Your learner doesn't need to try harder. They just need to be taught the way their brain learns.
Pine State Learning provides individualized instruction for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia. Many of the students we work with have been through tutoring, intervention programs, or special education services without meaningful progress. We start by understanding how each student learns, then design instruction that fits their profile rather than asking them to fit a program. With the right methods, curricula, and support, confidence grows and students thrive.
With the right methods, curricula, and support, confidence grows and "behavior" becomes a non-issue.
Truly Prescriptive Learning
We assess each student's cognitive and academic profile before instruction begins so we can select the right program for how they learn. For some students that is Orton-Gillingham based instruction. For others it is Lindamood-Bell LIPS or Seeing Stars, On Cloud Nine for numeracy, or Morningside for fluency. Knowing what to use, when, and why is what makes the difference. Each lesson is tailored to the exact level and need of the student, using the most effective structured, research-based program or combination of programs for their learning profile. We have taught hundreds of learners and have seen what prescriptive, precision teaching makes possible.
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. The learners we work with are "trying harder" than most of their peers the moment they step foot in a classroom.
Imagine for a minute, you arrive at flying school but you get there and there is no plane.
How long would you keep "trying hard" at learning to fly?
And if you had to just keep going... keep trying 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 a little sarcastic?
"Not trying" is communication that your learner is not being taught the way
that their brain needs to learn.
If this sounds 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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Is "scary smart" in some areas but not making progress in reading, writing, or math.
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Has had tutoring in the past, but no real progress.
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After a few great school years, they started "acting out" (usually at the end of second or during third grade).
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Meeting IEP goals but still very far behind peers.
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A third, fourth, or fifth grader who is 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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Learning difficulties are damaging their self esteem or becoming behavior challenges in a school setting (home or brick and mortar schools).
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You keep getting reports from tutors or teachers that they can't sit still or "will not try".
These are the patterns we specialize in identifying and addressing.
In 2025, our students improved decoding skills
by an average of 2.5 grade levels.
Precise Instruction
We teach in a systematic, direct, and explicit way. Students are not expected to know anything that has not been taught, and do not repeat skills once they have been mastered. Each student's underlying skills, including phonological and phonemic awareness, orthographic ability, number sense, and executive function, are assessed and taught systematically.
Learner Focused
Our instruction is multisensory, using auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and tactile techniques. In reading, orthographic and phonological skills are addressed simultaneously, building from foundational reading through spelling, comprehension, and writing. In math, number sense, subitizing, and deep understanding of algorithms are prioritized over rote memorization.
Ways we can help:
Tutoring
Our structured, multisensory reading, writing, and math instruction is grounded in current research. We teach students in person in southern coastal Maine and serve students nationwide and internationally online. In 2025 we supported 67 students, with an average gain of 2.5 grade levels in decoding for those who completed the recommended hours.
Independent Educational Evaluations
Our independent educational evaluations identify learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, and provide a clear picture of each learner's strengths and areas for growth. If you are concerned about your learner's progress or want detailed information about their learning needs, an evaluation can help. We name specific strategies and methodologies so that you know what to ask for at the next IEP.
Professional Development/Provider of SDI
We serve as a special education provider for students with unique learning needs and districts that are willing to think outside the box. For many districts, where an out of district placement is not an option, or a less restrictive environment makes more sense than a special purpose school, we provide virtual, direct specialized instruction for students with learning disabilities. This is the level of service that families advocate for. We focus on supporting learners and communicating effectively with families. We provide assessment, write IEP goals, and provide specially designed instruction.
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.
- Mrs. S, 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!
Sarah M., parent of a high schooler
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.
- Maine Special Education Director
Our Commitment To Equity
We are committed to working against the way that racial and socioeconomic privilege manifests itself in the identification and remediation of learning disabilities.
We do what we can by offering need based scholarships, doing pro-bono consultation for families with economic needs, providing services in some of Maine's lowest resource schools, and working with educational advocates on the toughest cases to help ALL students get what they need.
How to get started for families or individuals:
We work to get to know each family and learner before we start so we can design the right program for where they are right now.
Step 1: Quick Consult
Step 2: File Review or Assessment
Step 3: Start Tutoring
A quick conversation to determine if we are what you need, determine whether you need an independent academic evaluation, file review, or tutoring pretest (or another service entirely).
We look in depth at your learner's academic and underlying skills, either through review of previous evaluations or working with our evaluator, compile into a skill sketch, and make instructional recommendations.
Whether you are working intensively (1-3 sessions per day), a few times per week, or supporting your own learner at home, this is where the magic happens!
FAQS
Q: What does Pine State Learning specialize in? A: We specialize in supporting students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia — kids who are smart and capable but whose brains process reading, writing, or math differently. We work with students from age 5 through adult, and our approach is built around figuring out exactly what's missing for each child before choosing how to address it. Q: Where are you located, and do you offer online sessions? A: We're based in Brunswick, Maine with a second location in Portland. We also offer live, one-on-one online sessions for families anywhere in Maine and New England. Online sessions are equally effective for the work we do — the instruction doesn't change, and the tutor relationship is just as strong. Q: How is Pine State Learning different from other tutoring services? A: Most tutoring services match your child to a program. We do the opposite — we figure out exactly which skills are missing, then find the approach that fits those gaps. We're trained in multiple research-validated methods (not just one), so we can pull from what actually works for your specific child rather than what the certification manual says to do next. Q: Does my child need a formal diagnosis before starting? A: No. A lot of families come to us before they have a diagnosis — or after getting a school evaluation that didn't give them real answers. You don't need a piece of paper to get help. If your child is struggling with reading, writing, or math, that's enough reason to start a conversation. We can often help identify what's going on through our own process. Q: How do I get started? A: Start with a free 15-minute consultation. We'll hear what's been happening with your child, tell you honestly what we think is going on, and point you toward the right next step — whether that's tutoring, an evaluation, a learning kit, or something else entirely. No pitch, no pressure.