Dyslexia Tutoring

What is the Barton Reading & Spelling System?

The Barton Reading & Spelling System is a research-based, structured literacy program designed for students who struggle with reading, writing, and spelling, including those with dyslexia and other learning differences. It breaks literacy skills into clear, manageable steps, providing a systematic approach that makes reading and spelling more accessible.

At Rosedale Readers, the Barton System is the foundation of every lesson. Using this method, students build skills in a step-by-step, mastery-based way, gaining confidence as they progress. The program is structured to help students of all ages improve their reading, spelling, and written expression over time, supporting long-term success in school and beyond.

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The Barton system works

Backed by decades of research, the Barton System is built on the understanding that reading challenges, including dyslexia, do not have to define a child’s future. Studies show that most reading difficulties can be overcome with the right approach and a knowledgeable, trained instructor.

Inspired by the work of Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham in the 1930s, the Barton System brings their proven, structured methods into today’s tutoring sessions. As a leading Orton-Gillingham–based program, it provides a personalized, step-by-step approach to reading, spelling, and writing. The program is designed to help students build skills, confidence, and independence, making learning more accessible, empowering, and even enjoyable.

How it Works?

The Barton Reading & Spelling System is a structured, step-by-step program designed to build strong reading, spelling, and decoding skills through explicit, multisensory instruction.

Students work one-on-one with a trained tutor, either at our learning centre or virtually.

The program consists of 10 sequential levels, with students progressing only after demonstrating mastery of the skills taught at each level. This systematic approach ensures that students develop a strong, lasting foundation before moving on to more advanced skills.

Each lesson combines direct instruction, guided practice, reading, spelling, and writing, giving students repeated opportunities to apply and strengthen the skills they are learning.

Every student begins with an assessment so we can determine the appropriate starting point and create an individualized learning plan.

Each lesson follows a consistent, carefully structured sequence. This repetition helps students build accuracy, fluency, and confidence as they develop new reading and spelling skills.

Each Barton lesson consists of:

A. Quick review of the prior lesson
B. Phonemic awareness warm-up
C. Teach a new skill or rule
D. Read, write & spell real words using the new skill or rule
E. Read, write & spell nonsense words using the new skill or rule
F. Read, write & spell both real and nonsense words on paper
G. Read, write & spell phrases on paper for fluency and accuracy
H. Read, write & spell sentences on paper for accuracy and phrasing
I. Read controlled-text stories on paper for fluency, accuracy, phrasing, and comprehension
J. Complete additional practice pages as seatwork or at home

Lessons are 60 minutes, with a 10-minute break when needed.

Consistent instruction is essential for success with the Barton System. Students are required to attend a minimum of two lessons per week to support steady progress and retention of newly learned skills.

Our standard lesson is 60 minutes, with a 10-minute break. Families who would like additional lessons may schedule more than two sessions per week, depending on the student’s needs and availability.

Following the initial student screening, we determine the appropriate starting point and recommend a lesson schedule based on the student’s individual needs.

For students who are not yet ready for a full 60-minute lesson, 30-minute sessions may be offered as a gradual introduction to tutoring. This option is typically available during the earlier stages of the program and is adjusted as the student builds stamina and is ready for longer instruction.

Students progress through the Barton levels at their own pace. Mastery, rather than time, determines when a student is ready to move to the next level.

Scope and Sequence

Phonemic Awareness

We teach the 7 essential phonemic awareness skills as rapidly as possible.

Lesson 1: CV and VC nonsense words
Lesson 2: CVC nonsense words
Lesson 3: VCC nonsense words
Lesson 4: CCV nonsense words
Lesson 5: Rhyming & Real Words

Closed & Unit Syllables

Lesson 1: Blends at the End
Lesson 2: Blends at the Beginning
Lesson 3: Blends at Both Ends
Lesson 4: Digraph & 3-Letter Blends
Lesson 5: Spelling–Floss

Lesson 6: Spelling–Kiss the Cat Rule

Lesson 7: Spelling–Milk Truck Rule
Lesson 8: Spelling–ING INK Units
Lesson 9: Spelling–Catch Lunch Rule
Lesson 10: Spelling–Contractions
Lesson 11: Spelling–Kind Old Units

Multi-Syllable words and Vowel Teams

Lesson 1: Open Syllables 
Lesson 2: Syllable Division Rule #1
Lesson 3: Syllable Division Rule #2
Lesson 4: Spelling–/k/ in the middle
Lesson 5: Spelling–Double Letters
Lesson 6: Spelling–Schwa

Lesson 7: Syllable Division Rule #3

Lesson 8: Syllable Division Rule #4 
Lesson 9: Three-Syllable Words 
Lesson 10: Spelling–The Banana Rule 
Lesson 11: Spelling–The Confident Rule
Lesson 12: Spelling–Long A, E, I at End (Vowel Teams) 
Lesson 13: Spelling–Long O, U at End (Vowel Teams)
Lesson 14: Spelling–Vowel Teams in Middle 3 (Vowel Teams)

Six Reasons for Silent-E

Lesson 1: Silent-E’s in One-Syllable words
Lesson 2: Syllable Division with Silent-E
Lesson 3: C’s and G’s with Silent-E’s
Lesson 4: Spelling–V at the End
Lesson 5: Spelling–The Huge Bridge Rule
Lesson 6: Spelling–The Dropping Rule

Lesson 7: Spelling–Tricky Suffixes
Lesson 8: Spelling–PH and Medial Y
Lesson 9: Unit–TURE
Lesson 10: Spelling–TION and SION
Lesson 11: Silent-E Units
Lesson 12: Consonant-LE Syllables
Lesson 13: Spelling–The Sprinkle Vehicle Rule
Lesson 14: Spelling–ABLE versus IBLE

Vowel-R’s

Lesson 1: AR and OR
Lesson 2: ER, IR, and UR
Lesson 3: Vowel-R with Silent-E
Lesson 4: Prefixes & Suffixes with Vowel-R
Lesson 5: Spelling–Commodore Sailor Rule

Lesson 6: Bossy W

Lesson 7: Spelling–Edward the Lizard Rule
Lesson 8: The Three Sounds of EAR
Lesson 9: AR and ER can say /AIR/
Lesson 10: Word Endings ARY, ERY, and ORY
Lesson 11: Vowel-R Plus R

Advanced vowel teams

Lesson 1: Spelling: India Indian Musician
Lesson 2: Spelling: Obvious Spacious Religious
Lesson 3: Spelling: Radio Union Million Region
Lesson 4: Spelling: Industrial Special Dial
Lesson 5: IE: Piece of Pie
Lesson 6: OI, OY, EY: Oil Boy, Turkey

Lesson 7: AU, AW: Audience Saw
Lesson 8: OO: Good Food
Lesson 9: OU, OW: Mouse Group, Slow Down
Lesson 10: EA: Clean Breath is Great
Lesson 11: IGH, AUGH, EIGH, EI
Lesson 12: EU, TU: Feud, Sleuth, Actual
Lesson 13: Split Vowels

Latin Roots & Greek Combining Forms

Lesson 1: Latin: Chameleon Prefix: IN
Lesson 2: Latin: Chameleon Prefix: CON
Lesson 3: Latin: Chameleon Prefixes: OB and SUB
Lesson 4: Latin: Chameleon Prefix: AB
Lesson 5: Latin: Chameleon Prefixes: EX and DIS

Lesson 6: Greek Combining Forms
Lesson 7: Greek Forms in Science
Lesson 8: Greek Forms in Math
Lesson 9: Greek Forms in Medicine
Lesson 10: Greek Forms in Social Studies

Building Confident, Capable Readers

Every child deserves the opportunity to experience success in reading. At Rosedale Readers, we provide personalized, evidence-based reading instruction designed to help students strengthen foundational skills, improve fluency, and develop confidence as independent readers.

Whether a student is learning to read, struggling to keep up with grade-level expectations, or experiencing challenges related to dyslexia, our individualized approach helps close gaps and create lasting progress.

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Who We Support

A Barton student must:

Be at least 5 years old and in kindergarten
Can speak and comprehend spoken English
Have an IQ of 71 or higher
Struggles with spelling when writing stories, and can not easily sound out unknown words when reading
Pass our Barton Student Screening

Our Approach

We use structured, explicit, and multi-sensory teaching methods based on the principles of the Orton-Gillingham approach and the Barton Reading & Spelling System.

Instruction focuses on:

Phonemic Awareness
Phonics & Decoding
Reading Fluency
Vocabulary Development
Reading Comprehension
Confidence and Independent Reading Skills

Each lesson is tailored to the student's individual needs, learning style, and pace.

Benefits of Reading Support

Students who participate in our reading programs often experience:

Improved reading accuracy and fluency
Greater confidence and motivation
Stronger comprehension skills
Increased classroom participation
Better overall academic performance

Help Your Child Become a Stronger Reader

With the right instruction and support, every child can make meaningful progress.

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Programs & Pricing

Personalized Literacy Support for Lasting Success

At Rosedale Readers, we provide evidence-based, one-on-one literacy instruction designed to help students strengthen reading, writing, spelling, and confidence. Our flexible programs are tailored to each learner's unique needs while providing families with ongoing support and progress tracking.

In-home or in-school tutoring: +$10/hour

Standard Literacy Program

8 lessons per month · 2 sessions per week
60-minute 1-on-1 tutoring
1-on-1 virtual or in-person tutoring
Progress updates for parents
Included learning materials & practice resources

$600 / Month

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Shorter Session Option

8 lessons per month · 2 sessions per week
30-minute 1-on-1 tutoring
1-on-1 virtual or in-person tutoring
Available for qualifying students

Dyslexia Tutoring

What is the Barton Reading & Spelling System?

The Barton system works

How it Works?

Scope and Sequence

Building Confident, Capable Readers

Who We Support

Our Approach

Benefits of Reading Support

Help Your Child Become a Stronger Reader

Programs & Pricing

Standard Literacy Program

$600 / Month

Shorter Session Option

$400 / Month

When Reading is Hard: A Parent's Guide