Reading Shouldn't Be a Battle.

Let's end the guessing, the tears, and the doubt.

The Barton Reading & Spelling System gives struggling readers what most programs don’t — explicit rules, a phonemic foundation, and one-on-one attention. Your child can read with confidence, not anxiety.

6+ Years

Helping struggling readers

Specialists
Not Tutors

Reading, spelling & dyslexia focused

Orton-
Gillingham

Research-backed, structured literacy

Virtual

One-on-one via Zoom

Let's get your child reading.

Most reading programs assume kids will pick up reading through exposure — more phonics, more practice, more time. For kids who learn differently, that method simply doesn’t work. They don’t need more of the same. They need instruction designed for how their brain actually learns.

We use the Barton Reading & Spelling System — a research-backed, Orton-Gillingham program proven effective for students with dyslexia. Unlike most programs that try to start at grade level, we take every student back to the beginning to fill in the gaps that are holding them back. We build a rock-solid foundation — then teach them the rules of reading and spelling step by step, so they actually understand how words work.

01Foundation

Build Phonemic Awareness

Most phonics programs assume kids can hear the individual sounds in words. Kids with dyslexia often can’t — and that’s why phonics hasn’t worked.

We start with phonemic awareness: teaching kids to clearly hear, discriminate, and manipulate every sound in a word. Before spelling the word “cat,” a child must know that this word contains 3 sounds, those sounds are different, those sounds are /c/, /a/, and /t/, and those sounds occur in that order.

Research shows that children with poor phonemic awareness go on to be (and stay) poor readers. This foundation is the missing piece for most struggling readers.

02Process

Teach the Actual Process of Reading and Spelling

Next we teach them how to actually read simple words — not guess based on shape or context clues.

Your child doesn’t just see and hear words — they build them with color-coded letter tiles. They move them. Say them aloud. Write them. Eyes, ears, hands, and voice all working together. This multisensory approach creates multiple pathways to memory instead of relying on the one pathway that doesn’t work.

For reading: identifying each sound in a word, mastering vowel sounds, and blending these sounds from left to right.
For spelling: slowing the word down to hear every sound, breaking those sounds apart, and identifying the corresponding letter for each sound.

03Mastery

Explain the Rules — No More Guessing

Now that we have a solid foundation, we begin teaching them how to break up longer words based on specific, understandable rules. We also teach them why we spell words the way we do.

This looks like understanding why sometimes we use a ‘c’ when other times we use a ‘k’ or even a ‘ck.’ We teach these rules explicitly, with memorable names like “Kiss the Cat,” “Milk Truck,” and the “Cry Baby” rule.

If we teach children why our words work the way they do, they no longer need to guess. We don’t move on until your child truly masters each concept — no gaps, no shaky foundations. We’re building rock-solid skills, not racing through a curriculum.

How we're different

Specialists, Not Tutors

A tutor is someone who is good at or knowledgeable about reading. A dyslexia specialist is someone who specializes in working with the dyslexic brain and making changes in neurological reading pathways. If tutoring hasn’t worked, more tutoring won’t help. It may be time for a specialist.

We Teach for True Understanding

We use the Barton Reading & Spelling System — a research-based, Orton-Gillingham program proven effective with dyslexic students. Appropriate and intensive reading intervention rewires pathways in your child’s brain to make reading more efficient. Traditional tutoring will not accomplish this.

Personal Instruction That's Convenient

Your child will develop a relationship with one coach and will exclusively work with them one-on-one, ensuring your child learns at a pace that suits them. Our sessions are via Zoom — no driving, no waiting rooms, no wasted time. We come to you.

Engaging Sessions — Even for Kids with ADHD

Parents sometimes worry that virtual instruction won’t be a good fit for their child. Our coaches come with years of experience and create lessons that are engaging for each individual student. Whether a child thrives on movement and games, or needs repetition and patience, our coaches rise to the challenge and come prepared.

No Long-Term Commitments

Some learning centers require 6- and 12-month commitments for their programs. We are so sure of our program, our coaches, and our students’ success, that we pride ourselves on offering month-to-month enrollment. Cancel anytime.

Sound familiar?

Which of these best describes your child's current struggles?

“My child spends hours studying for spelling tests but can't retain the words from one week to the next.Here's why

Here's why: Spelling tests often contain words with multiple different spelling rules — rules that were never explicitly taught in a way that made sense to your child. So they memorize a list of new words every week and ultimately haven't really learned how to spell any of them. Our systematic, step-by-step approach only introduces a few rules in each lesson and gives your child ample time to practice and understand how, why, and when to use each rule. We teach the "why" behind the words — so they actually stick.

“My child constantly leaves out letters when spelling. Instead of 'bed' he writes 'bd.' Instead of 'slip' he writes 'sip.'Here's why

Here's why: This is incredibly common in kids with dyslexia. Your child is leaving out letters because they likely have weak phonemic awareness — the ability to clearly hear, discriminate between, and manipulate each sound in a word. They don't realize there are additional sounds in the words. Our program emphasizes phonemic awareness training at the beginning levels so students learn to slow words down and isolate every sound they hear before spelling.

“My child can read a word perfectly on one page, but when the same word appears on another page, she has no idea what it is.Here's why

Here's why: This is a sign that your child isn't actually reading — they're guessing. Their primary method is memorizing word shapes and using context clues and pictures. They figured out the word on the first page because of the picture or the story context, not because they decoded it. These are the strategies struggling readers use, and they eventually hit a wall. Our program teaches children to slow down, identify letter sounds, apply the rules, and blend from left to right until they actually read the word.

“My child can usually read to a point, but doesn't know how to sound out unknown words.Here's why

Here's why: When we see kids struggling this way, it's usually because their primary reading strategies are memorization and guessing — not actually sounding out words from left to right using knowledge of spelling rules. This is problematic because they'll eventually encounter words they can't memorize or guess. We teach true decoding: slowly sounding out words and applying the rules, so they can read ANY word — even ones they've never seen before.

“My child struggles to master high-frequency words like 'because,' 'friend,' and 'does.'Here's why

Here's why: Most words in English can be sounded out once you know the rules. But some words just aren't spelled the way they sound. For these high-frequency "sight words," we use specific strategies to help students memorize how to read AND spell them. But here's the key: this is a small part of our sessions. We spend most of our time teaching your child to decode words by understanding the rules — because that's the skill that transfers to every word they'll ever encounter.

Sound familiar? You're not alone. Your smart, creative kid is starting to believe they're inadequate. They're not. They just haven't been taught the right way — yet.

Your investment

We recognize this is an investment in your child’s future — something we take seriously.

Our sessions are 50 minutes long and take place virtually via Zoom. Our contracts are month-to-month and do not require a long-term commitment, meaning you are free to cancel at any time.

Sessions begin as low as $70 per session (paid as a flat monthly tuition depending on the number of sessions per week) and can vary depending on your child’s unique needs. Texas families may qualify for PDSES and TEFA funding, which can cover some or all of the cost.

Funding options for Texas families (& beyond)

Several funding programs can help cover the cost of your child’s intervention. Here’s what’s available.

Texas PDSES Grant

One-time $1,500 grant

If your child has an IEP and is enrolled in a Texas public school, you may qualify for the Parent-Directed Special Education Services grant. Fearless Readers is an approved PDSES provider — use your funds directly through ClassWallet with no out-of-pocket cost. Don’t have an IEP yet? Our guide to getting dyslexia testing through your Texas school shows you how to start.

Visit PDSES website

Texas TEFA / ESA

Ongoing funding available

Fearless Readers is also an approved Texas Education Freedom Account provider. If your family qualifies, TEFA funds can be used toward ongoing intervention sessions — not just a one-time grant.

See your enrollment options →

Outside of Texas?

Options vary by state

Many states offer education savings accounts, scholarships, or grants for students with learning differences. Check whether your state’s funding programs can be applied toward services like ours.

What our families say

"Fearless Readers has been amazing. Our son was diagnosed with dyslexia back in March. He had started the Orton-Gillingham approach style of tutoring a year before being diagnosed but due to family issues for our tutor we had to stop his tutoring. I found Fearless Readers to pick back up on his tutoring and we have seen so much improvement not only in his reading and writing but also his confidence.

His grades in school have gone up and he is doing really well! Joyce has been amazing — our son enjoys his time with her and she is always so flexible and helpful when he is in an activity or we have something pop up that we need to change his tutoring time. This experience has been something that will be a life-changing moment for him!"

— Kaitlinn Mather

"Fearless Readers has been a blessing for my son. He began the Barton System intervention program at his previous school. Unfortunately, his new school did not use the same program. Luckily, I heard about Fearless Readers, and my son was able to continue. He recently completed Book 8. His coach is kind, professional, personable, knowledgeable, dependable, organized, and is a fantastic teacher."

— Shawna L.

"Zoe has dramatically improved. She now has the confidence to attempt to read anything. When she got a few Pokémon cards and showed them to me, I realized she is using her Barton Reading skills to decode these strange Pokémon names. She now reads everything, everywhere we go. Margaret and the Barton Reading Program have been absolutely wonderful for Zoe."

— The Austin Family

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from the tutoring we've already tried?

Most tutoring re-teaches reading the same way school does — just with more attention. That helps some kids, but not the ones whose brains process language differently. We use a completely different methodology: structured, multisensory, Orton-Gillingham based instruction that starts with phonemic awareness and explicitly teaches the rules of English spelling. It's designed specifically for how dyslexic brains learn. Traditional tutoring will not accomplish this.

Does my child need a dyslexia diagnosis to work with you?

No. A formal diagnosis is not required. If your child struggles with reading and spelling despite adequate instruction and effort, they may benefit from our approach. We screen every student before starting to make sure they're a good fit for the program. If you’d like to pursue testing through your child’s school first, our step-by-step guide to dyslexia testing in Texas schools walks you through exactly what to ask for — and what to do if the school says no.

My child already knows their letters and can read some words. Do we really need to start over?

If your child is struggling to read and spell, it's likely because they have gaps in their foundation. The foundational skill is phonemic awareness, and decades of research tells us that if a child has poor phonemic awareness skills, they will likely never go on to be good readers. We follow the research and start from the beginning to fill in any and all gaps. The good news: we move at your child's pace. If certain activities are easy and they don't have gaps, we speed right along. When they struggle, we slow down and make sure they completely understand before moving on.

My child has ADHD and I'm concerned they won't last a full 50-minute session.

We totally understand your concerns and want to assure you that we are very used to working with young wiggle worms. While we want to make sure your child gets the most out of every session, we also want them to enjoy the experience and look forward to it. The benefit of one-on-one sessions is that your child will be matched with a coach who really gets to know them. Sometimes we push, sometimes we play. It's all about figuring out what your child needs.

How long does it take to complete the program?

This program is a full reading and spelling curriculum designed to take a student from the very beginning to the end of their reading journey. Parents should expect this to be a multi-year process. Multiple factors affect timing: severity of learning differences, number of sessions per week, and consistency of attendance. Some students complete in as little as 2.5 years; others take closer to 5 years. We can't guarantee exactly how long it will take, but we can guarantee you'll be amazed by the results along the way.

Does my child have to complete all 10 books?

We don't require students to finish any specific number of books. We work month-to-month with no contracts. That said, we strongly encourage students — especially dyslexic students — to eventually complete all 10 Books. Sometimes parents are tempted to stop once they see progress, thinking the problem is solved. But that progress means the program is working and the child should continue! When students stop before completing higher levels, they miss out on strategies for reading longer, more complex words they'll encounter in high school, college, and adult life.

When should I start to see progress?

All students should make observable progress within a reasonable amount of time, but what this looks like varies. Younger students tend to show progress faster because there hasn't been enough time for a significant learning gap to develop. Older students will have a larger gap to fill and it will take longer before they're reading at their comprehension level. This doesn't mean progress isn't happening — it might just look different than you expect. Your coach will keep you informed and updated with what progress they see.

My child is also getting reading intervention at school. Can they do both?

Often we think if 1 is good, then 2 must be better. But this is usually not the case with reading intervention. Every program has its own way of teaching things — concepts are introduced at different times, and names of rules vary. Having your student do two programs at once causes confusion as they try to use strategies from one program inappropriately during the other. Because of this added stress, our recommendation is that your child only do one intervention program at a time.

Can I do 1 session a week instead of 2?

Offering the Barton Reading and Spelling System with fidelity is our top priority. Because this program is meant to be an intensive intervention, and students need consistent exposure to the rules and ample opportunity to practice, we require every student attend a minimum of 2 sessions per week.

What if we need to miss a session or take a break?

No worries! While we want to stick to a set schedule, we know that life happens. If you're sick or need to take a vacation, just let us know ahead of time and we'll schedule a makeup session at your earliest convenience. If a longer break is needed, we can pause our services and pick back up when you're ready.

Ready to enroll? Here are the next steps:

STEP 1

Fill out our New Student Intake Form.

STEP 2

Pay your deposit.

STEP 3

Get matched with your coach and begin your virtual journey.

Ready to change how your child reads?

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