The Literacy Keys - Dyslexia resources and structured literacy tips by an Orton Gillingham tutor

Before your first IEP meeting, someone at the school may tell you your child has to work through support tiers before any evaluation can start. That isn't the law!

Once your child is evaluated, a meeting will be scheduled to determine eligibility, but nobody explains what to expect at your first IEP meeting. By the end of this episode you'll know who each individual at the table is, what they're allowed to decide, and what exactly to say if the answer isn't the one you came for.

The school team is called something different things in every state. In New York (where I'm located) the school team is called the Committee on Special Education. In other places it's called the IEP Team Meeting, or the Eligibility Determination Meeting. Regardless of the name, you're about to attend a meeting that you have never attended. One that is all about your kid. The school team has sat through hundreds of these IEP meetings, so nobody slows down, the acronyms fly fast and furiously, and three hours later, you're still trying to piece together what actually happened.

That's part of reason I recorded this episode. I wanted to walk through the entire IEP meeting, start to finish (using a made-up fourth grader) so you can understand how the meeting really plays out.

Why? Because I'm still traumatized by my daughter's initial eligibility meeting. Here's what you'll walk away with:

• How to start the process - including the one sentence that puts the school on a legal timeline
• Answer the statement that your child has to go through the tiers (MTSS) first statement
• Recognize every person at that table, what each one actually knows, and which one has the authority to say yes
• Get your child's evaluation results in writing before the meeting, so you're not hearing the scores for the first time at the meeting
• Say the calm, specific sentence that keeps your options open if the team decides your child doesn't qualify

If this episode was helpful, please share it with another parent and leave a rating. Together we can make a difference. Consider following the show so you don't miss what's next.

You don't have to walk into that room alone. Book a free 15-minute call and we'll talk through where your child is and what to ask for.
https://theliteracykeys.com/contact/

Find UsInstagram: @theliteracykeysFacebook: theliteracykeysYouTube: @theliteracykeysWebsite: TheLiteracyKeys.com

Cheers,

Tracy

Dyslexia Specialist

The Literacy Keys

 ps Here's a great resource that I personally used: ⁠⁠From Emotions to Advocacy by Pam and Pete Wright.⁠⁠

IEP Meeting transcript

In this episode of The Literacy Keys, you'll understand the power of the IEE Independent Educational Evaluation when you disagree with the dyslexia testing conducted by the school. It's a powerful tool to use when the school’s evaluation says everything is fine with your child, but your gut tells you something is wrong! Discover the steps to have the school pay for your Independent Educational Evaluation.

Learn how to confidently challenge the school's findings and get the answers your child deserves. You’ll understand how to leverage the IEE Independent Educational Evaluation and have the school pay for this second opinion.

• Discover what an Independent EducationalEvaluation (IEE) is, and why it's a game-changer for parents.
• Identify the exact steps to request that your public school pay for this crucial second opinion.
• Uncover how an IEE can lead to a comprehensive diagnosis and support plan for your child.

This episode is for any parent of a struggling reader who feels like they aren't being heard by the school system. Host Tracy Young explains this complex process from a unique perspective: as a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor providing dyslexia tutoring, as an advocate, and as a parent who has been in the trenches with her own child.

Subscribe to The Literacy Keys podcast and share this essential episode with another parent who needs to hear it. Stop feeling dismissed and start getting answers.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Literacy Keys and the Importance of Reading

(00:59) Understanding Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE)

(07:11) Navigating the IEE Process and School Evaluations

(12:02) Recap and Final Thoughts on Advocacy for Your Child

If this episode has been helpful, share it with another parent, and leave a rating with stars.  Your support helps us empower more parents. 

Cheers,

⁠Tracy Young, Orton Gillingham Tutor⁠

⁠The Literacy Keys ⁠

Keywords

Independent Educational Evaluation, IEE, dyslexia, reading difficulties, special education, parent advocacy, educational evaluation, literacy, child development, learning disabilities

Stop searching how to improve reading comprehension and sit back as host Tracy Young, a certified Orton Gillingham tutor shares proven ways to improve reading comprehension skills.

So many kids hit a “brick wall” when the reading load explodes. The struggle shows up as procrastination, exhaustion, or homework that takes forever. Tracy breaks down what’s really going on and shares activities to improve reading comprehension. These activities go beyond reading comprehension worksheets.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to spot the sneaky reasons comprehension tanks
• A simple check to confirm whether your child is reading the words accurately
• How to improve reading comprehension by unlocking meaning
• A 10-minutes-a-day routine that actually adds up (and doesn’t trigger eye-roll).

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Literacy Challenges

(02:00) Understanding Stealth Dyslexia

(03:57) Important Factors to Understand

(09:00) Practical Tips for Older Struggling Readers

If this episode helped you, hit the follow button and leave a quick review so more overwhelmed parents can find the support they need. Let me know if you are interested in exploring this topic further? Schedule a free consultation at: ⁠https://theliteracykeys.com/contact/⁠⁠

Cheers,

Tracy Young - Dyslexia Specialist

The Literacy Keys

RESOURCES:

“Stealth dyslexia”

Vocabulary Through Morphology by Susan Ebbers

“Sold a Story” (Emily Hanford)

transcript for this episode

KEYWORDS:

reading comprehension, improve reading comprehension, dyslexia, reading challenges, literacy strategies, stealth dyslexia, vocabulary, reading fluency, educational tips, struggling readers, parent guidance, practical tips, literacy keys

Perseverance and Resilience can feel impossible when your child is staring at a page of homework, and you’re running out of pep talks and patience. After listening to this episode, you’ll know exactly what to say (and do) when learning stalls, motivation tanks, and you’re worried you’re both sliding backward.

If you’re parenting a child with dyslexia, you’ve likely seen the pattern: a burst of progress… then a plateau… maybe even a dip. That doesn’t mean your tutoring plan isn’t working. In this episode, Tracy breaks down what’s really happening; why Perseverance and Resilience matter more than ever, and how to keep your child going.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to reframe a plateau so your child stops thinking “I can’t” and starts believing “I can’t yet.”

• How to spark Perseverance and Resilience using small wins (even when progress is painfully slow).

• A practical multisensory tweak that helps learning “stick” when dyslexia makes repetition feel endless.

If this helped, share it with another parent, subscribe, and leave a quick review.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to the Learning Curve

(05:33 The Role of Parents in Learning

(07:35) Practical Tips for Effective Learning

(09:34) Instilling Perseverance and Resilience

Searching for a certified Orton Gillingham Tutor? Book a consultation at The Literacy Keys Orton Gillingham Tutor

Resources mentioned:⁠The S-Shaped Learning Curve⁠⁠ ⁠

Get ready, parents! In this inaugural episode, your host, Tracy Young—an Orton Gillingham tutor, dyslexia tutor, and mom of a dyslexic child, lays bare her own journey, sharing how she became so incredibly passionate, (or "obsessive" as her dyslexic daughter affectionately calls it) about all things surrounding dyslexia.

Tracy holds nothing back, admitting right from the start that she did everything wrong. "Yup! I’m a classic example of what NOT to do," she frequently admits. But that's exactly why you need to listen! She’s here to share the good, the bad, and the ugly, so you don't have to navigate the same path she did.

This isn't just a podcast for parents of dyslexic children. Dyslexia exists on a continuum, and many struggling readers face similar challenges.

Don't miss this powerful, relatable, and incredibly informative first episode! Follow The Literacy Keys so you don't miss a single valuable insight. And if Tracy’s story resonates with you, please tell a friend who needs to hear this. Let's build a community where parents are empowered and every child thrives.

Contact Tracy at:

The Literacy Keys