Some children struggle with reading even in strong classrooms.
They need instruction that teaches them how reading actually works.
Certified Elementary Teacher | Structured Literacy Approach
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Students I Work With
Kindergarten through 3rd grade is when children build the foundations of reading. If those skills don’t develop clearly and systematically, reading can quickly become frustrating and confusing.
Early support helps children build the skills they need before small gaps become bigger struggles.
Some children continue to struggle with reading even with extra help at school.
These students often benefit from structured literacy instruction that teaches how sounds connect to letters and words step by step — helping reading finally start to make sense.
Why Children Struggle to Read — and What Helps
Your child guesses at words instead of sounding them out
Reading is slow, choppy, or takes a lot of effort
They get stuck on simple sight words they've seen before
They avoid reading or become frustrated quickly
Spelling is inconsistent or doesn't match the sounds they hear
They're not improving, even with extra help
These struggles aren’t random. Many students are trying hard — but the connection between sounds and letters hasn't become automatic.
Reading develops when children first learn to hear and work with the sounds in words, and then connect those sounds to letters and print. When that foundation isn’t firmly in place, reading feels confusing rather than natural.
Reading doesn’t have to stay a struggle. When students are taught explicitly and systematically — first building sound awareness and then connecting those sounds to letters — reading begins to make sense.
With the right instruction, students can build the skills they need to read accurately, confidently, and independently.
How I Help Your Child Read with Confidence
I begin by identifying exactly where reading breaks down — whether it's phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling patterns, or a combination of these skills.
Instruction starts in the right place so your child builds the skills they're actually missing, rather than guessing or practicing the wrong ones.
Lessons follow a clear, structured sequence — first strengthening phonemic awareness, then connecting those sounds to letters and spelling patterns.
Each new skill builds on the one before it, helping reading become more accurate and automatic.
As foundational skills strengthen, reading becomes easier and more automatic.
Students begin reading more accurately, with greater confidence and far less frustration — and those skills transfer to independent reading at school and at home.
How This Is Different
Not homework help or reading practice
Focused on building the foundational skills that make reading possible
Skills are taught clearly and step-by-step
Each lesson builds on the one before it
No guessing or trial-and-error strategies
Grounded in how the brain learns to read
Supported by decades of reading research
Services and Pricing
Initial Reading Assessment
30-minute 1:1 online session
Identifies where reading breaks down
Checks phonemic awareness, decoding and spelling skills
Determines the right starting point
Includes clear recommendations for next steps
$75 one-time assessment
(No ongoing commitment required)
I conduct structured reading assessments to evaluate your child’s current skill level and instructional needs. Formal diagnoses are not provided.
Sessions are 30 minutes to keep instruction focused and effective for young learners.
Students typically attend 2 sessions per week for steady reading progress.
Reading Start
4 Sessions
30-minute 1:1 sessions
A good starting option for new students
$240
Reading Foundations
8 Sessions
30-minute 1:1 sessions
Builds consistency and early progress
$480
Reading Growth
16 Sessions
30-minute 1:1 sessions
Supports steady reading progress
$960
Reading Mastery
24 Sessions
30-minute 1:1 sessions
Ideal for students needing longer-term support
$1,440
What Happens Next
Complete a short intake form
I review your child’s background and current reading needs
I contact you within 24–48 hours to schedule your child’s reading assessment
We complete the reading assessment and outline clear next steps
Ready to Get Your Child Back on Track?
Book a reading assessment to see exactly where support is needed
Dave Fogarty is a certified elementary teacher with over a decade of classroom experience and more than 15 years working with children in structured learning environments.
He works primarily with early elementary students (typically grades K–3) who are struggling to learn to read, falling behind their peers, or not making expected progress despite classroom instruction.
As a classroom teacher, Dave saw firsthand how some students continue to struggle—even in strong classrooms with dedicated teachers. Not every reading approach meets every child’s needs, and some students are left without the individualized support they need to truly succeed.
That’s why he now focuses on structured literacy—an evidence-based approach that targets the foundational skills students need to become readers. His instruction builds phonemic awareness, decoding, and spelling in a clear, step-by-step way.
Sessions are individualized and designed to produce steady, measurable progress. Dave develops a clear plan for each student and keeps families informed every step of the way—providing updates, support, and guidance as their child builds the foundational skills required to read words accurately and independently.
Cancellation Policy
All sessions must be paid in advance to confirm your scheduled time.
A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a session.
Cancellations made with at least 24 hours’ notice may be rescheduled or credited toward a future session.
Late cancellations (less than 24 hours’ notice) and missed sessions (no-shows) are not eligible for rescheduling or credit.
Sessions begin and end at the scheduled time. If a student arrives late, the session will still end at the originally scheduled time.
As a courtesy, one late cancellation or missed session may be credited at no charge. Any additional late cancellations or missed sessions will not be credited or refunded.
Dave’s Reading Studio
Structured literacy tutoring for struggling readers in grades K-3
Email: dave@davesreadingstudio.com
Online instruction
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