Strong reading skills are the foundation for success in every subject. These sessions are designed to help students become fluent, critical readers. We are trained in Reading Simplified, a speech-to-print approach that typically results in significant progress after just 12 hours of tutoring - for dyslexic and non-dyslexic struggling readers alike! To address reading comprehension, we bring in texts that match our student’s reading level (or slightly above). Using the Hochman Method, we work to improve reading comprehension and fluency. The most current education research has shown the importance of explicit writing instruction to improve literacy in a variety of areas.

For reading (decoding) intervention, a typical session is 30 minutes. Beginning in second grade, we offer the option to extend to 60 minutes to address reading comprehension and writing as well as decoding.

A typical session looks like this:

• Warm-up (5-10 minutes)

  • Decoding practice, re-reading for fluency, and/or vocabulary review and discussion questions (if applicable).

• Skill Development (15-25 minutes)

  • Student works on decoding through hands-on spelling, writing, and reading activities, and/or comprehension strategies, main idea, inference, figurative language, vocabulary, etc using guided reading, novel studies, discussion, annotation, and reading comprehension passages.

• Active Practice (15-20 minutes)

  • Students engage with texts and practice skills with real-time support and feedback. Essay writing and grammar practice is also incorporated.

  • Students learn how to analyze texts, express ideas, and think deeper. 

• Reading Game (5-10 minutes)

  • Gamified practice helps reinforce the day’s concepts and build reading fluency.

• Wrap-up (5 minutes)

  • Child is assigned a mini homework assignment and gets to choose a small prize or sticker.  You’ll receive a quick update on what was covered, progress made, and what to reinforce at home.

Play-based, fun, and adaptable to your child’s unique needs!

For families pursuing admission into Dallas’s most selective private schools, strong ISEE and ISAAD scores can make a meaningful difference. Our sessions are designed not only to strengthen academic skills, but to give students the strategies needed to perform at their highest level.

Prior to starting official 1:1 sessions, students take a 1-3 hour diagnostic ISEE test using TestInnovators, the only ERB-endorsed preparation with official practice material. ISAAD students are administered a paper or iPad practice test, which takes 30-45 minutes.

Each session is intentionally structured to maximize progress while keeping students engaged and supported.

A typical session looks like this:

• Strategic Warm-Up (5-10 minutes)

  • Each session begins with a personalized review, revisiting previous work and identifying opportunities for growth, ensuring that every minute of our session is purposeful and high-impact.

• Targeted Skill Instruction (20-25 minutes)

  • Students engage in expert-led instruction targeting key ISEE domains—Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Math Achievement.

  • Instruction is personalized and based on the initial diagnostic test. Additional full-length or section based practice tests are administered at the mid-point and end of tutoring.

• Guided and Timed Practice (15-20 minutes)

  • Carefully curated practice questions mimic real test conditions, teaching content as well as pacing, accuracy, and strategic problem-solving. 

  • Students learn the approaches top scorers rely on like time management, process of elimination, and how to approach unfamiliar or challenging questions.

• Progress Insights & Next Steps (5-10 minutes)

  • At the end of each session, parents receive clear, concise feedback on strengths, growth areas, and what we’re prioritizing next. Additional practice may be assigned. 

  • The most successful students are those who exhibit some internal motivation and supplement our 1:1 time with independent practice at-home.

We work with our youngest students (ages 3-6) to improve the skills the CATS test measures (verbal comprehension, visual spatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed) through engaging, fun, and play-based methods. Our students’ full scale IQ scores improve by an average of 12-15 points after at least one semester of targeted support!

If you’re concerned about your child from a behavior or social/emotional standpoint, our board-certified behavior analyst, Melissa, is here to help! She works with students to support school and admissions success, focusing on the areas of attention, task persistence, confidence, social interaction, and emotional regulation. She is also available for parent coaching.

Whether your student is preparing for admissions essay, the ISEE essay, or just needs some support with academic writing, we’re here to help! We lead writing workshops (1:1 and small group) using the Hochman Method to improve student writing and reading comprehension. Sessions are highly customizable depending on your student’s unique goals, strengths, and areas of growth.