A Grateful Mom says...
"Tutoring with Mrs. Stevens has been a huge help and encouragement for our family! My kids absolutely love their time with her! They enjoy being in the privacy of her home as it removes some of the awkwardness of a more public tutoring situation. She is very patient and kind and they leave their sessions with more confidence and enthusiasm for things that are typically difficult for them. Mrs. Stevens has really individualized their instruction based on their areas of struggle. She makes learning fun and they enjoy the games she has them play. She is genuinely interested in their hobbies and activities and my kids always look forward to seeing her. It has been such a blessing that she is doing the Barton training with them. I feel like their memory skills, writing, reading and spelling are improving from their time with her." –Lori Way (B.A. M.A. in Educational Ministries) A Grateful Mom texts...
"I was talking to R. on the way home from tutoring and telling him what a gift from God you are to our family. I am so grateful to you for your work with G. and R. You're patient, yet firm and kind, and such an incredibly gifted teacher. Thank you for focusing your teaching abilities onto kids with dyslexia. You're giving them a gift that will last the rest of their lives." -Michele D. (Teacher & Home School Mom) ![]() A Home School Mom says...
"Thank you" is inadequate to say how deeply we appreciate your expertise, professionalism, loving-care and encouraging spirit. You and the Barton method have made such a difference to Kristin--both the strengthening of her abilities, and the building of her confidence. She not only accepts the dyslexia she has, she now embraces it! :) I hope and pray God will continue to bless you as you minister to these special & brilliant-minded kids!" With love & appreciation, -Carol & Jonathan (Home School parents) A Grateful Parent... "Congratulations to my son Nate Mengel for graduating from the Barton Reading and Spelling Program. It has been such an amazing journey. Just a few short years ago, Nate was prepared to graduate 6th grade reading and writing at a 1st grade level. In a little over 3 1/2 years his reading and writing level jumped 8 grade levels. He is now thriving in High School, passing all of his classes, and doing the work all on his own. Words cannot express how proud I am of him. Thank you so much to Susan Barton for creating such an amazing program and a HUGE thank you to his tutor Gretchen Stevens, for working with Nate all of these years. You have been a HUGE blessing and inspiration not only for Nate but for my entire family. Words cannot express how truly thankful we are for everything you have done for us. We couldn't have done this without you. Ken (Coach Ken) An Open Letter to Parents of Gretchen's Students...
"I want to encourage you and your children as you continue in the Barton Lessons with Gretchen. It is a worthy investment! I began my lessons 6 months ago and I am continually being shocked how my spelling doesn't get the red lines under it while I am typing. It is amazing that this 63 year old brain is literally being "rewired!" My brain actually "feels" less congested and stressed. I can read aloud smoothly and comprehend what I have read! (6 months ago this would not have been the case.) The best part of this whole journey we are all on is how you are preventing your kids from suffering a lifetime of humiliation that comes from not being able to read or spell very well. I have also watched my grandkids' confidence grow as they too improve in reading and spelling. The joy of them having been spared the painful embarrassment of something they are unable to overcome by themselves is priceless. Susan Barton is the top of the line in programming the brain to process sounds and words in the correct area of the brain. I would recommend two great books on this subject: "The Dyslexic Advantage" (by Eide & Eide) and "Overcoming Dyslexia" (by Sally Shaywitz). I applaud you for the sacrifice you are making in time and money to put your child through this program." -Karen M. (age 63) Susan Barton responds to above "open letter"...
"Thank you so very much for forwarding Karen's letter to me. As you know, adult students are my very favorite type of student. I would love to share her letter on the Barton Reading website as well. I want to prove to skeptics that it is NEVER EVER too late to make significant improvement in someone's reading and spelling skills. By the way, please let her know I am SO PROUD of her for writing that email to the parents of your students." -Susan Barton, (Developer Barton Reading & Spelling System) Excited Emma says...
"I read this chapter book by myself, without my mom helping me at all! It's 10 CHAPTERS LONG!" (A year ago, when she started tutoring, she would throw her book on the floor in frustration) She has just finished Barton level 3 and says she is "...so happy and proud of herself." Yea Emma! A Thrilled Grandparent says...
"When our granddaughter was practicing her spelling words this week (provided by Barton), she was actually spelling them, not just memorizing them! She finger-spelled them first and she even caught her own mistake! We are so thrilled!" -D. D. (Grandma) Another Happy Update...
"I wanted to let you know that I feel like I've seen some significant improvement in Sky's spelling abilities and neatness in her writing. I am so thankful for all that you are doing with her! It's exciting to see her catch on to things more quickly and with greater ease." -L.W. (Educator & Home School Mom) A Pleasant Dilemma...
"My son (age 10) wants to come to tutoring every day!" -M.D. (Former teacher & homeschool mom) Even after a long day at school...
"When asked how he likes tutoring with Mrs. Stevens, on a scale from 1 to 10, our son (age 9) answered, "11!" -B.V. (Father who struggled with dyslexia himself) |
Seeing Results...
"We’ve done a spelling list already and she said to me the other night again how fun you make reading. She is reading street signs & signs on restaurants accurately for the first time! You have blessed our family so very much. " Update a few months later... "... she is so much more confident in reading now! That is her favorite part of homework. She is starting Charlotte's Web on her own and is not afraid of the length! And is reading aloud to me! All of this is such progress and I am so thankful for you!!!" -K.R. (Home School Mom) A Happy Student says...
"Guess what, Mrs. Stevens? I got 13 out of 15 of my spelling words (from her public school list) correct on my spelling test on Friday! And this week, I already have 24 out of 26 on my pretest correct. I think these tutoring sessions are helping me!" -A.C. (age 10) A Grateful Parent says....
"It was great to stay and observe your amazing wizardry with Kristin last week! I sure do wish I had learned these techniques, both myself as I was growing up, and as a teacher when my girls were learning to read and spell. But here we are, and we're grateful for you! Kristin so enjoys her times with you and is so proud of her progress." -C.P. (Teacher & Home School Mom) An Excited Teenage Boy reports...
"These [tutoring lessons] are really helping my reading improve! I've been reading the first Harry Potter book to my two brothers every night before bed. And I just started reading a Percy Jackson book!" -I.M. (age 13) A Message from a Happy Parent...
"... please know how grateful we are for you and the work you do with our kids. They are growing by leaps & bounds and continue to gain confidence in themselves. We have been so blessed by your tutoring! Thank you! -S.R. (Home School Mom of 3 students with dyslexia) An Appreciative parent writes...
"It's been really wonderful to see C. reading voraciously this last year. She's picking up books and reading them voluntarily for hours!! Harry Potter is her latest love and she's on book 4 right now. Makes my heart smile as a mom. Thank you for your investment in her. We deeply appreciate it!" -A.G. & C.G. PhD. Thrilled Parents write...
"We have nothing but wonderful things to say about Mrs. Stevens. Both of our sons have been receiving Barton tutoring for 2 years now, half of this time with her. The progress in their reading & writing has been tremendous! Our oldest son has recently been retested by the public school district to see if he qualified for an IEP. To the delight of the school pyschologist and all of us present at the meeting, his test scores have improved so much he no longer qualifies! I attribute it all to the tutoring and Mrs. Stevens' skills in teaching. The school staff was enthusiastic about continuing the tutoring and has agreed to allow us to pull him out during class time for tutoring." -Michele & Devin (educator & home school parents) A Thilled Mom says...
"For the first time ever, Hannah was able to read her birthday cards this year! She has improved SO much these last 10 months! Her confidence is blossoming and her behavior has certainly improved. Her teacher emailed and told us that she even volunteered to read aloud in class this week. We couldn't be happier. Thank you, too for supplying us with the Barton spelling lists to use each week. Now we won't be wasting so much time memorizing words that she will soon forget! It makes so much more sense to use the words that go along with the lessons she is learning with you." -T. R. & J. S. (Public School Parents) A relieved Mom texts...
"I had a his Parent Teacher Conference and B. is doing amazing! This is the first time I left without tears and all praises! :) All his hard work is paying off. You have been a huge blessing to us!!" -K.M. (Private school parent) |