Table of Contents
Introduction: Why Multisensory Dyslexia Tutoring Changes Everything
Reading is the master key that unlocks every other subject—yet nearly 7 in 10 U.S. fourth‑graders still read below proficiency (NAEP 2022). For students with dyslexia, the climb is steeper: decoding feels like deciphering a secret code, and nightly homework can trigger tears or shutdowns. That struggle ripples outward—lower grades, shaken self‑esteem, and a growing belief that “I’ll never be good at school.”
At READ Learning Center in Sacramento, we flip that narrative. Our tutors use multisensory structured literacy, the gold‑standard approach to rewire reading pathways fast. Students don’t memorize word lists; they master the why behind every pattern, tapping, tracing, and voicing sounds until reading clicks. Families tell us the moment everything changes is when their child finally reads a chapter book aloud, proud, fluent, and grinning.
What follows is a clear look at how our evidence‑based tutoring pinpoints gaps, builds skills, and most importantly, restores confidence. Whether your child is six or sixteen, these proven strategies open doors that will stay unlocked for life.
Understanding Dyslexia
The dyslexic brain: neurobiological insights
Dyslexia stems from differences in brain function. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that dyslexic brains may underactivate the left temporoparietal region, crucial for linking letters to sounds. This makes traditional reading methods less effective, but multisensory approaches engage multiple brain areas, overcoming these barriers.
Early warning signs parents and teachers miss
Early detection of dyslexia can transform a child’s future. Watch for these indicators:
- Trouble rhyming words by age 4 or 5: Dyslexic children often struggle with phonological awareness, finding it hard to identify or create rhymes, for example, “cat” and “hat”. This signals difficulty manipulating sounds, a core reading skill.
- Slow recall of letter sounds or reversing letters, for example, “b” for “d”: By kindergarten, dyslexic kids may lag in connecting letters to sounds or confuse similar-looking letters like “b” and “d”, reflecting visual and auditory processing challenges.
- Hesitancy to read aloud or avoidance of reading tasks: Anxiety or frustration may lead dyslexic children to avoid books or resist reading aloud, masking decoding struggles.
By third grade 74 percent of children not reading at grade level face persistent academic hurdles, per studies. Early intervention is vital.
Evidence on the effectiveness of multisensory instruction
The International Dyslexia Association confirms that Multisensory Dyslexia Tutoring strengthens neural connections by engaging multiple brain regions. Research shows significant reading improvements after consistent intervention, making it a cornerstone of dyslexia remediation programs.
What Is Multisensory Dyslexia Tutoring?
Core principles of multisensory instruction (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile)
Multisensory Dyslexia Tutoring is a structured, evidence-based method that uses visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile inputs to teach reading and spelling. By engaging multiple senses it makes language concepts concrete and memorable. At Read Learning Center these principles are central:
- Visual Techniques, Making Language Pop: Color-coded charts highlight vowel patterns, for example, marking “ai” in “rain” with red, to clarify phonics rules. Picture word walls pair words like “dog” with images, boosting sight-word recognition. Highlighting strips focus on one line of text, reducing visual overwhelm and aiding tracking.
- Auditory Techniques, Tuning Into Sounds: Clapping syllables, for example, “pen-cil” equals two claps, breaks words into chunks. Repeating sounds aloud, like echoing “/b/ /a/ /t/” into “bat”, reinforces patterns. Rhyming games, for example, “cat, hat, mat”, sharpen listening skills, making phonics intuitive.
- Kinesthetic Techniques, Hands-On Wordplay: Building words with letter tiles, for example, “ship”, lets learners experiment with letter combinations. Jumping for each letter in “run”, R-U-N, adds movement. Scavenger hunts for letter cards turn word-building into an active challenge.
- Tactile Techniques, Feeling the Words: Tracing letters in a sand tray provides sensory feedback for shapes like “m”. Textured surfaces, like sandpaper, distinguish curves, for example, “b”, from angles, for example, “k”. Finger painting words like “cat” makes formation fun, locking in memory through touch.
This multisensory reading approach aligns with structured literacy methods, ensuring systematic teaching tailored to dyslexic needs.
Comparing Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, and Barton approaches
Read Learning Center relies on Orton-Gillingham methodology, a sequential, phonics-focused method teaching rules explicitly, for example, “c” before “e” spells /s/. Both, the Wilson Reading System and Barton Reading and Spelling System are based on the Orton-Gillingham method and part of Structured Literacy.
Aligning tutoring sessions with IEP/504 goals
Sessions are customized to support school goals, such as improving decoding or comprehension, ensuring consistency, and measuring progress.
Essential Dyslexia Learning Techniques That Drive Results
Dyslexia Learning Techniques target core challenges, building skills systematically. Read Learning Center uses these strategies:
- Phonemic-Awareness Activities: These train learners to hear and manipulate sounds, a key dyslexia hurdle. Segmenting “ship” into /sh/ /i/ /p/ by tapping fingers or blending verbal cues like /c/ /a/ /t/ into “cat” builds decoding skills. Rhyming games, like matching “cat” and “hat”, sharpen sound awareness, laying a reading foundation.
- Structured Phonics and Decoding Practice: This phonics-based intervention teaches letter-sound rules systematically, from simple words, for example, “cat”, to complex ones, for example, “bright”. Tutors model rules like “silent e”, for example, “cake” versus “cak”, and learners practice decoding and encoding drills to read and spell confidently.
- Morphology and Vocabulary Building: Learning prefixes, suffixes, and roots, for example, “un-happy-ness”, enhances word recognition and meaning. Sorting cards by type or tracing roots on paper strengthens understanding, critical for longer texts.
- Reading-Fluency Strategies: Repeated reading and timed drills improve speed and accuracy. A learner might reread a passage three times, targeting 80 words per minute with 95 percent accuracy. Research shows 90 percent of tutored students gain fluency after 12 weeks.
- Comprehension Strategies: Summarizing texts, visualizing scenes, or asking “who, what, where” questions boosts understanding. Multisensory tools, like drawing a story’s events, make ideas tangible.
These techniques create a robust literacy framework.
Designing a Multisensory Tutoring Session (Step-by-Step)
Read Learning Center’s sessions maximize progress. A session begins with a 5-minute warm-up, reviewing skills like tracing letters or segmenting sounds. Direct instruction, 10 minutes, introduces a concept, like the “silent e” rule, using visuals and hands-on tasks. Guided practice, 30 minutes, lets learners apply skills, with feedback on errors, for example, “b” versus “d”. Cumulative review, 5 minutes, reinforces past lessons through games. Progress monitoring tracks words read per minute, guiding adjustments.
Putting It All Together: How Multisensory Techniques Work in Harmony
The power of Multisensory Dyslexia Tutoring lies in how these techniques integrate to create a dynamic, engaging learning experience. At Read Learning Center, a lesson might look like this:
- Visual Engagement: A learner sees a color-coded chart for “boat”, with the “oa” in blue to highlight the vowel team, reinforcing phonics patterns visually.
- Auditory Reinforcement: They finger spell or tap out “b-oa-t”, three claps, breaking the word into sounds to strengthen phonological awareness.
- Kinesthetic Action: Using magnetic letter tiles, they build “boat”, physically arranging letters to connect sounds to symbols.
- Tactile Connection: They trace “boat” in a sand tray, or some other method to feel the letter shapes to solidify memory through touch.
This combination hits every learning style, making reading less daunting and more engaging. By weaving together visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile inputs, tutors create a rich, multi-dimensional lesson that supports decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Whether you are a parent supporting at home or an educator seeking strategies, this integrated approach ensures dyslexic learners build skills that stick, fostering confidence and a love for reading.
What Sets READ Learning Center Apart (And What You Should Expect From Any Quality Dyslexia Program)
When searching for dyslexia support, it’s crucial to know what excellence looks like. At READ Learning Center, we’ve set the standard for comprehensive, evidence-based intervention—and these are the qualities every family should expect from a quality program.
Certified Dyslexia Specialists with Advanced Training
READ Learning Center’s program is led by Leah Skinner, a doctoral candidate in Reading, Literacy and Assessment, with over 20 years of experience and certifications in multiple evidence-based programs including Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, Barton, and Structured Word Inquiry (SWI). Kassie Hughey, a Master level Certified instructor and trainer for Read Learning Center, oversees all instruction. Our team has been working with dyslexic students for over a decade, with many instructors bringing years of specialized experience in structured literacy instruction.
This level of specialized training matters because dyslexia requires specific intervention approaches, not general tutoring methods. Quality programs should be able to name their exact certifications and demonstrate years of specialized practice with language-based learning differences.
Comprehensive Experience Across All Learning Profiles and Ages
READ Learning Center’s experience spans the full spectrum of dyslexic learners—from kindergarteners just beginning to struggle with letter sounds, to high schoolers who’ve been misunderstood for years, to adults returning to education after decades of feeling “not smart enough.”
We’ve worked with students who primarily need help with spelling and writing fluency, and we’ve supported learners who are just beginning to crack the reading code. Some of our students come to us reading below grade level, while others arrive with strong comprehension but struggle with decoding unfamiliar words. We understand that a 6-year-old needs playful, movement-based learning, while a teenager requires strategies that won’t feel childish, and an adult learner needs approaches that respect their life experience.
This breadth means we don’t have to guess about what works—we’ve seen diverse learning profiles and know how to adapt our methods whether your child needs intensive foundational work or targeted skill-building to reach their potential.
Transparent References and Proven Results
At READ Learning Center, we’re happy to provide references from current and former families who have worked with us. Many of our families have seen significant growth in their children’s reading, spelling, and confidence, and are willing to share their experiences. To protect privacy, we only share references with permission, and we can connect you with a family whose child has similar needs or age level.
Research-Based Timeline Expectations
READ Learning Center provides clear timeline expectations based on our experience and structured literacy research:
First 4–6 Months of Tutoring:
- Increased awareness of sounds, letter patterns, and spelling rules
- Early improvements in decoding and confidence
- More consistent application of taught strategies during reading and spelling
6–12 Months of Consistent Intervention:
- Noticeable gains in reading accuracy, fluency, and spelling proficiency
- Reduced reliance on guessing or memorization strategies
- Improved performance on progress monitoring and classroom assignments
12–24+ Months of Structured Literacy Instruction:
- Stronger automaticity in reading and spelling
- Increased comprehension and vocabulary development
- Readiness to transition to less intensive support or general education placement
Progress depends on multiple factors including the student’s starting point, frequency of sessions, home support, and student engagement. We set realistic expectations rather than promising unrealistic quick fixes.
Flexible Scheduling with Evidence-Based Frequency Recommendations
READ Learning Center’s tutoring sessions are available Monday through Thursday, with both after-school and daytime slots. We offer in-person and virtual options to accommodate family needs and location.
Our frequency recommendations are based on research and experience:
- Students needing foundational support: 2 sessions per week (50 minutes each) for steady progress, skill reinforcement and fidelity of the curriculum
- Students with diagnosed dyslexia requiring intensive intervention: 4 sessions per week (50 minutes each) for intensive, cumulative practice leading to faster, more significant improvement
Complete Materials and Structured Literacy Programs Included
At READ Learning Center, we provide all core instructional materials needed for your child’s tutoring sessions. These materials are selected based on the specific structured literacy program your child is enrolled in and are included as part of the program implementation. This ensures consistency and removes barriers to getting started.
Ongoing Communication and Progress Monitoring
READ Learning Center believes in transparent and ongoing communication with families to support student success. Parents can email their tutor for longer questions, with brief verbal check-ins encouraged after sessions. Families log into Gradelink (our student information platform) to see weekly updates and monitor progress reports. Tutors provide lesson passages, book recommendations, or worksheets when requested.
Clear Policies That Support Consistency
At READ Learning Center, we ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. Late cancellations (less than 24 hours) may be billed in full unless due to illness or emergency. For schedule changes due to school changes or sports, we ask for advance notice so we can adjust accordingly. Our policies balance consistency for students with understanding for families.
The READ Learning Center Difference
At READ Learning Center, we don’t just teach reading—we transform lives. Our evidence-based multisensory approach, experienced team, and commitment to transparent communication sets us apart in the Sacramento area. When you choose READ Learning Center, you’re choosing a program that exemplifies what quality dyslexia intervention should look like.
Monitoring Progress to Ensure Success
Assessing individual student needs
Read Learning Center begins with a thorough assessment of each student’s reading abilities, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. This baseline helps tutors craft personalized plans tailored to specific needs, such as decoding or fluency.
Tracking growth with ongoing evaluation
Tutors regularly evaluate progress through observations, reading tasks, and informal checks, adjusting lessons to keep students on track. This continuous feedback ensures instruction remains effective and responsive.
Setting clear goals for progress
Tutors set achievable goals, such as improving word recognition or reading speed, to guide instruction and motivate learners. These targets align with each student’s unique learning journey, fostering steady improvement.
Overcoming Common Roadblocks in Dyslexia Intervention
Motivation plateaus and how to re-engage students
Motivation dips are countered with engaging activities like rhyming games or small, celebrated goals, for example, mastering 10 words. Varying tasks keeps sessions fresh.
Coexisting ADHD or anxiety challenges
Short, structured tasks and calming multisensory exercises, for example, tracing letters, support focus for learners with ADHD or anxiety. Professional guidance may complement tutoring.
Transitioning from tutoring to independent learning
Gradual independence is built with strategies like self-checking work or using planners, fostering confidence in applying learned skills.
Conclusion: Crafting a Lifelong Love of Reading
Key takeaways for parents, educators, and learners
Multisensory Dyslexia Tutoring transforms reading challenges into strengths, blending dyslexia learning techniques like phonics-based intervention and structured literacy methods. It builds skills and confidence for lifelong success.
Next steps: free tools and further reading
Explore resources from the International Dyslexia Association or contact Read Learning Center for personalized, evidence-based literacy support. Your journey to reading success starts now.
Read Learning Center: Empowering Your Child’s Future
Dedicated to Helping Your Children to Reach Their Full Potential
At Read Learning Center we are driven by the belief that every child can shine with the right support. Seeing students overcome dyslexia and embrace reading fuels our passion daily. Your child’s journey to confidence and academic success starts here, and we are committed to turning challenges into victories, one word at a time.
Your Child’s Bright Future Begins Today!
Do not wait to unlock your child’s potential. Call us at (916) 234-5880 or schedule a private tour to experience how Read Learning Center’s personalized tutoring can transform your child’s future. Let us build a foundation for lifelong learning together!
About The Author
Leah Skinner, M.Ed., Founder of Read Learning Center, holds a Master of Education: Dyslexia Specialist and is a Doctoral Candidate in Reading, Literacy, and Assessment. As a Certified Dyslexia Therapist with over 20 years of experience and a mother of five neurodiverse sons, Leah brings expertise and empathy to every family. She guides Sacramento parents through their educational journey, fostering independence and academic success for dyslexic learners.