From Tears to Triumph: My Daughter's Tutoring Journey

When Tierney was little, it was clear she was an exceptionally bright child. She worked tremendously hard, was curious, and had a mind that soaked up information. But when it came to reading, something just didn’t click — despite all our efforts at home.

At first, her struggles looked like the typical bumps along the road that many children face when learning to read. She received extra help from her Grade 1 teacher through Reading Recovery and even attended summer school. And because Tierney was clever, she masked her difficulties well. Her sharp memory and strong verbal skills allowed her to develop impressive coping mechanisms that hid just how much she was struggling.

But by the end of Grade 2, I knew. My daughter still couldn’t blend sounds together to read basic words. No matter how hard she worked, reading remained a wall she couldn’t climb. My child was bright, determined — and illiterate.

Unable to get the support we needed through the school, I decided to pursue private testing. Toward the end of Grade 3, we finally had answers: Tierney was diagnosed with dyslexia — a specific learning disability in reading and written expression. The results were sobering: she was reading at a late Kindergarten to early Grade 1 level and placed in the bottom 2% for reading and writing. The gap between her intellect and her abilities was growing, and so was her frustration. Her confidence began to erode, and her once-reliable coping strategies were no longer enough.

I threw myself into researching her diagnosis and kept coming across the Barton Reading & Spelling System. After completing the tutor and student screeners, I ordered Level 1 and committed to trying it with Tierney for two hours a week. I was desperate — but for the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful.

Right from the start, I could tell this program was different. We dove into:

• Level 1: Phonemic Awareness

• Level 2: Consonants and Short Vowels

• Level 3: Closed and Unit Syllables

• Level 4: Syllable Division and Vowel Teams

• Level 5: Prefixes and Suffixes

• Level 6: The Six Reasons for Silent E

  
  

After completing Level 3, something incredible happened. My daughter — my non-reader — started reading signs as we drove around town. I cried tears of joy when she asked me not to read the menu for her at dinner. She could do it herself.

The biggest leap came after Level 4. Tierney began asking to buy books — not for school, but for fun. This was the same child who once burst into tears at the mention of a reading task, now choosing to read for pleasure.

By the end of Grade 6, Tierney’s reading level had jumped to early Grade 5. She was right in the middle of her peer group — a monumental accomplishment.

Today, she’s in Grade 11 and on track to graduate half a year early. She’s academically successful, consistently earns recognition for her work ethic, and most importantly, she’s confident and proud of who she is.

For her capstone project, Tierney is writing a series of decodable children’s books, inspired by her own journey. Her goal is to make reading accessible — and joyful — for all children, no matter their challenges.

Final Thoughts

Dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence or effort. It’s a unique learning disability that requires the right approach, patience, and unwavering support. For our family, the Barton Program was life-changing. It gave Tierney the tools she needed to unlock the world of reading and rediscover her love of learning.

If you're a parent navigating similar struggles, know this: progress is possible. And sometimes, it starts with just one step — and a whole lot of hope. I am here to help!