Balancing Act

The Dad Advantage

A poem by Lilian Ascheman

Putting the experience of dyslexia into words takes courage, and that’s exactly what Barton student Lilian Ascheman has done. With honesty and strength, she invites us into her world through a powerful poem that captures the struggle and the perseverance of learning differently.

Guided and encouraged by her Certified Barton Tutor, TerraBeth Jochems, Lilian reminds us that while dyslexia may be a lifelong challenge, it will never define her—and it will never win.

With the right tools and support, parents can successfully tutor their child with dyslexia.

By Cheryl Dover
Customer Support Specialist
Bright Solutions for Dyslexia / Barton Reading & Spelling System

We hear this all the time from parents:

“I’m not a teacher.”
“What if I do it wrong?”
“I just want to help my child, but I don’t know how.”

Here's the truth: you can absolutely tutor your child—and do it well.

You don’t need a teaching credential, a college degree, or even a high school diploma.

What you do need is something you already have: the heart of a parent who wants their child to succeed.

With the Barton Reading & Spelling System, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our program was designed to be easy to follow—even if you’ve never tutored before. No lesson planning. No guesswork. No complicated instructions.

What’s Included in Each Level:

• Comprehensive online training
  (5 to 6 hours of guided, video-based instruction per level—stream online anytime)
  
  
• Pre-written lesson plans
  Choose between fully scripted or summary-style formats—organized for easy, efficient use
  
  
• Blackline masters of the student pages
  Simply copy or print a new set for each student—no need to recreate materials
  
  
• A set of color-coded letter tiles
  Essential for hands-on, multisensory learning
  
  
• Free, unlimited support
  Available by phone, email, on our website, and on an online Barton Tutor chatgroup

Even parents who are dyslexic themselves have successfully tutored their children with the Barton System—because we are there with you every step of the way.

If you can pass a simple hearing test, you can start tutoring.

So take a deep breath.

You’ve got this. And we’ve got you.

But before you start using the Barton System, give your student our 10-minute Student Screening to find out if he or she is ready for this approach.

✅ Hear what parents, teachers, and students have to say

✅ Learn how to tutor using the Barton System

From Struggling Reader to Award-Winning Writer
By Susan Barton

Susan Barton loves hearing how Barton tutoring has changed a child’s life, as this Certified Barton Tutor shared:

Susan,

I’m thrilled to share an exciting update about one of my Barton students.

Benjamin struggled with reading and spelling from a very young age. Even when he was eight years old, he could not decode simple three-letter words and frequently wrote letters backwards. At first, his mother chalked it up to him being the youngest child. She tried many different reading programs, but none of them helped her son,
and he continued to fall further behind.

Benjamin was formally diagnosed with dyslexia when he was 11. A year later, I began tutoring him using the Barton Reading & Spelling System. From the start, he showed tremendous dedication, worked incredibly hard, and ultimately, completed all ten levels.

Once Benjamin completed the Barton System, we started working on written expression using the IEW curriculum. Because of his creativity and intellect, I encouraged him to submit one of his stories to an international contest.

Today, Benjamin is a high school senior. He recently competed in his first speech competition and advanced to the regional level. He was also awarded a Karina Eide Young Writers Award for his exceptional short story, The Doppelgänger’s Dilemma.

It’s incredible to think that the same student who could not decode three-letter words is now delivering speeches and writing award-winning stories with confidence.

I am incredibly proud of the young man Benjamin has become and the inspiration he is to others who are walking a similar path.

Thank you, Susan. Your program truly changes lives.

Kristi Davis
Certified Barton Tutor at the Masters Level
IEW Accredited Writing Instructor
Wilmington, DE

To listen to this, or to share it, click here.

Franklin Spelling Ace Availability

Due to an ongoing IC chip shortage, the Franklin Spelling Ace SA-309 is in very limited supply.

If you purchased Level 4 directly from Bright Solutions for Dyslexia:

You may order one additional unit for $39.99 + shipping.

To order, contact Beatriz in our office. Availability is first-come, first-served.

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Susan Barton Dyslexia Stories