Patient Support for Literacy Journeys
Who Am I?
Hello, I'm Kimberly; I am a fully credentialed teacher with a Master's degree in Education. I live in Orange County with my husband, active toddler, and our two dogs. After my son was born, I knew I wanted to take a step back from full-time classroom teaching. I longed to create a space with less red tape, where students are provided time to focus with intentionality. Upon resigning, I realized I wanted to take my favorite piece of teaching with me: supporting kiddos in their reading journey. I obtained my business license in order to serve families in Orange County and beyond. After spending four years as a classroom Special Education teacher, and well over a decade working in education as a reading tutor, substitute teacher, paraprofessional, and behavioral therapist, I've personally witnessed how reading challenges can impact all areas of academia, and even social confidence and development. My favorite part of teaching was always meeting a student who couldn't read a sentence aloud and witnessing them become a confident reader and public speaker. Reading is a foundational skill that serves as a cornerstone to academic success. Whether virtually or in your home, I want to help kids find their spark again by turning frustration into proud moments where everything clicks. When fluency becomes second nature, a genuine love of reading follows, and that's what I'd love to partner with you in. Whether you're looking for intensive intervention or just a little extra support, I'm looking forward to hearing from you to determine if we might be a good fit!
Why Reading Intervention Matters
If your child is struggling with literacy, you are definitely not alone! Understanding the challenges in literacy today is the first step toward empowering your child’s future. The statistics may seem overwhelming, but they can point us to the need for targeted intervention. Early support transforms struggles into success.
20%
Frequent Reading Struggles
Approximately 1 in 5 children struggle with reading in a way that is categorized as severe. These challenges are common but require specialized attention.
50%
Long-Term Academic Risks
Elementary students who struggle with reading are 50% more likely to drop out of high school, impacting their confidence and future academic success.
1:1
Success with 1:1 Tutoring
Early intervention and personalized 1:1 tutoring are largely proven to be the most effective ways to close the gap, building foundational skills and a lifelong love for reading.
Many students will continue to fall behind when we rely on school alone. Class sizes, scheduling limitations, staffing issues, and overworked teachers mean struggling readers can’t always get the focused help they need. As a former Special Education teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how kids can slip through the cracks if they don't already possess literacy skills. I can't count how many times I have sat down with a student requiring specific intervention, only to be interrupted by a fire drill, intercom announcement, call from the office, or an unexpected visitor. Many kiddos will certainly require additional support provided in a different environment; that's where I come in.
Session Structure
Letter-to-sound correspondence & phonics
After we say hello and touch base for a few minutes, we will work on letter-sound correspondence, vowel teams and consonant clusters, and sounding out phonemes. We may use multi-modal measures such as sky-writing, sand writing, letter tiles, rhyming and singing sounds, or matching sound games that emphasize letter-sound correspondence or phonemic patterns.
I believe in being flexible and adapting to student needs while teaching. However, the basic structure (or backbone) of our sessions will typically follow a 20/20/20 pattern. In other words, each 20 minutes of an hour-long session will have an emphasis on a different area of reading to help cultivate a well-diversified skill set. Here is a breakdown of what our focus points will largely resemble.
Fluency and decoding practice with single syllable & multi-syllabic words.
Repetition and consistency matter! In the center of our session we may focus on high frequency and multi-syllabic word repetition. This could include word walls, decoding games, sight reading drills, word sorts and matches, syllable clapping, flash cards, and sentence construction. We will work to build muscle memory and recognition, while keeping it fun and simple.
Reading in-context, comprehension, and reading aloud together
It's nearly impossible to be a confident reader if you don't understand or enjoy what you are reading. During the final portion of our time, we will focus on applying everything we've learned. We read together from preferred books and passages, working on oral fluency and comprehension to foster a love of reading. We'll work on comprehension strategies for real-world contexts by reading aloud together to build confidence and genuine understanding.
Our Time Learning Together
I want our sessions to feel like a highlight in your child’s day. We may begin every visit with a short check-in followed by engaging, low-pressure games designed to strengthen skills without unneeded pressure. My approach focuses on making every reading milestone feel like a victory, using warm encouragement and activities tailored to your child’s interests. Whether we are laughing over a silly story or working through a challenging sound, I ensure they feel fully supported. It is all about nurturing confidence in progress and enjoying the process while they discover their own potential.
Prices vary based on location and number of students per session. You can contact me directly here, or at the contact information provided below for my current availability.
Contact information:
Email: kimberlysreaders@gmail.com
Google voice #: 949-407-9198
Cancellation policy: Life happens, and so do cancellations! If you need to cancel within 24 hours of a session, please note that there will be a 50% cancellation fee in place of your typical payment to cover prep-time and help me to ensure protection from excessive cancellations.
Starter Package: The 4-Session Intro
$200 Special Rate
Try out tutoring at a reduced rate to see if it’s beneficial for you. Designed for families to try out tutoring without long-term pressure. This is a focused, 4-session starter package to help determine if tutoring with me is the right fit.
Get in Touch
I'd love to hear about your child's reading journey. Contact me to schedule a free phone consultation today!