be evident in preschool such as difficulty learning to rhyme, learning the names of colors and shapes, learning the names of numbers and/or letters, etc. Research has shown that the vast majority of students who are struggling to learn early literacy skills by the end of kindergarten will continue to struggle in the third grade without explicit, intensive structured literacy instruction. Myth: An individual with dyslexia will never learn to read. Fact: Children with dyslexia can learn to read at grade level IF they receive early evidence based intervention and structured instruction. The earlier struggling children are identified and provided systematic, explicit, and intense instruction, the less severe their problems are likely to be (Torgesen, 2002). With provision of intensive instruction, even older children with dyslexia can become accurate, albeit slow readers (Torgesen, et. al, 2001). Myth: Dyslexia is not common and/or over-diagnosed. Fact: Dyslexia affects 20 percent of the population, that is 1 in 5 children, and represents 80-90 percent of all those with learning disabilities. It is the most common of all neuro-cognitive disorders. (Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity). The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) further notes that the most common type of reading, writing, and/or spelling disability is dyslexia. These numbers quickly dispel the myth that dyslexia is rare. Myth: There is a test to determine if an individual has dyslexia. Fact: There is no single test for dyslexia nor can it be confirmed or ruled out by a single test of reading, a screening of reading, or other standardized tests. A comprehensive evaluation must be administered to diagnose dyslexia. The evaluation must include assessment by a pediatric neuropsychologist. Diagnosis of dyslexia also requires extensive gathering of developmental information as well as parent and teacher reports and qualitative observations of the student. We hope you’ve gained valuable insights on dyslexia, and now better understand the learning challenge. If you have a student who you believe may be struggling with dyslexia or any other learning differences, do not hesitate to contact our team. We have a wide range of expertise in the area of dyslexia, and welcome the opportunity to support your student and family!  School is underway, and students are already preparing for their first quizzes and tests of the academic year. Many students experience anxiety and apprehension around test taking and staying focused for exams. TVT is sharing guidance and resources to navigate this challenge and help alleviate those butterflies!
Understanding Test Anxiety Research shows that test anxiety impairs a student’s ability to recall and concentrate during testing situations, leading to lower performance. According to Understood, test anxiety can appear in different ways and at unexpected times. Common signs of test anxiety include:
Strategies for Support According to the Academic Resource Center (ARC) at Harvard University, test anxiety can appear before, during, or after an exam. Here are suggestions for managing test anxiety during these phases: Before
Our team has found several podcasts to consider for additional support when learning about test anxiety. These include: Additional articles that we found helpful are below:
We would love to support your students of all ages as they navigate and manage test anxiety in their academic work and test prep. Check out our full list of services and reach out to discuss a custom tutoring plan for your student.  Heading back to school is an exciting time but can also be overwhelming for students and families. We’re sharing a few of our favorite resources to help make the transition a little easier for you and your students, focusing on executive function and managing anxiety and ADHD. New schools, new classrooms, new teachers and new routines are a lot to take on at once. To help students start each day feeling confident and inspired, we love recommending Charm Words - A Daily Affirmation for Kids podcast. These simple Ph.D.-approved charming affirmations free kids from invasive troubling thoughts, build resilience to stressful situations and help them develop positive ways of coping. Each one is 4 minutes or less, so perfect for listening on the way to school in the morning or to wind down before bedtime. Charm Words - Daily Affirmations for Kids In order for students to have a strong start to the school year, preparation and organization are key. This episode of the Understood podcast - In It, offers great insight and tips for Executive Function during the back-to-school transition. Executive Function Skills: What are they and how can we help kids build them? EP37 Returning to school-year schedules and routines after a long summer break can be difficult. That’s especially true for students with ADHD, who struggle with flexible thinking, organization, and working memory. We love this five-step plan to help get your student back into school-year routines.
5 Steps to Kick-Start School-Year Routines for Kids with ADHD Our friends at Reading Rockets have curated a great selection of back-to-school books that come highly recommended and are great to incorporate into your new routine at home. We appreciate the wide range of topics, including meeting new friends, celebrating differences, and getting excited about being back in the learning environment. Back-to-School Books This is also a great time to secure academic support for your students and we’re here to help! The Village Tutors offers a wide range of services including reading challenges and dyslexia, test prep, content areas, executive function skills building, and much more. We would love the opportunity to partner with your student and your family to customize a learning support plan that best fits your needs and goals. Learn More About Our Services Here is to an excellent 2023 - 2024 school year. We look forward to learning with you!  This summer, The Village Tutors have been reflecting on memorable moments from this past school year. Most importantly, we have been able to support our students’ unique educational journey. Additionally, we have created meaningful professional partnerships and lastly, opened our newest location in Westmont to accommodate our growth. “As we approach our 20th year supporting students, I’ve been reflecting on our team and how grateful I am to have a group of tutors who truly support any academic need of our students. We are so fortunate to work with the best families. Our incredible group of tutors always go the extra mile for our students. We highly value our professional relationships and the personal referrals we receive from within our community.” Suzanne Petree - Founder of The Village Tutors  We are thankful for our continued partnership with Green Halo Scholars in our combined mission of supporting first generation college bound students. “The Village Tutors have been an integral part of the success of our Green Halo program over the last 5 years.They’ve supported our first generation college bound students with personalized tutoring for both testing and essay writing. These are resources our students would not have access to, if it weren’t for the generosity of The Village Tutors. Our scholars have been able to raise test scores which allowed them to apply to colleges they never thought were a possibility. Over the last 5 years, The Village Tutors have graciously volunteered their time to our students. Green Halo Scholars has been able to succeed because of their commitment and generosity." Sally Guglielmo - Founder, Green Halo Scholars  We are also grateful to be a Family Resource Partner with the District 181 Foundation, which creates educational opportunities for students within our community.
We hope all of our students and families are enjoying their summer! We still have a few spots available for our upcoming workshops before school starts this fall. Click here to learn more!  We hope all of our students and their families are enjoying summer break! Summer is a great time for resting and recharging, while also keeping the brain stimulated in advance of the next school year. Ask and you shall receive! TVT is excited to announce our first ever summer workshops, to help students stay motivated and on track. All of our workshops will be hosted at TVT’s newest location in Westmont: 770 Pasquinelli Dr. Suite 414 Westmont, IL 60559. See additional details below, and contact our team with questions or to register!
Creative Writing Workshops Serving as a fun and supportive space for emerging writers, TVT is offering Creative Writing Workshops! The week-long workshops will be hosted by accomplished writer and educator, Haley Lewis, who holds a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from The University of Chicago. Remaining dates and times are as follows: Session 2: 6/26 – 6/30 Session 3: 7/10 – 7/14 Session 4: 7/17 – 7/21 Sessions for 5th – 8th graders run from 12:30pm – 2:30pm Sessions for highschoolers run from 3:00pm – 5:00pm Contact [email protected] to learn more and get registered. College Essay Workshops Do you have a high school student who is beginning to think about the college process? Join TVT experts, Lynn Lach and Kate O’Reilly as they host our College Essay Summer Workshops! These workshops will help students cultivate their personal voices and hone their writing skills. Topics of focus include: - Brainstorming essay topics - Finding and developing your personal voice - Learning how to tell your unique story Dates and times are as follows: Tuesday, 8/8 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm Wednesday, 8/9 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm Contact [email protected] to learn more and get registered. Executive Function Workshops “I thought I turned my homework in! I ran out of time! I didn’t realize there was a rough draft due! I didn’t know what to study! Everyone in class is smarter than me…” Do these phrases sound familiar to you? If so, consider signing your student up for TVT’s Executive Function Workshops. Designed to improve study and test-taking skills, enhance time management, and boost overall organization for middle school students, these workshops are a great option to set your student up for success before school resumes. Dates and times are as follows: Monday, 8/7 Tuesday, 8/8 Wednesday, 8/9 Each session runs from 10:00am – 12:00pm. Contact [email protected] to learn more and get registered. -- We hope to see many students at our workshops this summer, as all of the workshops pose excellent opportunities to help students stay sharp and prepared before the next school year. TVT is thrilled to offer these Summer Workshops, and we hope to have you join! Offering extensive expertise in College Prep Services! The Village Tutors is fortunate to have an incredible team of tutors who offer expertise in a wide variety of service areas. This month, we are highlighting one of our tutors, Ann Wilson, and her expertise in the field of college prep services. As Ann shares, College Consulting at TVT is a fast-growing service that we typically recommend students begin during their junior year or earlier. This is to ensure that they will be ready to apply for the Early Action and Early Decision deadlines that begin in the fall. TVT’s college prep services model is unique in that there is no contract required, and families pay an hourly rate for as much or as little support as the student needs. The most common areas where Ann offers support include: School Advisement Many students whom Ann works with have IEPs and 504s. Because of this, Ann can help non-traditional students position themselves well for college acceptance while also advising on optimal schools for consideration. Criteria Ann considers when advising on schools in this way include: - Consistent accommodations for students - Disability support - Mental health support She also spends a lot of time helping non-traditional and traditional students identify majors that match well with their talents and interests. Ann will research majors, scholarships, and the culture of various schools, as well as create college lists that analyze areas such as safety, target schools, and reach schools. All of this information can then be taken into account for each student’s unique academic profile and custom recommendations. College Essay Writing Generally the most popular part of TVT’s College Consulting services is support on college essay writing. College essays are a critically important part of the application – both the main Common App/Coalition App essays along with supplementary essays for individual schools. Particularly for non-traditional students, it is important that they share their compelling stories. Ann often hears concerns from families that sharing challenges will decrease a student’s chances of acceptance, but the opposite is actually true. Ann shares her thoughts on the approach she takes to college essay writing guidance: “My coaching helps students identify topics that will reveal something unique about them, and my writing instruction helps them tell their story using narrative techniques that put readers into their shoes. One of the biggest challenges is telling a meaningful story in 650 words. My background in editing and creative writing enables me to make cuts in drafts that end up creating an even more impactful story while meeting the length requirements.” Ann can meet with parents to answer any questions and advise on how to best support their students through the process. Year-Round Academic Tutoring When school is in session, Ann also provides academic and executive function tutoring, both online and in person, for college students. This has given her a window into many colleges around the country, and helped her see unique features about various schools. Ann has the knowledge about which schools are more welcoming than others, which schools have more or less rigor, and how campus culture impacts student living experiences. She also sees which institutions offer good communication and support through their student disability offices. As Ann says, “These experiences and anecdotes help me communicate with students about what type of college experience they’re looking for. By being in touch with campus lifestyles, I can help students understand what they can expect as freshmen.” Ann meets with online students over Zoom from their dorm rooms, cafeterias, libraries, or wherever is convenient for them. What she and students discuss goes beyond basic homework completion and time management, as students appreciate her insights in all areas of college academics and lifestyles. One parent whose sons worked with Ann shares: “My sons both worked with Ann Wilson in high school and for college applications and she was a wonderful help. Ann continued to work with my son during his first year of college, including in the past few months when he was struggling to turn in assignments and stay focused. Ann was there for him, providing as much support and guidance as he needed on individual assignments, scheduling time to do work, and helping to motivate him. Ann has been able to forge a positive relationship with my son and to be there for him virtually to keep him on track. Without Ann's tireless assistance and check ins, my son would not have had such a successful year. We are so grateful and fortunate to have had Ann's expertise and caring assistance for my son during what has been a difficult year. I can't praise Ann highly enough - she has made a world of difference for us. Thank you.” We look forward to supporting your student and family through the entire college process! Contact The Village Tutors for more information.  Families will be preparing to welcome summer break next month, and now is the time to plan summer activities to help students enjoy the time off while still staying academically on track. In this month’s blog, our TVT team is highlighting how families can best support students during the upcoming summer months, by utilizing the variety of services TVT offers to keep learning moving forward. Importance of Summer Education Research has proven that continuing academic support and enrichment for students during summer vacation is critical to their progress when the school year resumes. According to Harris Cooper of Duke University. “It has been proven that children who do not read or stay academically engaged during summer months experience an average loss across reading and mathematics of about one month.” TVT Services TVT has a wide variety of services to help supplement education and maintain momentum this summer. We will work together to curate a mix of academic support and enrichment activities to maximize your student’s academic potential. A testimonial we received about our summer support shows just how much we can help students stay motivated and on-track with their learning:  Supporting your student to keep their skills sharp allows for an easier transition into the next school year and a strong start academically. We have found that by pre-teaching the important curriculum that your student will learn in their next year (especially in math and writing), your student can enter the school year feeling confident and prepared. Summer Learning Activities We’re sharing a few of our favorite learning activities that can be integrated into your everyday routine: - Great Books for Summer Travel – The resource “Great Books for Summer Travel” is a robust collection of summer reads to enrich summer travels so you can toss a great book in your beach bag along with sunscreen! There is something for every genre and age group. - Five Easy Tips from Reading Rockets – we love these tips from Reading Rockets on how to encourage summer learning such as reading every day, using math every day, getting outside and playing, writing every week, and doing a good deed. - Using Math Everyday – An article from Harvard University dives into the topic of summer math loss and how to best avoid this. Ideas to integrate math into summer learning include highlighting math in everyday activities, reading short math stories with your student, playing math games, and finding small ways to practice math at home. We are so excited for everything the summer has to offer and look forward to partnering with your student in support of their important progress. Contact TVT and get your student on the summer learning path. Our entire team wishes you a wonderful summer filled with relaxation, enjoyment, lots of laughter, and fun learning!  Spring is here, and now is a time when many students and families (especially Juniors in high school) are immersed in the college process. One of the integral components of college admission is essay submission. This month, TVT experts are sharing insights on writing college essays, as well as extending an invitation to our upcoming Summer College Essay Writing Workshop. Telling Your Story According to Ann Wilson, TVT tutor specializing in college consulting, the college essay is how an admission representative learns more about you and your unique experiences. While many applicants can look the same on paper, the essay can help you to stand out and tip the scales in your favor. College essays can actually be the deciding factor for schools to either admit or reject a student, so it is critical to put forth maximum effort in the writing process to adequately showcase your story. Essays are important for sharing hardships. Students with academic, emotional, or circumstantial challenges have the special opportunity to share those hardships with the admissions committee through the Optional Common App Essay. Approaching the Common App Essay The Common App Essay is for showing who you are, while the Optional Essay provides an opportunity for additional storytelling and showcasing a student’s experiences. When TVT are tutoring students, we often remind them that essays should be primarily SHOWING and not TELLING. This means writing the essay in a narrative form and creating a memoir moment on the page that puts the reader in your shoes. “In an admission process full of grades and test scores, the college essay gives students an opportunity to personalize their story with words,” said Kate O’Reilly of TVT. “While other candidates may have similar GPAs and ACT/SAT scores, the college essay can help a student stand out.” “The college essay allows students to tell a piece of their story, something that may or may not be present on the rest of the application, and tell it in their own voice, giving admissions officers a stronger glimpse of the individual behind the application,” said Lynn Lach of TVT. Finding Your Voice When it comes to essay writing, we remind our students that essays do not have to be about something monumental, life changing, or dramatic. They just need to be true. TVT has seen some of the best essays written around ordinary topics, but with the student emphasizing how they learned a lesson through the experience or discovered something new about themselves or others. Another component to essay writing that is important to consider is supplemental essays. These are essays students write when they want to attend a particular institution or study a specific major. For these essays, Ann encourages students to conduct ample research to understand what makes the institution unique, why the major appeals to them, and what unique opportunities they can pursue at the university. Attending the Summer Workshop Our TVT team is excited to announce the Summer College Essay Writing Workshop to help students cultivate their personal voices and hone their writing skills. This two-hour session will be led by our TVT tutors specializing in college essay writing and will focus on the following:
Upon completion of the workshop, students will have crafted a detailed working college essay outline. Additional one-on-one sessions will also be available for interested students. If you wish to be included on our communication about this workshop, please contact [email protected] and we’ll be in touch in the coming weeks with more details.  Learning to read is an exciting and challenging task. The Village Tutors have helped students across the spectrum overcome these challenges by introducing audio books. Research has proven that audio books are an essential part of the learning process for young students who struggle with reading - and an easy tool for parents to implement at home.
Decoding can be very effortful for students - with just the first step of determining what the word in front of them is. As a result, we often see children read without expression because they are not comprehending what they are reading. For example, a student may read the sentence “the fire trucks screamed down the street” instead of “the fire trucks screamed down the street” - because they just want to get through the sentence. This significantly impacts their comprehension because they don't understand the expression behind the words. Audio learning helps to break down these barriers while making learning more effective and enjoyable: Memorization Ability: Students who are struggling with reading comprehension are often strong auditory learners. They can easily memorize lyrics and sounds from songs and can even comprehend an audio book that is one or two grade levels above their current reading level. Vocabulary Support: Audio books expand vocabulary and improve fluency as words can be introduced to students in content with expression. Confidence Building: Audio books build confidence, independence and a desire to read. Listening takes the pressure, anxiety and struggle out of decoding, allowing students to better enjoy the process of learning. It’s been proven that 85% of our knowledge comes from listening. Whether listening to an audio book, podcast or to a parent reading aloud - these strengthen a student's imagination, visualization and critical thinking skills - and as an added bonus...they can be a wonderful bonding activity for you and your child. The Village Tutors are here to offer guidance and support for your student as well as helping parents with tools to support your kids at home. Contact our team today. “Hearing someone else read has the amazing possibility of sparking creativity and interest, while offering a chance to work on comprehension without the battle of decoding text… When readers can develop the background knowledge [of a story], this allows them to use their imagination.” (Cited by an article by ‘The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity’.)  Returning to the classroom is a time of transition, and our team at The Village Tutors is committed to helping students stay on track with their schoolwork as they reacclimate to the learning environment.
Websites As we continue to have more research and knowledge on learning challenges and how to best offer support, a variety of reputable websites are available to provide insights and recommendations. These sites are committed to helping students and families navigate learning challenges. They can also offer college support for students with learning challenges, including writing essays, searching for schools, and navigating the application process. Below are a few websites to consider for support:
Podcasts & Audiobooks There are a wealth of podcasts and audiobooks – along with many other multimedia offerings – available to support learning challenges. Here are a few recommendations:
The Village Tutors Services Our team of trained experts provide personalized support for students ranging in age from preschool to college. We help families navigate the best possible educational paths for their traditional or non-traditional learners. While we offer a wide range of services, here are a few that provide particular support for learning challenges:
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