The Summer Session
This summer, besides our usual focus on helping children reach grade level in reading (and then grade level in math), we are also offering “Tune-Up Tutoring”.

Tune-Up tutoring is for students who are at least average in reading and who want to dramatically improve their reading (or their parents want them to). Tune-Up Tutoring starts Tuesday, July 13 and goes for 5 weeks – 1, 2, or 3 days a week.

The cost is $45 per week for 5 weeks or $225 if paid before the session begins. Or, it costs $50 per week if paid weekly. We expect the 1st $50 at registration and $50 each Thursday thereafter for the following week. Parents or older siblings are invited to attend – at no extra charge – and learn the basic Reading Window techniques.

1 or 2 scholarships are available for children ages 5 to 8 if their parent, grandparent, godparent or older sibling can both bring and stay with the student during the classes. We ask the older family member to stay so he or she can learn how to work effectively with their student for the remaining days of each week.

Note: we give out scholarships as fast as we receive donations. This is a not-so-subtle hint to readers that a $225 donation (tax exempt) will give one child a full scholarship, or 2 to 3 partial scholarships. We also gratefully accept both larger and smaller donations.

And a second note: Briana, another former Reading Window student is back. When Briana was in 5th grade, her mom brought her to the Reading Window. Her reading level was beginning 3rd grade level and her teachers said that Briana would never amount to much. After a regular session (5 times per week for 6 weeks) and about 2 years of follow-up sessions (1,2, or 3 times a week), Briana went on to enjoy reading (she’s just finished all of the Harry Potter series) and she is on the 8th grade Honor Roll. And now she is a Tutor-in-training here at the Reading Window. She is tutoring her cousin (who is now going into 1st grade) how to read, and both are enjoying it. Welcome back, Briana.

Please check with Piper (540-872-1999) if you have questions about scholarships, scheduling or financial questions, or anything else.

Blasts from the Past
As we started putting this newsletter together, we asked ourselves: Did we make a difference? and we answered ourselves: Okay, we know we made a difference, but can we prove it? We then called many of the parents of the students we had taught. Some had moved, some we couldn’t reach. Of the parents we did reach, very few said we did not make a difference; and the rest – the majority by far – well, the quotes below are representative.

Zack started 1st grade in the lowest reading level. His mom says he could read okay but just didn’t want to. She then enrolled him in the Reading Window with a full scholarship. After doing the Reading Window, he jumped to the top of his class in reading. In a couple of years, he had read most of the Wizard of Oz series. By 6th grade, he had read all the Harry Potter books, including the largest one (which he read in only 5 days). In 7th grade he tested at a 9th grade reading level. He is now in 9th grade and tests at a college reading level, all due to the 1st grade Reading Window tutoring, says his mom.

Sage (Zack’s younger brother) did not take Reading Window tutoring. His mom says that as Zack and she practiced reading, “Sage picked it up by osmosis, and as family benefit. Sage is now in 5th grade, and is at a 7th or 8th grade reading level. And our of his wide exposure to many writings and stories, Sage now enjoys writing. Both brothers are now good at math.” -Flame (Zack and Sage’s mother)

Grace was doing average work but her mother thought she could do better, so she brought Grace to the Reading Window in 2002. Today, her mom reports, “Since then, my daughter has excelled in all her subjects and has been an Honor Roll student. She is now reading above her grade level and likes science and math. I credit this to the Reading Window. This program helped me as a parent as well as helping my child.” -Emma (Grace’s mother)

Cole is now 4 and Will is now finishing 2nd grade. A year and a half ago, their mother brought them to the Reading Window. Cole, then age 3, did not read and is now reading Kindergarten books. Will was in the lowest of 4 reading groups and his mother was resigned to his not being promoted to 2nd grade. Because of the instruction he got here, Will not only was promoted but is now best in his class in math, 2nd best in reading and has read the most books in his class.

Heather took Reading Window tutoring in the summer of 1996, after struggling in Kindergarten. Her mother says “she was well preparted for 1st grade, and The Reading Window did a world of good for her. Now in 2004 Heather is in 8th grade and reads all the time.” -Robin (Heather’s mother)

Chris was reading below grade level in 1997, and was in danger of being held back. His mother enrolled him in The Reading Window. She took the course along with him to learn the Reading Window techniques so she could continue his tutoring on weekends. After graduating from the Reading Window, Chris not only was not held back, but he is now a junior in High School, and is preparing for college. -Tammy (Chris’ mother)