Students who benefit most include those with dyslexia, reading delays, difficulty with phonics, or those who haven't responded well to traditional classroom reading instruction. The Susan Barton approach also works well for students who are strong in some areas but struggle with decoding, as well as younger students building foundational literacy skills. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction using this method allows tutors to target each student's specific gaps and learning pace.

During the first session, a tutor will assess your student's current reading level, identify specific challenges with phonics, decoding, or comprehension, and discuss learning goals. This diagnostic approach helps the tutor create a customized plan aligned with Susan Barton principles. You'll also learn what to expect from the tutoring process and how progress will be tracked over time.

Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to focus entirely on your student's individual needs, pacing, and learning style—something challenging in classroom settings with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Susan Barton tutoring provides explicit, systematic instruction tailored to address specific decoding or comprehension gaps, with immediate feedback and adjustments. This targeted approach often leads to faster progress than classroom reading instruction alone, especially for students who learn differently.

Many students show noticeable progress in decoding and confidence within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring, though the timeline depends on the severity of the reading challenge and frequency of sessions. Foundational skills like phonemic awareness and letter-sound correspondence typically improve faster than fluency and comprehension. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who track progress regularly and adjust instruction to keep students moving forward.

Expert tutors using the Susan Barton method should have formal training in the Susan Barton Reading System, understanding of structured literacy and phonics, and experience working with struggling readers or students with dyslexia. Many are certified reading specialists, special education teachers, or have specialized training in literacy instruction. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with tutors who have the specific expertise your student needs.

Yes, the Susan Barton approach is effective across grade levels—from early elementary students building foundational phonics skills to older students addressing persistent reading difficulties. The method adapts to each student's level; younger students focus on letter sounds and simple decoding, while older students work on more complex word patterns and reading comprehension. Personalized instruction ensures the content is appropriately challenging regardless of grade level.

Contact Varsity Tutors to discuss your student's reading challenges and goals, and we'll connect you with a qualified tutor trained in the Susan Barton Reading System. The tutor will conduct an initial assessment to understand your student's specific needs and create a personalized instruction plan. From there, you'll establish a tutoring schedule that works for your family and begin seeing progress.