Written by Jenny Van Der Meer, Certified Barton Educator at LCA
Is your child smart, but struggles in reading and spelling? You are told they just need more time, and he will be just fine. Your student laboriously reads a page of print, but struggles with knowing what he just read. He typically has good oral comprehension, but struggles with reading it themselves to understand. We have witnessed bright students hit the wall some time between 3rd-5th grade in reading and/or spelling. What they need to be successful is early intervention, the sooner the better.
According to the National Institute of Child and Health, “It takes four times as long to intervene in fourth grade as it does in kindergarten because of brain development and the increase in content for students to learn as they grow.”
Tutoring students in the Barton Reading and Spelling System for the past three years has been a privilege. I have personally observed struggling students come to life with Susan Barton’s winning program. I have witnessed a student struggling to read a page, to reading a book with beautiful fluency due to this intense program.
Although originally designed for students’ diagnosed with dyslexia, Susan Barton has created a dynamic program for anyone ages 5-95 who struggles with reading and/or spelling. Her Orton Gillingham based system is taught to students on an individual basis, allowing them to progress at their own speed. The Barton program takes 3-5 years depending on the severity.
The intense, explicit instruction teaches students to attack words phonetically. One important piece of the program involves a series of rules (tools). I like to refer to these as tools students can wear on their tool belt inside the classroom utilizing them whenever they are needed.
There’s nothing more rewarding than watching your frustrated child go from reading below grade level to reading on or above grade level with their peers. Students can overcome their obstacles; they just need material to be presented in a different format. We often receive feedback from parents that confirm the success of the Barton Program. Parent Staci Williams says “For the first time ever in my child’s short and sweet little life, he is reading a book in his free time. Without being asked. You guys are a powerhouse. I’ve dreamed of this day. His confidence is soaring since starting Barton. Thank you for listening to me when I requested help.”
Providing tutoring for your student is a sacrifice of time and resources; however, be assured that it makes a tremendous difference equipping them to rise to whatever challenge comes up.
LCA’s Barton Program is available for LCA students as well as students who do not attend LCA. Enrollment into the Barton Program is currently open. Please visit the Barton page on our website or contact Jenny Van Der Meer at jennyv@lcalions.com for more information.
