Is this what you
see when it's
see when it's
time to read?
It doesn't have to be!
Is Reading
a Nightly Battle?
a Nightly Battle?
Does the mere prospect of reading makes your child mad or frustrated?
When it’s time to read, does he look at the pictures, your face, the band-aid on his thumb… anything except the actual words.
Does she seem anxious or sad when it's time for school? Does she get a lot of stomach aches that would keep her home?
book your free
Phonemic Awareness Assessment
Phonemic Awareness Assessment
to see how this foundational skill impacts your child
Is Reading a Nightly Battle?
Does the mere prospect of reading makes your child mad or frustrated?
When it’s time to read, does he look at the pictures, your face, the band-aid on his thumb… anything except the actual words.
Does she seem anxious or sad when it's time for school? Does she get a lot of stomach aches that would keep her home?
book your free
Phonemic Awareness Assessment
to see how this foundational skill impacts your child
What is Phonemic Awareness?
This is known as
Scarborough’s
Reading Rope.
Scarborough’s
Reading Rope.
It’s the conceptual framework behind what’s commonly referred to as “the science of reading" — a body of research built over more than 30 years, and strengthened by increasingly sophisticated brain-imaging evidence.
What is Phonemic Awareness?
1. “Phonemic Awareness” (or “PA”), along with “spelling” and “sight word recognition” is one of three core skills needed to decode words — ie, connect letters and sounds to accurately pronounce a spoken word. If decoding written words is difficult or inaccurate, reading will not come easily.
2. PA is the skill most commonly overlooked in early literacy, because it doesn’t look like “reading.”
3. It’s not about spelling, sight words, or even letters. It’s about learning to identify, separate, blend indidual speech sounds (known as “phonemes”) in spoken words.
4. Strong PA is the ability to separate all the sounds in a word — not just the first sounds.
If a child cannot reliably hear, isolate, and manipulate the sounds
in spoken words, written words will never fully make sense—no matter how
smart they are, how much they read, or how hard they try.
smart they are, how much they read, or how hard they try.
What is
Phonemic
Awareness?
Phonemic
Awareness?
It’s the conceptual framework behind what’s commonly referred to as “the science of reading" — a body of research built over more than 30 years, and strengthened by increasingly sophisticated brain-imaging evidence.
This is known as
Scarborough’s Reading Rope.
What is Phonemic Awareness?
1. “Phonemic Awareness” (or “PA”), along with “spelling” and “sight word recognition” is one of three core skills needed to decode words — ie, connect letters and sounds to accurately pronounce a spoken word. If decoding written words is difficult or inaccurate, reading will not come easily.
2. PA is the skill most commonly overlooked in early literacy, because it doesn’t look like “reading.”
3. It’s not about spelling, sight words, or even letters. It’s about learning to identify, separate, blend indidual speech sounds (known as “phonemes”) in spoken words.
4. Strong PA is the ability to separate all the sounds in a word — not just the first sounds.
If a child cannot reliably hear, isolate, and manipulate the sounds in spoken words, written words will never fully make sense—no matter how smart they are, how much they read, or how hard they try.
With the Active Reader, your child will gaina full grade level in 8 weeks — guaranteed.
With the Active Reader, your child will gain a full grade level in 8 weeks — guaranteed.
What Makes
The Active Reader Different
Structured
Literacy
(aka "Orton Gillingham")
A research-backed approach endorsed by the IDA, Center for Effective Reading Instruction, and ALTA builds reading from the ground up, step by step.
Gold standard for literacy instruction
Expert Instruction
+
Human Connection
Dyslexic kids need different help
I teach the exact skills the dyslexic brain struggles to develop on its own. To ensure the child doesn't "check out." Passive learning doesn't work.
Designed from the ground-up to be delivered online.
Hand-picked
Video Games
Customized for your child
Games that reinforce the
specific skills that need to
be developed in your child.
specific skills that need to
be developed in your child.
These are skills that are overlooked in almost all literacy programs.
What Makes
The
Active Reader
Different
Structured
Literacy
(aka "Orton Gillingham")
A research-backed approach endorsed by the IDA, Center for Effective Reading Instruction, and ALTA builds reading from the ground up, step by step.
Gold standard for literacy instruction
Expert Instruction
+
Human Connection
Dyslexic kids need different help
I teach the exact skills the dyslexic brain struggles to develop on its own. To ensure the child doesn't "check out." Passive learning doesn't work.
Designed from the ground-up to be delivered online.
Hand-picked
Video Games
Customized for your child
Games that reinforce the specific skills that need to be developed in your child.
These are skills that are overlooked in almost all literacy programs.
Structured
Literacy
Literacy
Explicit
Skills are taught directly
Systematic & Cumulative
Skills are taught directly
Systematic & Cumulative
The alphabetic code is taught
intentionally as a coordinated system
Multisensory
intentionally as a coordinated system
Multisensory
Intentionally links handwriting,
pronunciation, and phonology
Diagnostic/Flexible
pronunciation, and phonology
Diagnostic/Flexible
Instruction is based on the learner’s mastery,
not on a prescribed curriculum.
not on a prescribed curriculum.
VS.
Traditional Reading
Instruction
Instruction
Implicit
Skills are expected to be inferred
Incidental/non-sequential
The alphabetic code is introduced
as it appears in reading materials,
not in a cumulative sequence
as it appears in reading materials,
not in a cumulative sequence
Print-focused
emphasizes whole-word
recognition over handwriting and
sound–symbol understanding
recognition over handwriting and
sound–symbol understanding
Curriculum driven
Instruction follows a scripted program,
moving on even when gaps remain.
moving on even when gaps remain.
Structured
Literacy
Literacy
Explicit
Skills are taught directly
Systematic & Cumulative
Skills are taught directly
Systematic & Cumulative
The alphabetic code is taught intentionally as a coordinated system
Multisensory
Multisensory
Intentionally links handwriting, pronunciation, and phonology
Diagnostic/Flexible
Diagnostic/Flexible
Instruction is based on the learner’s mastery, not on a prescribed curriculum.
VS.
Traditional Reading
Instruction
Instruction
Implicit
Skills are expected to be inferred
Incidental/non-sequential
The alphabetic code is introduced as it appears in reading materials, not in a cumulative sequence
Print-focused
emphasizes whole-word recognition over handwriting and sound–symbol understanding
Curriculum driven
Instruction follows a scripted program, moving on even when gaps remain.
What is the
Active Reader Method?
Active Reader Method?
Structured Literacy...
with a twist
with a twist
The Active Reader Method is a dynamic, multisensory therapeutic approach to dyslexia that is 100% customized for your child.
Systematic without
being scripted.
being scripted.
Rigorous without
being rote.
being rote.
What is the
Active Reader
Method?
Active Reader
Method?
Structured
Literacy
with a twist
Literacy
with a twist
The Active Reader Method is a dynamic, multisensory therapeutic approach to dyslexia that is 100% customized for your child.
Systematic without
being scripted.
being scripted.
Rigorous without
being rote.
being rote.
Share a story about this student
Relationship + Deliberate Practice = Lasting Results
Relationship:
✅ Weekly one-on-one live sessions
✅ Opportunities to meet other students
✅ Parent office hours
✅ Weekly one-on-one live sessions
✅ Opportunities to meet other students
✅ Parent office hours
Deliberate Practice:
Customized video Games
(with leaderboards, daily practice drills designed specifically for your child)
Customized video Games
(with leaderboards, daily practice drills designed specifically for your child)
Lasting Results
Lasting results that shape
your child's confidence, learning,
and future opportunities.
Lasting results that shape
your child's confidence, learning,
and future opportunities.
Relationship
+ Deliberate Practice
= Lasting Results
+ Deliberate Practice
= Lasting Results
Relationship:
✅ Weekly one-on-one live sessions
✅ Opportunities to meet other students
✅ Parent office hours
✅ Weekly one-on-one live sessions
✅ Opportunities to meet other students
✅ Parent office hours
Deliberate Practice:
Customized video Games
(with leaderboards, daily practice drills designed specifically for your child)
Customized video Games
(with leaderboards, daily practice drills designed specifically for your child)
Lasting Results
Lasting results that shape
your child's confidence, learning,
and future opportunities.
Lasting results that shape
your child's confidence, learning,
and future opportunities.
Dyslexia Doesn't Fix Itself
Without the right support, difficulties persist and compound over time.
Without the right support, difficulties persist and compound over time.
Insufficient
school support
school support
Reading difficulties
intensify over time
intensify over time
Emotional and psychological consequences
Delayed intervention
= Lost Opportunities
= Lost Opportunities
Dyslexia
Doesn't Fix
Itself
Doesn't Fix
Itself
Without the right support, difficulties persist and compound over time.
Insufficient
school support
school support
Reading difficulties
intensify over time
intensify over time
Emotional and psychological consequences
Delayed intervention
= Lost Opportunities
= Lost Opportunities
Three Paths Forward:
Foundations - Orthography + Spelling Patterns - Morphology + Word Inquiry
Lexercise®
Professional
Therapy
Professional
Therapy
Lexercise Professional Therapy is a structured, research-based intervention designed for students with dyslexia and related reading difficulties.
Sessions follow an IDA credentialed Structured Literacy Program, and each session is integrated with a customizable, gamefied suite of games that allows for independent daily practice, complete with points, streaks, and goals.
Morphophonemia
English isn’t purely phonetic, but it isn’t random either — it’s morphophonetic. Students learn to spot the Greek and Latin pieces inside words so they can understand meaning, pronunciation, and structure at a deeper level.
Vocabulary that used to feel out of reach becomes a secret strength.
Three Paths Forward:
Foundations - Orthography + Spelling Patterns - Morphology + Word Inquiry
Lexercise® Professional Therapy
Lexercise Professional Therapy is a structured, research-based intervention designed for students with dyslexia and related reading difficulties.
Sessions follow an IDA credentialed Structured Literacy Program, and each session is integrated with a customizable, gamefied suite of games that allows for independent daily practice, complete with points, streaks, and goals.
Morphophonemia
English isn’t purely phonetic, but it isn’t random either — it’s morphophonetic. Students learn to spot the Greek and Latin pieces inside words so they can understand meaning, pronunciation, and structure at a deeper level.
Vocabulary that used to feel out of reach becomes a secret strength.
With the right support,
real progress is possible.
real progress is possible.
Hear from parents like you:
Hi! I'm Kate.
I’m The Active Reader.
I like big words, small dogs (well, my small dog), and punctuation.
I’ve been teaching reading for over twenty-five years, to
students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. I’m a certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Therapist, trained
through IDA-accredited programs including Lexercise, Lindamood-Bell, Words in Color, and F.A.S.T. Phonics.
After graduating from Smith College and spending some years writing screenplays, waiting tables, touring with a pop band, and generally being convinced I was going to “change the world,” I found myself teaching English in a failing middle school in Compton. To my surprise, I discovered that while I could talk about books, stories, and word origins 'til the cows came home, what I couldn’t do was teach a classroom full of kids how to actually read when they were already behind.
I get how hard it is to be a classroom teacher. 
I’m also a certified yoga instructor, and while I’m a terrible meditator, I’m an excellent breather. I've used that training to help my students manage their anxiety, settle down, and perk up. (I have yet to find anything more energizing than doing a headstand, and believe it or not, I often do them with my student, even over Zoom.)
Someday, I want to start a middle school where all academic content is taught through the science and business of food and cooking.
But for now, I just want to teach kids how to read.
As many as possible.
With the right support, real progress is possible.
Hear from parents like you:
Hi! I'm Kate.
I’m The Active Reader.
I like big words, small dogs (well, my small dog), and punctuation.
I’ve been teaching reading for over twenty-five years, to
students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. I’m a certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Therapist, trained
through IDA-accredited programs including Lexercise, Lindamood-Bell, Words in Color, and F.A.S.T. Phonics.
After graduating from Smith College and spending some years writing screenplays, waiting tables, touring with a pop band, and generally being convinced I was going to “change the world,” I found myself teaching English in a failing middle school in Compton. To my surprise, I discovered that while I could talk about books, stories, and word origins 'til the cows came home, what I couldn’t do was teach a classroom full of kids how to actually read when they were already behind.
I get how hard it is to be a classroom teacher.
I’m also a certified yoga instructor, and while I’m a terrible meditator, I’m an excellent breather. I've used that training to help my students manage their anxiety, settle down, and perk up. (I have yet to find anything more energizing than doing a headstand, and believe it or not, I often do them with my student, even over Zoom.)
Someday, I want to start a middle school where all academic content is taught through the science and business of food and cooking.
But for now, I just want to teach kids how to read.
As many as possible.
"When you're reading fast and you're understanding, it's like you're flying."Sam, aged 10
"When you're reading fast and you're understanding, it's like you're flying."Sam, aged 10
Find Out What Your Child Needs With a
Free Phonemic Awareness Assessment
Meet one-on-one with a real specialist who understands dyslexia.
Takes about 20 minutes • Meet on Zoom • You, Your Child, and Kate
Find Out What
Your Child Needs With a
Free Phonemic Awareness Assessment
Meet one-on-one with a real specialist who understands dyslexia.
Meet one-on-one with a real specialist who understands dyslexia.
Takes about 20 minutes • Meet on Zoom • You, Your Child, and Kate
