Name: Red OWL Dyslexia
Address: P.O. Box 434, Happy Valley, SA, 5159, AU
Telephone: 0417 882 763

About Us

Who We Are

Red OWL Dyslexia is an Adelaide Tutoring Service directed to Primary through to Secondary aged students up to and including Year 9.

We do welcome older students and are accommodating with their commitments to their studies at High School in their senior years.

Vikki is the proprietor of Red OWL Dyslexia and has 25 years' experience in Finance, Training and Development, and Administration across all industries including manufacturing, service, wholesale and retail.

Further, Vikki is degree qualified and a graduate of all three levels of Teaching Students with Dyslexia (TSD) which includes Word Cracker training. TSD courses use the Dyslexia Solutions - Multi Sensory Literacy Program.

Teaching students with dyslexia:
Word Cracker training

What We Do

Every Dyslexic person has their own personal challenges which can be extremely challenging, frustrating, confronting and can affect their confidence and self-worth.

We use the Playberry Multi-Sensory Literacy Program which is a method of learning is based on thorough teaching and practice, practice, practice with the student's goal - until the knowledge becomes automatic and permanent.

The structure of the program uses teaching points which are taught explicitly and then revised throughout the program.

This program is very effective in the long term as it takes a student right back to the beginning of teaching Literacy and systematically rebuilds their phonics (letter-sound system).

We provide a strong, supportive learning and development environment and ensure each student is catered for their learning and development needs.

Our aim is to show students that learning can be fun and have lots of "winning" moments to share with the tutor and the parent along the way to successfully managing their Dyslexia.

We are confident and believe that Multi-Sensory teaching enables students to have many successes with their learning.

Why Choose Us

We are:

Tutors specialising in Dyslexia
Use Evidence Based Multi-Sensory Tutoring
Develop Student Paced Programs
Conduct Continued Testing and re-Teaching
Develop and support a Positive Learning Environment.

In addition, we are a current member and represented by the Australian Tutoring Association (ATA). ATA is an organisation and an educator which recognises the need to unify the Australian tutoring industry nationally.

We're also trained in Literacy from the Dyslexia Orton-Gillingham Institute of Australia.

Location: we are located in the southern suburbs of Adelaide at Woodcroft; which is 12km south of Marion Shopping Centre.

Australian Tutoring Association

More information can be read about us and dyslexia in the following 'Dyslexia', 'Multisensory Learning' and 'News Centre' sections.

Or, 'Contact Us' directly to discuss to learn more and arrange an appointment.

About Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that specifically affects a person's ability to work with words, and includes reading, writing, spelling, speaking and comprehending what they've read. Dyslexia is the main terminology used which also includes people who are challenged with Dysgraphia (hand writing), Dyscalculia (maths) and Dyspraxia (motor skills).

Dyslexia is characterised by 4 main areas.

1. Dyslexia - A learning difficulty specific to reading:

slow and labour-intensive reading
difficulty reading aloud
mispronounced words
problems retrieving words
problems writing and spelling.

2. Dyscalculia - A learning difficulty specific to mathematics with difficulty in:

understanding and doing word problems
sequencing information or events
using steps in maths operations
telling time
identifying number patterns (for example: values +/-, quantities, calculating multiplication and division of numbers etc.).

3. Dysgraphia - A learning difficulty specific to writing which includes the following characteristics:

cramped grip, sore hand
poor spacial planning of sentences & margins
frequent erasing
inconsistent letter & word spacing
poor spelling, missing words/ letters.

4. Dyspraxia - A learning difficulty specific to fine and/ or gross motor skills which includes the following characteristics:

difference in speech
perception problems
poor hand-eye coordination
poor balance and posture
clumsiness
fatigue.

Dyslexia

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1. Dyslexia:
Writing alphabet letters
Examples: b d p q

Dyscalculia

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2. Dyscalculia:
Problem examples

Dysgraphia

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Dysgraphia: Neurological disorder, difficulty with handwriting

3. Dysgraphia:
Handwriting difficulty

Dyspraxia

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4. Dyspraxia:
The bigger picture

Dyslexia is a term used to describe a Learning Difficulty.

Dyslexia is listed in the Australian Disability Act. This is helpful when there is a professional diagnosis which can then be accommodated in the work place, and in part of everyday life because Dyslexia has an effect on everything they do. For example, telling time, reading transport timetables, following recipes, getting ready for school, planning homework, reading, writing, spelling, maths and organisation skills.

Whilst it is classified as a disability, it is not recognised as such through the NDIS, and is therefore referred to the Education System we currently have in Australia. Once the school is made aware of an official diagnosis, the schools should help with a student's learning plan and assist with providing extra aids in the classroom environment. The main concern is to put in place the things which will assist the student to be on the same level as those in class who are non-dyslexic.

Fortunately, more teachers are becoming aware of the frustrations dyslexics experience, and can provide some support in the classroom. This may also include extra times in exams, and the allowance of an assistant in an exam environment.

What are the Dyslexia Characteristics?

They include:

learning how to read
reading words in the wrong order
remembering the entire alphabet
confusion with letters of the alphabet and,
spelling words.

Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence.

However, these students feel like there is something wrong with them. Often, it is because they cannot understand and cannot perform tasks as easily as their peers at school and outside school.

People with dyslexia often become upset, frustrated and embarrassed especially when they continually receive a low mark for their tests and exams which they know is not reflecting their true intelligence, knowledge and capabilities.

Are Dyslexic People Smart?

Yes they can be!

Despite their limited ability to read, people with dyslexia have otherwise unaffected intelligence. Dyslexia isn't an intellectual disability; it's a learning disability.

Did you know that the following celebrities (past and present) have dyslexia and have learnt to manage their learning difficulties?

Walt Disney - Creator, cartoon illustrator and story teller (including: Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck)
Roald Dahl - Author of "Matilda" and, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
Jennifer Aniston - Hollywood actor (Bruce Almighty, Picture Perfect and, Friends - Rachel Greene)
Tom Cruise - Hollywood actor (Top Gun, Mission Impossible and, Rain Man)
Richard Branson - Entrepreneur and Founder, "Virgin Group" (including Virgin Records and, Virgin Airlines)
Leonardo da Vinci - Renaissance Artist and Inventor (famously know for painting the "Mona Lisa").

These famous Dyslexics have learnt to manage their learning difficulties.

They do give hope for anyone who has the daily challenges which Dyslexia and other learning issues bring.

★ ★ ★ They are wanting to inspire others by showing that in spite of being Dyslexic,

they are able to use - what they need - to achieve their goals and ambitions ★ ★ ★

Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Dyslexia, Dyslexia Tutoring

Walt Disney (1901 - 1966)
American Film Producer,
Creator and
cartoon story teller.
Includes: Mickey Mouse

Jennifer Aniston, Bruce Almighty, Friends, Dyslexia, Dyslexia Tutoring

Friends (1994 - 2004)
Jennifer Aniston: Rachel Greene

Richard Branson, Virgin Airlines, Dyslexia, Dyslexia Tutoring, Virgin Atlantic

Sir Richard Branson
Virgin Group

Please feel free to 'contact Vikki @ Red OWL Dyslexia' directly to learn more and arrange a tutoring appointment.

Multisensory Learning

To appreciate the dyslexia tutoring services used, the following sections are an insight towards developing a better understanding of dyslexia and the structure of tutoring sessions provided.

The Matthew Effect:

The main focus of teaching of the English Language and Literacy in the first 3 years of Primary School is spent on teaching children to read. Learning to talk is built into the brain but learning to read is not a natural skill. It needs to be taught. The Matthew Effect is concerning. If these reading skills are not grasped in those first 3 years, the gap gets wider. This gap is referred to as the Matthew Effect.

Understanding Dyslexia, written by Vikki Thornton:

>>> Read full article (5 mins) >>>

When children begin school, it is an exciting time for them, their parents, carers and families.

Students begin school life learning the alphabet and numbers. The focus in Junior Primary School is learning to read, write, spell and count. They are taught basic maths using number sequences, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

From first year of school through to Year 2, there is a lot of guidance and support in lesson time when students are introduced to language, literacy and numeracy. Most children feel they are managing schoolwork and able to keep up with what is being taught in class during this time.

They appear to be reading. The readers have pictures, and the sentences are basic and repetitive.

However, they may not actually be reading. They may have been memorising the introductory readers with the minimal text and the pictures.

Students with learning difficulties begin to really notice that school is hard work all the time. There are emotions that parents try to deal with as best they can. Students at this stage are falling behind in class up to two years and may have dyslexia, dysgraphia and a difficulty with maths which is referred to as dyscalculia.

This diagnosis has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence.

These types of learning difficulties associated with language, literacy and numeracy is not something that younger students can eventually grow out of. Dyslexia is a lifelong problem.

Support is available from specialist tutors who are trained and qualified to teach students in a specific multi-sensory way. Our focus is working together to improve reading, writing, spelling and maths to help students manage their dyslexia at school and work.

Language, literacy and numeracy are essential skills for school, life, further education and career.

It's not that I can't learn. I just need to learn in a very specific way.

V. Thornton
BBus(AdminMgmt)
Orton-Gillingham Institute Australia - Literacy & Numeracy
December 2022

Playberry Multisensory Literacy Program

We use the: Playberry Dyslexia Solutions - Multisensory Literacy Program which is an Australian variation of the Hickey Multi-Sensory Literacy Program.

This program is one of a few research based and internationally respected methods for remediating students with Dyslexia and other significant reading disabilities or delays.

This program is very effective in the long term.

Playberry takes a student right back to the start and systematically rebuilds their phonics (letter-sound system).

Playberry uses the 26 letters in the English language and their 44 unique sounds.

Playberry uses tools and frameworks to continually refer back to spelling and grammar concepts.

Hansberry Educational Consulting Pty Ltd, Playberry Dyslexia Tutoring

Playberry Multisensory Literacy Program
Learn More...

Orton-Gillingham Approach
Learn More...

Playberry Dyslexia Tutoring, words, letters, sounds

The 'Y' acts as a secret agent...
Consonant 'y' also acts as a vowel.

Dyscalculia Support Program, Playberry Dyslexia Tutoring

We use the:
Dyscalculia Support Program
Learn More...

Dyscalculia, Playberry Dyslexia Tutoring, words, letters, sounds, numbers, maths, numeracy

Language, Literacy, Numeracy

Please feel free to 'contact Vikki @ Red OWL Dyslexia' directly to learn more and arrange an appointment.

Services

We use the Playberry Multisensory Literacy Program to offer and provide a high quality and affordable individualised learning and tutoring program based on each indvidual's needs.

Each student is assessed and we create the learning program and lesson plans which are built around Multi-Sensory teaching.

Our aim is that if one way of processing information fails, another kicks in to help:

if the word cannot be spelt out aloud,
the student may write the word correctly,
explicit teaching of spelling and maths rules, sounds and blends.

The initial lesson is booked for 1 and a 1/2 hours.

We start with several testing exercises so that we can introduce the student to learning in a multi-sensory way whilst building a tutor and student respect. We do start at the very beginning because each teaching point builds on the previous lesson, tutorial and homework.

Each session is one hour on 1 day a week during school terms. Holiday tutoring is by request, but is generally not advisable as students need their break and holiday time as schoolwork is hard work for them... all the time.

During classes and throughout the program, the tutor is continually reviewing and looking for:

Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
Author, United States Diplomat

how well the student is grasping the concepts,
what concepts are locked into permanent memory,
determining what concepts are needing guidance, and finally,
checking to see if there are concepts which may need to be re-taught.

Work is not marked with a red pen. These students have seen far too much of that colour and for most, it is upsetting to see a low grade mark after all the hard work and effort put in trying to achieve a good result.

Students are given the opportunity to correct their work, whilst the tutor makes notes for future reference and re-teaching.

Benchmark testing is scheduled at a time when the tutor sees that the student is ready to be tested. We test what student DOES know and learnt and celebrate achievement.

Likewise, we continue to test what the student DOES NOT know and struggle with and continue to teach and build on previous work.

Red OWL Dyslexia, dyslexia tutoring, multisensory learning, evidence based instruction

Learn more about:
Multisensory Learning

The Playberry Program continually references:

"Teach as fast as necessary, as slow as needed."

"Keep Calm - and Re-Teach - because that's what we do!"

This is why multi-sensory learning works!

To learn more and to make an appointment, please 'contact Vikki directly @ Red OWL Dyslexia'. We're here to help people learn in a very specific way.

Red OWL News Centre

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Contact Info

Phone 0417 882 763

Email vikki@redowldyslexia.com.au

AddressPO Box 434
Happy Valley SA 5159

HoursMonday - Friday
9:00 am - 5:30 pm

About Us

Who We Are

Teaching students with dyslexia:Word Cracker training

What We Do

Why Choose Us

Australian Tutoring Association

About Dyslexia

DyslexiaClick here to enlarge image

1. Dyslexia: Writing alphabet letters Examples: b d p q

DyscalculiaClick here to enlarge image

2. Dyscalculia: Problem examples

DysgraphiaClick here to enlarge image

3. Dysgraphia: Handwriting difficulty

DyspraxiaClick here to enlarge image

4. Dyspraxia: The bigger picture

Walt Disney (1901 - 1966)American Film Producer, Creator and cartoon story teller. Includes: Mickey Mouse

Friends (1994 - 2004)Jennifer Aniston: Rachel Greene

Sir Richard BransonVirgin Group