Students who benefit most include those with dyslexia, reading delays, or difficulty grasping phonics through traditional classroom instruction. The system also works well for students who need more explicit, step-by-step guidance to understand how letters and sounds connect to words. Many students in Columbus schools with the 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio benefit from personalized 1-on-1 instruction that focuses specifically on their reading gaps.

Personalized Susan Barton instruction allows tutors to work at your student's individual pace, targeting specific gaps in phonics, decoding, or fluency rather than following a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Tutors can spend as much time as needed on foundational concepts before moving forward, and they adjust instruction based on immediate feedback—something difficult to do in a classroom setting. This focused approach often leads to faster progress and stronger confidence in reading.

Susan Barton tutoring targets struggles with phoneme awareness, decoding multisyllabic words, blending sounds, reading fluency, and comprehension. Students who reverse letters, skip words, or read slowly often make significant gains with this structured approach. The system also helps students who have been frustrated by reading and need to rebuild confidence alongside their skills.

Many students show noticeable progress in decoding and fluency within 4-8 weeks of consistent, personalized instruction, though the timeline depends on the severity of the reading challenge and frequency of sessions. Foundational skills like phoneme awareness and basic phonics typically develop faster, while reading fluency and comprehension may take longer to solidify. Regular practice between sessions accelerates progress significantly.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors experienced in the Susan Barton Reading System and structured literacy instruction for students in Columbus. When you reach out, you can specify that you're looking for Susan Barton expertise, and we'll match your student with a qualified tutor who understands the system's methodology and can deliver personalized instruction tailored to your student's needs.

Susan Barton instruction is effective for elementary through high school students, and even adults. The system is particularly powerful for younger students who are just beginning to read, but it's equally valuable for older students who didn't master foundational skills early and need to fill those gaps. Tutors adjust the content and pacing based on your student's age and reading level, not just grade level.

During an initial session, a tutor typically assesses your student's current reading level, identifies specific strengths and gaps in phonics, decoding, and fluency, and discusses learning history and any challenges. From there, the tutor creates a personalized plan aligned with Susan Barton principles and begins foundational instruction. The first session sets the stage for consistent, targeted progress in the weeks ahead.