The Literacy Keys - Dyslexia resources and structured literacy tips by an Orton Gillingham tutor

Explaining dyslexia to your child shouldn't feel like delivering a medical sentence. It’s about finally giving them the key to why they’ve been working twice as hard for half the results.
Without a name for their struggle, children often fill in the blanks with their own words that aren’t helpful. This episode is your guide to having “the talk” with your child. Whether your child is just starting to notice the gap or is a frustrated teen who has already given up on books.
After listening, you’ll:
Give your child a clear way to understand their unique processing style.
Master how to talk to my child about dyslexia using specific, age-appropriate scripts.
Shift to a different mindset using a brain metaphor that makes sense to kids (and overwhelmed parents!)

If you’re ready for more than just a conversation and need a customized roadmap, reach out and contact me today. Let’s see how 1:1 educational therapy can turn your struggling reader into an independent, confident learner.

If this episode helped you breathe a little easier today and made explaining dyslexia easier for you, please share it with one other parent who is walking this path. Remember to subscribe for more practical, guilt-free guidance.

Cheers,
Tracy Young
Dyslexia Expert - Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
The Literacy Keys

Chapters
(00:00) Explaining Dyslexia
(8:06) Explaining Dyslexia to a 5-9 year old
(10:56) Explaining Dyslexia to a 10-12 year old
(14:09) Explaining Dyslexia to a teenager
(16:53) 3 Simple Steps in Explaining Dyslexia

transcript

Are you exhausted from the mountain of report cards and school meetings?  Do you feel that grade retention is the only option for your child? For a struggling reader or a dyslexic child, repeating a grade without changing the instruction is like asking them to run laps on a sprained ankle. Hope alone isn’t enough.
 
In this episode, I’m breaking down the pros and cons (in plain English) so you can stop second-guessing yourself and make the right decision for your family. We’ll discuss some of the research and what it actually says regarding grade retention, and why your child might not benefit from repeating a grade.  They may actually need a different way of learning.
 
I’ve spent years helping kids crack the code, and I want to share what your child needs to succeed. Whether the school is pushing grade retention, or you’re the one considering it, let’s sit down for a chat.
 
After listening, you’ll:
Confidently decide if grade retention is the right path for your family or if it’s time to pivot your instructional strategy.
Ask the right questions in school meetings that ensure your child gets evidence-based intervention.
Reclaim your sanity with a doable, 5-step plan.
 
So if you’re ready to stop the guesswork and get your child the expert, individualized support they deserve, let's talk. Reach out to me at https://theliteracykeys.com/contact/to explore how virtual 1:1 tutoring can change everything for your reader.
 
Please subscribe to the show and share this episode with another parent that you know is losing sleep over this same decision.

Chapters:
(00:00) Emotional Weight of Grade Retention Decisions
(02:18) Defining Grade Retention and Legal Implications for Your Child
(08:07) Why Grade Retention Fails Dyslexic and Struggling Students

transcript

Today on The Literacy Keys, we are diving deep into a topic that is often whispered about but rarely confronted head-on: the reality of failing schools.
I’m joined by award-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst, author of The Failure Factory, to pull back the curtain on the institutional gaps that leave so many of our neurodiverse learners behind. If you’ve ever felt like your child was just a number on a spreadsheet or that common sense doesn't exist during a frustrating IEP meeting, this episode about failing schools is for you.
We often find ourselves asking, "why are public schools failing?" and the answer is rarely about a lack of potential in our kids. It’s more about a system that isn't built to prioritize them. We’re moving past the "wait and fail" model to give you the truth about how the system operates and, more importantly, how you can reclaim control. There is a path forward, one small win at a time.

After listening, you’ll:
1) Understand the "Failure Factory" incentive structure that contributes to failing schools.
2) Spot the institutional red flags early to ensure your child gets specific, effective intervention.
3) Gain the confidence to challenge administrative decisions by understanding the "money trail" that often dictates classroom priorities.

Ready to stop the guesswork and get your child the expert, individualized support they deserve? Let’s talk about a personalized path forward for your learner right here: https://theliteracykeys.com/contact/

If you know another parent who is losing sleep over their child's progress, please share this episode with them and hit subscribe so you never miss a win.

Resources mentioned:
The Failure Factory by Chris Papst: [https://a.co/d/07iEYZhS]

Chapters:
(05:18) A Personal Account of Systemic Educational Failure
(15:59) The Special Education Crisis: Unfulfilled IEPs and Lack of Accountability
(23:06) Pathways to Hope: How Parents Can Reclaim Our Public Schools

transcript

Turn your I don't know how to help concerns into a clear, actionable plan that builds your child's reading brick by brick. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the Orton Gillingham Methodology to show you exactly how we re-wire the brain for reading success.

If you’ve been feeling exhausted from the reading battles, I want you to know: you aren’t powerless. You don’t need a teaching certificate to help your child, but you do need a proven roadmap that moves beyond the alphabet song and the guessing games. We are going to walk through a typical Orton Gillingham session together, section by section, so you can understand the Orton Gillingham approach without the confusing jargon. Think of this as your personal guided tour designed specifically for the way children actually learn.

We’re moving away from the frustration of rote memorization and moving toward real, lasting literacy. By understanding the Orton Gillingham Methodology, you can provide the scaffolding your child needs to become an independent learner who finally feels like they can crack the code.

After listening, you’ll:
[05:20] Understand the exact structure of a high-impact session.
[12:45] Identify how to use multisensory tools.
[19:10] Learn why ending a session by reversing roles is the secret.
[25:30] Gain the confidence to start teaching your child the logic of English.

If you’re ready to see if individualized educational therapy is the right fit for your family, or you just want to talk through your child's specific needs, reach out to me at https://theliteracykeys.com/contact/.

Lastly, if you know another parent currently in the trenches of reading battles, please share this episode with them and subscribe so you never miss a key!  It’s free to subscribe. 

transcript
#ortongillingham
#ortongillinghammethodology
#strugglingreader

We’re often told by schools to trust the process, but when your child is guessing at words and struggling to spell simple things, that advice feels empty. If you’ve been searching for how to teach reading in a way that actually works, you’ve likely realized that more of the same isn't the answer.

Today, we are moving past the overwhelm, ignoring the advice to be patient and looking at practical, evidence-based ways to support how to teach reading to kids who have been left behind.
After listening to this episode, you’ll:
1) Identify the hidden reason why your child is "stuck".
2) Explore three parent-friendly programs that explain exactly how to teach reading without a teaching degree.
3) Use the "Purple Challenge" to finally understand the problem with a widely accepted reading program. 

If you're still overwhelmed and seeking 1:1 support tailored to your unique child, let's connect at: https://theliteracykeys.com/contact/

Resources Mentioned:
All About Reading

UFLI Foundations

PRIDE Reading Program

Purple Challenge Video

If you know another parent who is also questioning why their child is struggling, please share this episode with them. Don't forget to subscribe for free for weekly keys to unlocking your child's literacy!

00:00 Understanding Child Literacy Challenges
09:27 The Science of Reading Explained
15:11 Effective Curricula for Teaching Reading and Spelling