Academic struggles do not mean a lack of learning potential.
Your learner doesn't need to try harder. They just need to be taught the way their brain learns. That's what we do.
We specialize in dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia instruction. Our students are the ones who've been through the standard programs and are still stuck, the ones who need to move a lot to get their brains to work, or the ones still falling behind despite extra help. We know how to figure out what works for each learner, why they are struggling, and the best way to get them to get them back on track.
If any of these sound like your learner...
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Identified as a student with a specific learning disability and you suspect dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia.
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Identified as a student with ADHD but you suspect a deeper difficulty.
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Has had some tutoring in the past, but no real progress.
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Started "acting out" at the end of 2nd or beginning of 3rd grade
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Meeting IEP goals but still far behind.
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You don't really know what they are working on with their teacher or tutor
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3rd, 4th, or 5th grader not reading chapter books yet.
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Asking them to read results in headaches, belly aches, or meltdowns.
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School avoidance and refusal are becoming daily occurrences.
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You are worried that their learning difficulties are damaging their self esteem or becoming behavior difficulties.
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Your teacher or last tutor said that your learner could not sit still or "would not try".
-- then you are in the right place.
These are our students, the ones we love to work with!
At the core of all we do is the belief that learners do well when they can.
If students are not being taught the way their brains work,
trying harder will not make them succeed. Our students are "trying harder" than most of their peers the moment they step foot in the classroom.
Imagine that you just got sent to flying school but you get there and there is no plane. How long would it take you to give up on "learning to fly"?
And if you had to just keep going... and keep trying at it with a positive attitude?
How would you act? Would you joke with your friend about it while the teacher was talking, walk out of the lesson, maybe get sarcastic?
Behavior is communication that your learner is not being taught the way that they need to learn.
The right methods make the difference for our students.
Individualized & Prescriptive
We understand the unique cognitive and academic profile of each student before teaching so that we can design the most effective and fun program for every student we work with. For some students this is Orton-Gillingham, for some students this means Lindamood-Bell or Morningside curricula. Knowing what and when is what makes a difference for our students.
Each lesson is tailored to the exact level and need of the student. Our approach is to utilize the most effective, structured, research-based, program or programs for each student's individual learning profile.
Precise Instruction
We teach the material in a systematic, direct, and explicit way. Students are neither expected to know anything that has not been taught nor repeat things once they have been mastered.
We always take into account each student's unique profile of underlying skills: phonological and phonemic awareness, orthographic ability, number sense, and executive function skills can all be taught systematically.
Learner Focused
Our teaching approach is multisensory and fun. We utilize auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and tactile teaching techniques to make learning stick.
In Reading: orthographic and phonological skills are addressed simultaneously: spelling and reading are developed for both phonological and irregular words. In Math: number sense, subitizing, and deep understanding are prioritized over rote memorization.
Ways we can help:
Lisa is incredibly knowledgeable in designing reading interventions and instruction for students with learning disabilities. As a special education teacher, I refer to her for some of my most difficult cases.
- Special Educator
When we started working with Lisa we were so thankful to finally find someone who understood our son’s needs and how to address them! We saw significant improvement in his reading, and his confidence. I don’t know where we would be without her knowledge, and expertise, we remain forever thankful for all she has done for our family!
- Parent of a 2nd grader
I have seen tremendous growth in students who have worked under Lisa Murphy's direction. Students have improved multiple grade levels and their confidence has skyrocketed.