At LearnUp, every tutor is trained and certified specifically in our structured literacy program to work with students. Our approach is grounded in the science of reading and includes all of the key elements you’d expect: explicit, systematic, sequential, and multisensory instruction, with lessons tailored to each student’s needs.
We partner directly with Steve Tattum, a reading specialist with over 40 years of experience working with students with dyslexia and other learning differences, and the founder of the Tattum Reading Program. Our curriculum integrates best practices from Orton-Gillingham and other leading programs, along with speech and brain-based approaches, into one cohesive, highly structured system designed to accelerate reading acquisition.
Tutor Certification Process:
- 45+ hours of intensive instruction in the Science of Reading and our structured literacy curriculum
- Extensive practice with peers to build fluency in delivering lessons
- 60-hour supervised practicum working with students
- Certification evaluation by Steve Tattum, LearnUp’s Reading Director and founder of our reading program, where tutors must demonstrate both conceptual understanding of phonics concepts and the ability to to deliver program with fidelity
- Once certified, tutors continue to receive professional development and mentoring to improve program delivery and support student success
When recruiting and hiring a new tutor, we look for:
- Strong instructional instincts
- Experience working with children
- Youth development skills
- Ability to model language precisely (clean and clear letter sounds)
Hear the Difference Yourself
Across more than 900 students since 2016, our average student gains just over two grade levels in reading, with students who complete a full recommended program often seeing closer to three grade levels of growth.
The LearnUp Difference
LearnUp Centers teaches struggling readers, with or without a diagnosis of dyslexia, to read at grade level and beyond. In about 1/2 the time of most other programs. The average LearnUp student learns to read in about 80 hours.
1
Structured Literacy
Our curriculum integrates the best practices of Orton-Gillingham based programs, speech therapy, structured phonics, and the latest in brain research.
2
Proprietary Chapter Books
LearnUp uses decodable chapter books so students can immediately practice their new reading concepts within a storybook environment.
3
Hands-on & Experiential
We use a tactile, multi-sensory magnetic or digital boards to actively teach phonics and ½ of every tutoring session is spent reading books.
4
Summer Discount
Our 3-week summer intensives are discounted by 15% off our regular tuition. Each intensive course costs $1,450 and includes 1:1 tutoring sessions, assessments, books, and materials.
5
Highly Trained Tutors
Tutors complete LearnUp’s thorough training that teaches them our multidisciplinary structured phonics curriculum designed to teach any child to read.
6
Program Schedule
Research shows that daily reading lessons in structured phonics improve word attack and reading growth. Our lessons are 50 minutes a day, 5 days a week. This is the fastest and most effective approach.
