Direct Instruction
For many years, reading instruction was based on the assumption that students would simply “pick up” the many components of reading. Research has increasingly shown, however, that reading is best taught explicitly and systematically—especially for students with dyslexia. Skills need to be directly taught, beginning with phonics—the relationship between letters and sounds—and continuing all the way through active reading-comprehension strategies that teach students how to engage their minds with the written word.
Guided by this understanding, I spent the next 40+ years pursuing advanced training—and training other teachers—in programs and approaches grounded in explicit, systematic instruction, including The Corrective Reading Program, Open Court Reading, the Wilson Reading System, and Orton-Gillingham.
She mastered all 100 words. We ripped up the word cards because she didn’t need them anymore. Time to celebrate!
Dyslexia specialist – reading specialist – Orton Gillingham specialist
Testimonials
“Thank you for all your hard work with our daughter. She has come a long way. Her confidence is growing. Yesterday we played Trivial Pursuit with the neighbors and she read all the questions out loud. A year ago this would have been unthinkable.”
“Having Paula work with our sons was the single best educational decision we could have made. She worked with an abundance of patience, kindness, humor, and love – and our sons thrived. They advanced from below grade readers and struggling students, to graduating from high school and university with the highest honors. At a time when their future was of deep concern for us, Paula came into our lives and made all the difference!”
“Paula and I have worked together professionally for years. I refer students to her because her exceptional empathy enables her to connect with them as individuals and, through that connection, tailor instruction to meet their educational needs. The combination of Paula’s decades of training, experience and wisdom coupled with her patience and passion for teaching is truly extraordinary.”
“When we found Paula, she assured us that she would teach our dyslexic daughter, Jasmin, to read. She was a Godsend to our family. We owe Paula so much for, assisting our daughter educationally as well as building Jasmin’s confidence in realizing her true potential.”
“I have had great teachers, but my success comes down to two things: the work ethic instilled in me by my parents, and the teachings of my educational therapist, Paula Luxenberg. Paula strengthened my reading and writing and gave me the tools to manage my dyslexia learning disability. Many of these tools she taught me I still use today. I can say with certainty that none of this would have been possible without Paula. And for that, I am forever grateful.”