My Daughter Found Her Wings
Susan Barton loves hearing from parents about the impact Barton tutoring has had on their child, as this parent shared:
This is my daughter — today.
Three years ago, her confidence was basically nothing. She didn’t feel comfortable getting up in front of others, and her reading and writing were just terrible.
We started her on the Barton System in the summer of 2020.
Her confidence has improved so much that she decided to try out for theatre last year – even though that meant reading lines in front of others.
This winter, she was cast as Annie at a theatre near us. I wanted to share this photo because it almost speaks of her journey. She went from lost, defeated, and discouraged to determined, hopeful, and thriving.
Thank you for making this curriculum. It has helped my daughter find her wings.
Theresa Wegner, parent
Rochester, MI
Worth Every Single Penny
Susan Barton loves hearing from parents about the impact Barton tutoring has had on their child, as this parent shared:
When my daughter began second grade, she was only reading at mid-kindergarten level. So I had her tested. Clara was diagnosed as severely dyslexic.
I immediately hired a Barton tutor to work with Clara twice a week after school.
Clara’s reading was retested at the end of January. She is now reading above grade level.
She has gone from missing every single word on weekly spelling tests to only missing one or two.
Her progress has me in tears.
Her Barton tutoring is worth every single penny.
Here’s our story:
When my daughter, Clara, was ready to start kindergarten in August 2020, our local schools were closed due to COVID. So I decided to homeschool her and her older brother.
We loved homeschooling, and her brother thrived. But Clara did not. I tried a variety of reading curriculum, but nothing worked. I could not teach her to read. I felt defeated, Clara was frustrated, and it put a real strain on our relationship.
So this year, I enrolled Clara in a private school.
During the enrollment process, the administrator expressed concern that Clara would not be successful at their school. But after some discussion, she allowed both my children to enroll. Clara was almost 8, so she was put into second grade.
Very quickly, her second grade teacher said Clara should be switched to first grade – because Clara’s STAR reading test showed she was reading at only 0.8 – which means the eighth month of kindergarten.
Luckily, this school has a private Barton tutor who recommended I watch the Bright Solutions videos on dyslexia. It was mind blowing how Clara fit almost every single symptom in those videos.
I then had Clara tested. The results were hard to take. Clara’s dyslexia was severe. Yet after we explained to Clara what dyslexia was, I saw her relax a little bit.
Yet I began to worry about her future, about how much she would struggle in school, and whether she would be successful as an adult.
Clara started Barton tutoring two times a week, after school, for an hour. Those tutoring days are very long. And we pay for her tutoring on top of the private school tuition.
But it is worth every penny.
After a few weeks of tutoring, I noticed Clara was reading some words when we were out and about, and reading some things at home. Over time, I saw her confidence grow.
At the end of January, when she took another STAR reading test, Clara was at third grade reading level, 3.2. She had improved that much after just a few months of Barton tutoring.
The best part is how proud of Clara is. She tells everyone about her reading level.
She’s also doing much better in class. She went from missing every single spelling word on the weekly test to only missing one or two.
So now I don’t worry very much about her future. I will make sure Clara continues Barton tutoring until she has finished the program.
I encourage other parents who have a child who struggles with reading, writing, or spelling to watch the videos on the Bright Solutions website. Watching them was eye-opening and the first step in my daughter’s growth.
Courtney Eastepp, parent
Vacaville, CA
I Am Not Worried Anymore
Susan Barton loves hearing from parents about the impact Barton tutoring has had on their child, as this parent shared:
Dear Susan,
I could share this with a friend, but it would not mean as much to someone who does not have a dyslexic child.My son is 13. He is dyslexic, and we used your program 4 times a week. When we started, he could not read at all. Not “cat,” not “at,” not “me.”
He could not rhyme or decode sounds.He’s had three big milestones in the last month.
Milestone 1:
This year, for the first time, he tested in the normal range for reading at school.Milestone 2:
I still read to him nearly every night because it’s our thing. And I’m going to keep it up until he tells me he’s done.Last week, he was annoyed at the place I stopped. So he picked up the book and continued reading it to me out loud. Usually, he picks books to read that are well below his grade level. But this one is rated for grades 6-8, and he handled it with little trouble.
Milestone 3:
He had friends over today and they were playing a board game. He thought one of his friends was making up the rules, so he pulled out the rules and read them out loud to the group. HE READ SOMETHING OUT LOUD TO A GROUP. ON PURPOSE. And he understood what he was reading!
I have been concerned about him moving on to high school in a year and a half and having to read for comprehension.
But I’m not worried anymore.
Jennifer Streetman, parent
Grand Junction, CO
Thank You For My Daughter’s Victory Story
Susan Barton loves hearing from homeschool parents who have completed the Barton System — and the difference that has made in their child’s skills.
My daughter struggled learning to read. Most days in Kayla’s early elementary years involved tears over writing and reading. By the end of third grade, she was clearly falling well behind her peers. Yet she tried to hide her inability to read.
In our attempt to find answers to her struggle, we discovered that dyslexia was the root of her issue. After much research on program options, we were convinced that the Barton Reading & Spelling System was what she needed.
We were blessed to find a Barton tutor in our area. She was amazing! Within the first couple months of using the program, my daughter, who used to cry at the thought of reading a simple paragraph, would be curled up with her nose in a book for hours. She suddenly loved to read and a whole new world was opened to her.
Proficiency in reading came quicker than in writing. In sixth grade, she still could not write a cohesive paragraph. So her tutor worked with her through seventh grade until Kayla far exceeded her grade level.
Kayla’s experience with the Barton System really changed her path in life. Previously she’d had no thoughts of college. But with her boost in confidence, she decided she would like to try it. I can’t tell you how thrilled we both were, when prior to eleventh grade, she passed an English placement test and was accepted at the college of her choice. She even passed the College Composition CLEP test!
Kayla completed a number of dual enrollment classes her junior and senior years of high school and even graduated a year early.
She graduated college with an associate degree at age 18! She was on the Dean’s list every semester and graduated with high honors. She excelled as an intern in her field of study, where she is now happily working full time. She is confident and loving it.
We are so grateful to have discovered the Barton System. Thank you so much!
Lisa Wadel, parent
Marion, PA
We Did It
Susan Barton loves hearing from homeschool parents who have completed the Barton System — and the difference that has made in their child’s skills.
We did it! My son has successfully completed the Barton Reading and Spelling System.
We began homeschooling shortly after I started Barton with him, which allowed us to really focus on it and do it at a time of day when he had the energy reserves to tackle the challenge the program presents.
We started Barton in June of 2018 and just over 3 years later, he can read just about anything. A boy who could barely get through two pages of a Percy Jackson book recently read five chapters in one sitting.
A boy who couldn’t spell basic vowel team words like “cool” or spell the word “magnet” the same way twice in 4th grade (in spite of the word “magnet” being provided in the title of a writing prompt and in spite of science being his favorite subject), can now successfully spell sentences like “My cousin Jim, a sophomore, is studying anthropology.” (That’s a Book 10, Lesson 10, sentence. He nailed it.)
He has discovered that he has a superior sense of narrative and creativity which he has applied to writing a couple short plays (one of which was chosen to represent the class in a talent show at our homeschool community) and short stories.
His confidence has improved so much.
Just wanted to share our success to encourage all of you still in the trenches to keep going, because it’s worth it!
Michelle Pollace, homeschool parent
Campbell, CA
Writing papers in college was so hard . . .
Adults who never got the right type of help in school say that writing papers in college was nearly impossible, as this person shared:
I just watched your dyslexia video, and my son has almost every single warning signs from preschool to elementary school.
I also have almost every warning sign. I always joked about being “dyslexic” growing up because I was always lost and always getting my left and right confused. But I never realized I had all of the classic signs.
I barely made it out of high school. I never wanted to go back because school was too painful !!!
I did try a semester at the local junior college, but I dropped out when the first writing assignment was given. I knew I couldn’t do it.
Years later, I took a class at a different junior college that was taught by a friend of mine. It was the most painful thing I have ever done. I did not want to disappoint my friend, so I stuck with it.
I agonized over every writing assignment. She couldn’t figure why it took me hours, and even days, to do such small writing assignments. This was before computers. I had mounds of crumpled papers, and I just about killed myself to get through that course.
I got the 2nd highest grade in the class, yet I still felt stupid because I was the only one who had to work so hard in such an easy class.
That was it. I was done with college.
I don’t want my son to go down that same path. What can I do to help him?
Poor spelling is the most obvious sign of dyslexia
I get the most heartbreaking emails from adults who are still ashamed of their spelling.
Here is what one had to do to pass her weekly spelling test:
I HATED spelling and am ashamed to admit that I even cheated on my spelling tests.
In fourth grade, my teacher would always ask the words in the same order they were in the book. So I would have a sheet of paper with the words already written out underneath my blank paper on which I “took the test.”
I would then turn in the prewritten sheet. I even purposely wrote a word wrong now and then to make it more believable.
I have never gotten over being ashamed of that.
Or this one:
If you were standing in front of me right now, I would hug you. How different my life could have been if you were around 40 years ago.
I’m 48 years old, dyslexic, and working (I should say struggling 🙂 on a Master’s degree in Communication. I am trying to create a teaching module that will incorporate dyslexia and empathy. During my research, I came across your website and just finished watching your lecture.
It was as if you had been sitting on my shoulder during my entire childhood.
I completely forgot about having my full name written on a piece of paper that my mom tucked into my sock each day — so that I could pull it out and copy it any time I had to write both of my names in elementary school.
Or this one:
I am 42 years old, and I have dyslexia and ADHD.
I have taught myself to read pretty well, but I still have a very hard time writing and spelling. It takes me hours to write a paper.
I was diagnosed in 1976 but never got the right type of tutoring. I graduated on a 3rd grade reading level, and I was in Special Ed classes for years.
Do you think I still have a chance to become a good writer with the right kind of teaching? I still have a very hard time writing and spelling. It takes me hours to write a paper.
In the time it took me to write this email, I could have written a small book. And I never send anything out without checking it many times.
If I could have overcome dyslexia when I was younger, I would have become an attorney or a legislator.
Or this one, from the president of a small company:
I am sending you this letter with spell check off just so you can see what I am deeling with. I am 44 years old I have ben diganocsed with dyslexa when I was a child I was in special classed when going through public shoole. I have allways been able to read slower of corse but I have great compratintion of what I read.
I know own my own mechanical contractiong companie and employ 25 people. I have always been embarsed about my spelling and gramer up untill about 10 years ago. Now I have my office manager proof read everything I send out and half the time I cant read what I wrought down myself. I have gotten to the point in my carrear that I am have been sucsesfull enogh that I don’t care what others think about my spelling and gramer well I guess that is not 100% true or I would not be sending you and email.
The sipelist words through me off have had there were where when I always seem to miss use them I must spell has 50% of the time hase and the same thing with had I spell hade.
It is so tyring trying to send out email that I don’t have time for my assistant the check the spelling and gramer so I send it out after reading it 5 pluss times just to see the next day when I read the email back I left out words completely. I don’t understand how I can read the same thing over and over again and not notice I lift out the or ‘s I seam to do it all the time. My spelling is so bad most of the time there is not another word close enoghf tha spell check can figure it out.
Do you think your program would haelp me deal with this issue or shoud I just have anything I right be proof read?
Yes, the Barton Reading & Spelling System will greatly improve the spelling of children, teenagers, and adults with dyslexia.
And adults with dyslexia are more ashamed of their spelling – than their slow and inaccurate reading.
Spelling
Persistent trouble with spelling is the most obvious warning sign of dyslexia in adults, and it causes stress and embarrassment every day of their life.
Since dyslexia is inherited, some of their children will also struggle with spelling, as this parent shared:
I watched your video because my son is struggling in reading, spelling and writing.
I was in tears as I watched your video. I kept saying, “This is ME. Finally, someone knows why I do the things I do.”
I am 35 years old. I had reading tutors almost every year in school, yet I never understood phonics. I still cannot sound out an unknown word. When I write, I try to think of easy words that I know how to spell. As you can imagine, spell check does not work well for me.
I have a horrible time getting my thoughts onto paper. I get so nervous any time I have to write a note to my children’s teacher. Even writing just this much is hard. I have reread it 5 times – trying to catch and fix any mistakes.
My brother has similar symptoms. He was labeled LD and was in special ed classes. My mom eventually took him out because they were not helping.
I asked my mom the other day if anyone had ever used the word dyslexia to describe me or my brother. She said no.
I do not want my son or daughter to struggle like I did — and still do.
This 47 year old shared:
I really struggle with spelling and depend heavily on spell check. I am too embarrassed to hand write a grocery list due the number of mistakes I will make. I know I am misspelling the words, but I can’t for the life of me figure out how they should be spelled.
Oftentimes, I can’t get it close enough for the spell checker to know what I want.
This woman shared:
In elementary school, I was told I had a learning disability. It was not until high school that my parents had me tested outside of the school system and found out I had dyslexia.
I have had many challenges during my years in retail employment, particularly with cash registers and computers.
Trying to sign customers up for store credit cards, which is mandatory, was just impossible for me and gave me such anxiety. I simply cannot take the answers a customer tells me and get them into the computer.
Customers do not want to have to spell out every word, and to repeat their phone numbers and zip codes over and over again.
So after years of being totally stressed at different jobs, and even taking anxiety medication to try to perform my job adequately, I decided to go to college.
But the junior college will not accommodate me in any way unless I can provide current testing.
I’m a single mother with almost no income. That type of testing is incredibly expensive.
Are there any other options?
This man shared:
I am 56 years old, and I have tried a lot of things throughout my life to overcome dyslexia.
It started when I was in second grade. I can remember my mother crying when she tried to teach me my spelling words.
I attended summer tutoring for 4 years in a row to try to learn to read. Finally, the tutor said he would not work with me anymore because it was a waste of money.
I took phonics in college, but it did not help. In fact, I failed a speech-language class because I could not hear the sounds.
Many years later, I went to a dyslexia center. But they said they could not help me because I was too old.
Your video nailed me to a tee. When you talked about left and right confusion, that’s me.
I always use spell check, and yes, sometimes it does say “no suggestions” or I pick the wrong word from the list because I can’t read them all.
My company is trying to find something to help me. Is it too late? If not, what would you recommend?
And this 56 year old still stresses about spelling:
I have developed ways of hiding my dyslexia.
My spelling is pretty bad, so after I type something and put it through the spell checker, I re-read it five or six more times to make as many corrections as I can.
When I am doing creative writing, my spelling, punctuation, grammar and multiple typos show up much more than if I am writing technical material. Therefore, the more creative my writing is, the longer it takes me to re-read, proof and re-proof my work. You have stated before that dyslexics often work a lot harder than others to produce the same results (even in a simple e-mail) and it is very true.
A couple of months after I was hired as Executive Director of a nonprofit, I sent out a memo to all employees. I had some misspelled words and other minor mistakes in it. I had a couple of “word nerd” employees who immediately pointed out my mistakes (in a friendly and helpful way). But later, I walked into a room and overheard a couple of (not so friendly) employees saying something like, “Where did they get this guy? He can’t even spell right.”
I have been here four years now and have mellowed out a lot. I started sharing with people that I have dyslexia, and even poke fun at myself about it. It has been well received, and I have some great employees who will proofread things like grants and important letters before I send them.
I still obsess about correcting my writing, but not to an unhealthy level. It’s just part of the life of a dyslexic. Compensating takes a lot of extra time, but it’s just become a normal process.
Okay, I have re-read this 5 times. I assume you are rather forgiving of mistakes – so I am not going to read it again.
Bright Solutions for Dyslexia 