Conventional reading instruction does not work for kids with dyslexia. These students need (and deserve) qualified one-on-one multisensory instruction to engage and empower them to succeed. Michelle Roy experienced this first hand while teaching 1st grade. “These kids were bright and had tons of potential. They just needed this life-changing type of instruction,” which is why Michelle founded I Heart Learning Academy in Dallas, TX four years ago. Since day one, she and her incredible team of educators have been passionate about serving this special niche in a big way.
Parent after parent experienced and witnessed their kids succeeding with I Heart Learning Academy. As word spread, demand increased and Michelle felt compelled to find a way to accommodate more students while “staying true to helping kids.” To serve their mission of providing premier literary instruction to all students, Michelle and her team developed an online learning strategy using the Trilogy Mentors Platform.
“It’s such an awesome feeling to say ‘Yes, we can help them!’,” when a distressed parent calls Michelle seeking help. When she gets asked (and she frequently does), “What tutoring software are you using? It works really well,” she’s proud to share that it’s the Trilogy Mentors platform. The software, which includes an easy-to-use online classroom and business tools like scheduling & notifications, enables the tutors to focus on the creative demands of teaching in a multisensory manner without disruption which is essential to maintaining the student’s attention.
The arrival of COVID-19 has made it even more challenging for kids with dyslexia. The abrupt transition of schools to distance learning resulted in a lack of consideration and preparation for students with unique learning needs. In this atmosphere, the work that I Heart Learning is doing becomes even more important. Michelle explains, “… kids [with reading challenges] are just getting assignments from their schools, and they can’t learn to read without direct instruction from a certified teacher. It’s very hard for them to even complete an assignment.” Fortunately, I Heart Learning Academy was prepared to serve the needs of many of these students and successfully increased their tutoring sessions 100-fold over the past month.
What’s next? Michelle had to start a wait-list for new students due to the high demand for her team’s services, but she isn’t stopping there. With the help, support, and expertise of the Trilogy Mentor’s team, Michelle has been working on solving her next biggest problem – training the best-certified teachers “who have the creativity and skills to teach online” for I Heart Learning Academy. One thing is clear, Michelle doing everything she can to build a future where all students will have access to the fundamental right to premier literacy instruction.
