Reading & Writing Tutoring (K-12)
Strong readers and writers carry that advantage into every subject they touch. We work with students at every grade level to build the comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills that unlock the rest of their academic work.
Reading support
- Elementary readers: Phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension
- Middle school: Inferential reading, vocabulary in context, analyzing texts
- High school: Close reading of literature, analyzing arguments, AP English prep
Writing support
- Essay structure (intro, body paragraphs with evidence, conclusion)
- Grammar and mechanics
- Research papers and citation
- College application essays
- SAT/ACT essay sections
For students with dyslexia or other reading differences
We work with several students who have a dyslexia diagnosis or 504/IEP for reading. Our tutors use multi-sensory approaches and pace accommodations as needed. Share the documentation during the consultation and we’ll build the plan around it.
FAQ
How quickly will I see improvement in my child’s reading?
For a struggling reader, the first measurable shift is usually around 6-10 weeks of weekly sessions — often visible first as more willingness to read, then as better comprehension.
Can you help with college essays specifically?
Yes. We work with juniors and seniors on the personal essay and supplemental essays. Ideally start the summer before senior year for less stress.
Book a Reading/Writing Consult
For students whose challenges run deeper, this connects closely with my dyslexia tutoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades do you support?
Kindergarten through 12th grade.
What do you cover?
Reading comprehension, vocabulary, essay structure, and writing — built on a strong foundation of decoding and fluency.
How do we begin?
Call or text (503) 809-4120 for a free consultation.
Who K–12 Reading & Writing Tutoring Helps
This program is built for students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are slipping through the cracks of a busy classroom — the child who decodes words but can’t recall what a paragraph meant, the middle-schooler who dreads writing assignments, and the high-schooler who reads slowly and runs out of time on tests. Because every plan starts from a quick, no-pressure assessment, we meet your student exactly where they are instead of where a grade-level chart says they should be.
What a Session Looks Like
We extend the science of reading beyond basic phonics into the higher-order skills that grades and confidence depend on: vocabulary, fluency, reading comprehension, and clear, organized writing. Instruction is explicit and systematic — your student is shown how skilled readers and writers think, then guided through practice with immediate feedback until the skill is their own. Lessons are multisensory and paced to keep a struggling learner engaged rather than overwhelmed.
- Reading: decoding and fluency work that frees up mental energy for comprehension
- Comprehension: strategies for main idea, inference, and summarizing across fiction and nonfiction
- Writing: sentence and paragraph structure, essay organization, and editing their own work
- Confidence: visible wins each week so reading and writing stop feeling like a battle
How We Measure Progress
You won’t have to guess whether tutoring is working. We track specific, observable skills from the first session and share plain-language updates, so you can see growth in fluency, comprehension, and writing over time — and adjust the plan as your student advances.
Serving Gresham, East Portland & All of Oregon
North Star Tutoring works with families in Gresham, Boring, Sandy, Happy Valley, Troutdale, and the greater Portland metro in person, and with students anywhere in Oregon online. Instruction is grounded in evidence-based, structured-literacy methods and aligned to the reading and writing skills Oregon students are expected to master. Ready to start? Call or text (503) 809-4120 for a free consultation with Debbie Sexton, M.Ed.