CAN'T AFFORD TUTORING? Check out the "Clubs" page for more information! A great option is to start out with a few individual sessions and switch to the clubs.

Teaching location: Tutoring and Clubs are held at the Little House at City Hall, which is located at 22710 E. Country Vista in Liberty Lake.

* During the months of November, December, and January, Tutoring and Clubs will be held at 23129 East Mission, as the Little House is used for the holiday season.

Hours

Monday through Friday, 3:00 - 7:00 PM. Instruction is also offered on Saturdays at 23129 East Mission.

Closed on major holidays: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

*Additional hours can be added depending on need.

The Liberty Lake Learning Center focuses on developing the skills needed to be successful academically in all subjects. Instruction is research-based, proven and effective, especially for dyslexic children.

About the Instruction

The reading method at the Liberty Lake Learning Center has been approved by the National Reading Panel and has been quoted as "simply one of the most effective reading methods around." My reading method is based on the Report of the National Reading Panel 2000: Teaching children to read, an evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction.

Major findings of the National Reading Panel include:"Instruction that provides substantial coverage in the key components of reading--identified by the National Reading Panel as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension - has clear benefits for all learners."

Together with this research, my educational background, years of experience with preschool, school-age students, and training in reading instruction, I have fine-tuned my reading method making it even more effective by incorporating auditory and visual processing skills. My reading method is effective individually, in small groups, and in large groups. I specialize in evaluating and teaching students with dyslexia.

I will be publishing The Letter, Sound, Syllable Approach: A Comprehensive Reading Method for All Learners. My book is especially recommended for students with learning issues, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and visual and auditory processing disorders. The Letter, Sound, Syllable Approach helps spelling, speech, language acquisition, decoding, fluency, auditory, visual, and cognitive skills, handwriting, writing, and comprehension skills.

About my reading method in classrooms:

I taught Special Education and also effectively taught middle school students in the San Francisco inner-city area. My classes had an average of 30 students each. Many of my students, who were 7th grade, were functioning at the 1st and 2nd grade levels in reading. One year, I was evaluated by an outside teacher who was on special assignment to oversee and support schools like this middle school, which was the lowest - functioning middle school in the San Francisco Unified School District. This is what Diana Caliz had to say:

"Joan was the Reading Specialist and her students were pre- and post-tested in literacy skills and decoding. After eight weeks weeks of instruction, student's tests indicated a 40% increase in improved decoding skills. This improvement became evident as students began to read with greater comfort and ease. They were less likely to give up when encountering new words; instead, they engaged in a conscious use of their newly acquired strategies. Ms. Peters' students seemed to look forward to her classes." - Diana, Caliz, Teacher on Special Assignment, Curriculum Improvement and Professional Development, San Francisco Unified School District.

The following year, I was not only the Reading Specialist, but the Language Arts teacher. The literacy problem still existed, as well as the many other needs of these students. I constantly thought of ways to make a huge difference for the school as a whole. I wrote a proposal to the principal of the school about how reading instruction should be taught and how reorganizing the school based on the students' abilities would make a profound difference in their learning and in how the teachers would be able to effectively approach the students.

My grade level, the seventh grade, was the largest and toughest generation to go through this school since it opened. I knew every single child's strengths and weaknesses. I carefully reorganized the entire seventh grade based on their academic, social, and emotional needs. It worked so well, that, with a team, I helped restructure the entire school using my reading method based on the students academic, social, and emotional needs. I trained my colleagues with my reading method and it made an enormous difference in the school's atmosphere.

Instruction at The Liberty Lake Learning Center

At The Liberty Lake Learning Center, instruction in Reading, Writing, and Math is effective because it focuses on identifying weakened cognitive skills and developing these skills. Lessons are designed to meet the individual needs of the students, is age-appropriate, and is developmentally-appropriate. Instruction is multi-sensory - auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and tactile.

**My reading method does not use nonsense words for teaching reading. Students, particularly dyslexic students and students with learning disabilities, have trouble with sequencing and constructing meaning in general. It is difficult to construct meaning from something that doesn't make sense. It is easier to learn to read familiar words because students already have an understanding of what the familiar words represent.

**My reading method does not encourage "scratch" spelling or "invented" spelling. It is important to teach in a structured manner and to correct students right away as they learn. In the long run, students will learn accurately, and they will benefit in many ways academically. Better readers become better spellers and writers.The better that students can read, spell, and write, the better that they can comprehend.

Reading

Instruction covers all aspects of literacy: decoding, fluency, comprehension, spelling, handwriting, and writing. Assessments are used to identify cognitive, visual, and auditory processing disorders, which are often the underlying causes of learning problems. Daily assessments are used to determine lessons based on your child's strengths and weaknesses.

Assessments used:

• Code Knowledge

• Sound Knowledge

• Fluency

• Auditory Processing

• Visual Processing

• Writing Samples

Writing

Writing instruction covers handwriting and the writing process and is offered to develop, strengthen, and improve writing skills. Writing is included in the Reading instruction classes.

Math

Assessments are used to identify gaps in learning mathematical concepts. Daily assessments and close monitoring are used to identify causes of math learning problems, such as visual processing disorders and dyslexia. Instruction is presented in effective ways with an organized approach to teaching the mathematical concepts so that students can be successful. The assessments used are standard-based and developmentally appropriate.

The math program used is my own and has been created specifically to help children with learning problems, such as dyslexia. My math program is also beneficial for those who have gaps in their learning because it is structured, organized, cumulative, age-and developmentally-appropriate.

Age Levels

The Liberty Lake Learning Center welcomes all age levels. Though the majority of students are between preschool and sixth grade, classes can be arranged for older grades and adults depending on the need.

All Classes Include:

• Individualized instruction.

• Lessons designed to target specific learning problems.

• Daily assessments and monitoring.

Please contact Joan Peters prior to registering to make sure times and spaces are available.

Price: $30.00 per hour (call for assessment price)

Register and pay for classes at City Hall (22710 E. Country Vista) during business hours, 8 - 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

*Registration and payment are required prior to joining any classes.

*There will be no refunds for missed classes. Missed classes can be made up at a later time or by attending another class. For more information, take a look at the Refund Policy.