| Literacy Therapy | Tutoring |
| therapy: the treatment of disease or disorders, as by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process | tutoring: teaching or instructing; having the guardianship, instruction, or care of |
| Since therapy is intended to be remedial, rehabilitating, or curative, it requires a scientific basis. Literacy therapy involves methods that have been researched and proven to remediate language processing difficulties like dyslexia and dysgraphia. | Since tutoring is intended to teach or instruct a student, it requires clear teaching methods and is usually provided through homework support and test prep. Typically, tutoring addresses current academic demands. |
| Progress is measured through a student’s ability to recall and apply the patterns of the English language. Though assessments may vary based on the student’s age or grade level, the focus is measuring language-processing skills and adjusting the therapy as needed. For most students, improving language-processing skills also improves academic performance, but this impact may not be immediate. | Progress is measured through the student’s academic performance. |
| The goal of literacy therapy is for the student to process written language more effectively and efficiently. The student learns strategies to figure out and understand new words. | The goal of tutoring is for the student to do well in their classes at school. The student learns the content that they need to complete assignments and pass tests. |
Developing Readers provides literacy therapy for students to develop proficient literacy skills. Many of our students have dyslexia and/or dysgraphia, while others are receiving early intervention or filling in instructional gaps. If you are unsure whether your child will benefit from literacy therapy or whether to pursue tutoring instead, you can schedule a free consultation to discuss your child’s needs and gather more information.
Developing Readers 