Podcasts · Kids & Family

The Literacy Keys - Dyslexia resources and structured literacy tips by an Orton Gillingham tutor

Tracy Young, Orton Gillingham Tutor, Dyslexia Specialist & Mom of a Dyslexic Kid

69 episodes

If you’re raising a child with dyslexia or a kid who’s struggling to read, write, and spell, stop guessing what to do next. I’m Tracy Young, a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor, dyslexia specialist, and this podcast will empower you to unlock reading, writing, and spelling success for your child. You’ll uncover structured literacy tips and practical advice about dyslexia (in plain English) to help you turn I can't into I can.

More about the show

Follow our weekly episodes and share them with others! Contact TheLiteracyKeys.com for a dyslexia tutor.

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. How to Build Confidence in Your Kid? Slow Down (+ Let Them Be Bored)

    · 25 min · S2 E43

    When was the last time your child was allowed to be bored? Not scrolling, not rushing off to practice, just bored. Veteran teacher Bridget Gengler thinks that empty space has a lot to do with how to build confidence in…

  2. Get Organized: Create a Planner for Teens (+ 3 Systems on How to Help Your Teenager Get Organized)

    · 28 min · S2 E42

    You just opened your teens backpack and found three weeks of crumpled math worksheets resting at the bottom. In this episode, you’ll learn how to get organized using simple, realistic routines that turn school chaos…

  3. Child Refuses to Do School Work: 5 things That Parents Can Do (+ What It’s Really About)

    · 24 min · S2 E41

    The worksheet has been sitting on the kitchen table since four o'clock, and at 9pm it’s still blank. When a child refuses to do school work night after night it's usually a sign of something. You need to know what that…

  4. Books About Dyslexia. Why Teens Read, But Still Struggle (3 Audiobooks)

    · 26 min · S2 E40

    Books about dyslexia either hand you the key to understand your child, or leave you more confused than when you started your journey. By the end of this episode you'll know which three books about dyslexia are worth…

  5. Dyslexia Awareness Month: Scared of the D-Word? Ditch the Red Pen + Reclaim Confidence

    · 21 min · S2 E39

    Watching your child stare at a worksheet covered in red ink is exhausting, but this is Dyslexia Awareness Month and we are flipping the script on those correction marks for good. You’ll walk away from this episode with…

  6. Neurodivergent ADHD Learner: From Parental Burnout to Building Your Child’s Dream Support Team

    · 29 min · S2 E38

    If you're raising a neurodivergent adhd learner who struggles with reading, math, or school stress, you don't have to carry the load alone. Discover how to trade overwhelming burnout for a calm, structured plan to…

  7. Dyslexia Screener Flagged Your Kid? Think of it as an eye chart. (+ 5 questions to ask)

    · 23 min · S2 E37

    If you just received an At-Risk Letter, discover what to do with that information. Do you know which specific skill the dyslexia screener actually flagged? Most parents never find out, and that answer changes…

  8. Early Signs of Dyslexia in Toddlers: What Parents Need To Watch For

    · 31 min · S2 E36

    Picture your four-year-old standing on the front porch in a backpack that hangs down past their knees. Everybody is smiling for the first-day-of-preschool photo. Not one person in that picture is thinking about the…

  9. Dyscalculia Symptoms: 9 Signs Parents Miss (+ 5 Books That Will Help You Understand What Is Dyscalculia)

    · 33 min · S2 E35

    Picture your child at the table, counting a small handful of coins for the third time while telling time on the clock is a total mystery. You’re concerned but aren’t sure why. Let me share that dyscalculia symptoms…

  10. 2e Kids: A Parent's Guide to Twice Exceptional (+ How to Get School Support)

    · 29 min · S2 E34

    Your child holds it together for seven hours at school, but then walks in the door, drops their backpack on the floor and quickly comes undone over a granola bar! For many 2e kids, that end-of-the-school-day meltdown…

  11. Read Alouds: What Nobody Explains To Parents (+ Unlocking The Question: Why Is It Important To Read To Your Child After Age Eight?)

    · 21 min · S2 E33

    This episode is all about read alouds and unlocking why oral reading is important for your child. Hint: Because their ears are years ahead. By the end of this episode, you’ll: • Know why picking up books for read…

  12. Robots for Education: Should You Panic? Probably Not (+ what parents need to know about the robot teacher)

    · 25 min · S2 E32

    A school district in New York just spent $57,590 on a humanoid robot named Sally, then hit pause days before the robot reached the classroom. The story behind robots for education is messy, and a lot more useful to you…

  13. High School Tutoring: Why Do Teens Hate Tutoring? Blame the Alphabet (+ The Fix)

    · 36 min · S2 E31

    When was the last time anyone asked your teenager what they actually think of high school tutoring? My daughter Alexandrine joins me to provide her perspective. By the end of this episode you'll know why tutoring…

  14. Struggling Reader? Think of Swiss Cheese (+ How to Fill the Holes and Reading Gaps)

    · 26 min · S2 E30

    Today's thirteen-year-olds read at about the same level teens did back in 1971. If you're raising a struggling reader that explains a lot. By the end of this episode, you'll reframe your child's struggling reading as…

  15. Who Kicked? How to Improve Reading Comprehension in tweens, teens and adults (+3 tips to improve comprehension)

    · 27 min · S2 E29

    If you've been searching for how to improve reading comprehension for your tween, teen, or even yourself, this episode hands you the missing piece that everyone forgets to share. Plus you’ll find three fixes you can…

  16. Graphic Novels for Kids...Real Reading? Yes, and Here's Why (+ 5 Ways to Build a Reader)

    · 23 min · S2 E28

    A parent's guide to graphic novels for kids: what they build, what to skip, and how to choose well. After this episode, you'll view graphic novels for kids for what they really are: a powerful tool to build a confident…

  17. Struggling Readers Aren't Broken: Science of Reading for Parents with Brett Tingley & Laura Stewart

    · 29 min · S2 E27

    It’s never too late for a teen to read well! This episode is all about explaining the Science of Reading to Parents, minus the jargon. think of it as a roadmap. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly why…

  18. Do You Need to Wait Until 3rd Grade to Test for Dyslexia? A Dyslexia Therapist Debunks the Testing Myth (+ How to Start Intervention at Home)

    · 41 min · S2 E26

    Has your school told you to wait until third grade to test for dyslexia? A dyslexia therapist says that advice is wrong! Learn your legal rights, the red flags schools miss, and how to start helping your child at home…

  19. Summer Learning Loss: Is Your Child Really Forgetting It All? (+ 5 easy wins to prevent summer slide)

    · 21 min · S2 E25

    Summer learning loss hits struggling readers hardest. Every summer, kids can lose one to three months of reading progress, and summer learning loss hits the hardest with children who already work twice as hard just to…

  20. AI and Education: What Every Parent of a Struggling Reader Needs to Know (+3 guardrails you can put in place)

    · 22 min · S2 E24

    AI in education can be a lifeline for kids, or a shortcut that costs them. A lot is changing with artificial intelligence and education. In this episode, Host Tracy Young walks you through where AI genuinely helps a…

  21. Is Handwriting Outdated? Brain Science Has the Answer (+ 3 Things You Can Do This Week)

    · 31 min · S2 E23

    As your child groans at the workbook, and the pencil rolls off the table, you wonder if handwriting still matters in a world that runs on screens. Today's episode gives you the real reason for handwriting, the one…

  22. Dyslexia Symptoms: Unpacking the 4 Ds, and Common Signs of Dyslexia Every Overwhelmed Parent Needs to Know

    · 42 min · S2 E22

    Are you currently feeling completely overwhelmed by your child's struggles? Identifying real dyslexia symptoms shouldn't feel like an impossible puzzle. This episode gives you the exact clarity to decode what is truly…

  23. Does An Orton Gillingham Reading Program Work? Unpacking Research in Plain English (+ clear answers to help your struggling reader)

    · 21 min · S2 E21

    In this episode, we are tuning out the academic noise so you can confidently choose the best, stress-free path forward for your struggling reader. Understand why researchers were questioning if an Orton Gillingham…

  24. Explaining Dyslexia: How to Talk to My Child About Dyslexia (+ 3 starting scripts for different ages)

    · 20 min · S2 E20

    Explaining dyslexia to your child shouldn't feel like delivering a medical sentence. It’s about finally giving them the key to why they’ve been working twice as hard for half the results. Without a name for their…

  25. Is Grade Retention a Magic Reset? Why More Of The Same Fails Struggling Readers (Discover What Your Child Actually Needs Without Repeating A Grade)

    · 20 min · S2 E19

    Are you exhausted from the mountain of report cards and school meetings? Do you feel that grade retention is the only option for your child? For a struggling reader or a dyslexic child, repeating a grade without…

  26. Is Your Kid’s School a Failure Factory? Chris Papst on Failing Schools and Why Common Sense Left the Building (+ 3 Ways to Reclaim Your Child’s Future)

    · 30 min · S2 E18

    Today on The Literacy Keys, we are diving deep into a topic that is often whispered about but rarely confronted head-on: the reality of failing schools. I’m joined by award-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst,…

  27. The Parent’s Guide to the Orton Gillingham Methodology: How to help your child at home (the step-by-step roadmap for an OG session)

    · 23 min · S2 E17

    Turn your I don't know how to help concerns into a clear, actionable plan that builds your child's reading brick by brick. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the Orton Gillingham Methodology to show you…

  28. How to Teach Reading When the Standard Way Fails (+ 3 programs that work for parents)

    · 17 min · S2 E16

    We’re often told by schools to trust the process, but when your child is guessing at words and struggling to spell simple things, that advice feels empty. If you’ve been searching for how to teach reading in a way that…

  29. Dyslexia Help | How to Teach a Dyslexic Child to Read. Use these 5 Keys (Expert Dyslexia Help for Parents)

    · 23 min · S2 E15

    If you’re searching for dyslexia help as you’re wondering how to teach a dyslexic child to read without tears and frustration, you are finally in the right place. By the end of this episode, you will have a clear,…

  30. Finding the Right Dyslexia Help: A Parent’s Guide to Irlen Syndrome, Dyslexia Glasses and Synesthesia.

    · 39 min · S2 E14

    Learn to spot co-occurring conditions with dyslexia like Irlen Syndrome. Dyslexia is not Irlen Syndrome, but they sometimes get mixed up. In this episode, Tracy Young and her daughter Alex dive deep into Irlen…

  31. Go Beyond Cramming: 5 Tips for Studying Effectively (and retaining it)

    · 27 min · S2 E13

    Ditch cramming! Discover 5 science-backed tips for studying effectively and beating the forgetting curve. Imagine a world where studying doesn't end in frustration, and your kid actually remembers what they learned…

  32. Tired of the Reading Guessing Game? Use decodable books (and why the librarian will be your new BFF)...podcasthon

    · 37 min · S2 E12

    Stop the reading frustration! Discover how decodables build real word fluency and where to find free resources. If you are the parent of a struggling reader, you know the look. It’s that moment of hesitation when your…

  33. Upcoming Deadlines for an ESA Account - Explore Educational Savings Accounts (Don’t Miss the Money)

    · 20 min · S2 E11

    Is the State Paying for Your Tutor? Discover the ESA Account Secret and have Educational Savings Accounts explained. Let’s face it. You want the absolute best for your child, but sometimes the price tag for…

  34. Can You Run a Business If You Can’t Read the Contracts? Meet the Dyslexic Entrepreneur Who Did (& invented something for your dyslexic learner)

    · 43 min · S2 E10

    If you’ve ever stayed up late wondering if your teenager will be able to navigate the "real world" without constant help, this episode is something you’ve been waiting for. I recently sat down with Hillary Summerbell,…

  35. What are norm referenced tests? What parents need to know about the bell shaped curve (no Stats degree required)

    · 28 min · S2 E9

    If you’ve ever tried to read a comprehensive evaluation, looked at all the norm referenced tests and thought, “Great, now I need a math degree just to read this report,” you are not alone. Trying to Decode the results…

  36. Are you thinking about testing for dyslexia? Discover what a comprehensive evaluation includes (and what each test tells you)

    · 31 min · S2 E8

    You shouldn’t need a PhD just to understand why your bright child is hitting a brick wall with spelling and reading. Stop the guesswork, ask for a comprehensive evaluation and learn exactly which tests belong when…

  37. Twice Exceptional: How Do You Tell If Your Kids Are Twice Exceptional? What does twice exceptional mean? Discover the struggles of 2e kids (and how you can help them)

    · 25 min · S2 E7

    Discover why twice exceptional kids struggle and uncover why 2e kids fly under the radar. Explore exactly what todo next to support your twice exceptional children. It’s sometimes called double deficit dyslexia. If…

  38. Do You Have a Disorganized Child? Build an Escape Room! (Executive Functioning Activities That Actually Work)

    · 28 min · S2 E6

    If your disorganized child forgets everything, discover executive functioning activities that help scattered minds learn to plan, start, and finish. If your ADHD child continuously forgets to turn in homework, they…

  39. Discover How To Improve Writing Skills (Even When Essays Feel Impossible) | 5 steps to improve writing and become a better writer

    · 31 min · S2 E5

    After this episode, you’ll know exactly how to improve writing skills and what to do next with your child so writing starts feeling doable. For many struggling readers writing is brain overload. They have ideas, but…

  40. Is Your Child Struggling For Success At School? Hear Dyslexia Success Stories And Discover What You Can Do.

    · 14 min · S2 E4

    Struggling for success can feel like staring at a report card and thinking, “How is my child so bright… and still drowning?” After listening to this episode, you’ll feel less alone, more grounded, and clear on what to…

  41. School Avoidance: Why is your child avoiding school and 3 simple steps to change “my child hates school” into a new narrative.

    · 23 min · S2 E3

    Have your mornings turned into hostage negotiations? After listening, you’ll understand what’s driving the school avoidance pushback and exactly what to do next. Understand what Half-Baked Muffins refers to, and turn…

  42. Do Private Schools Have 504 Plans? A Parent’s Guide to Getting Accommodations.

    · 20 min · S2 E2

    The 504 plan and private schools: step-by-step explanation for what private schools must do, what they don’t haveto do, and how to ask for support without burning bridges. After listening to this episode, you’ll know…

  43. Dyslexia in Girls: When the Well-Behaved Kid Is Actually Struggling to Read

    · 47 min · S2 E1

    She’s not lazy—she’s masking dyslexia. Hear the sneaky signs of dyslexia in girls and why so many teachers miss them. A real story that looks at sex differences in dyslexia. In this episode, we cover how late…

  44. Dyslexia Accommodations Checklist: No More Second-Guessing (Part 2)

    · 23 min · S1 E26

    Stop second-guessing possible dyslexia accommodations. Get the dyslexia accommodations checklist and be prepared for the 504 meeting. Discover how to level the playing field for your child while fostering independence…

  45. Dyslexia accommodations aren’t a favor or an advantage. This episode shares what to ask for and why it matters!

    · 23 min · S1 E25

    Stop second-guessing yourself. Before your child’s next school meeting, make sure you know which dyslexia accommodations actually help, and which myths to ignore. In this episode of The Literacy Keys, host Tracy Young…

  46. How to Use the Orton Gillingham Method to Become the Dyslexia Tutor Your Child Needs. Remember you don’t have to homeschool to use Orton Gillingham at home.

    · 19 min · S1 E24

    You don’t need to be a professional dyslexia tutor to improve your child’s reading. In this episode of The Literacy Keys, you’ll learn how to bring the Orton Gillingham method right into your home using simple,…

  47. Do you want to improve your child’s reading motivation? Learn how to motivate kids to read with tips from a dyslexia tutor.

    · 22 min · S1 E23

    If your middle or high schooler avoids books, argues about homework, or insists they’re just not a reader, this episode is for you. We’re digging into reading motivation for older kids and, most importantly, how to…

  48. Anxiety in teens is everywhere! Does Your Child Have Dyslexia and Anxiety? Discover how to help teens with anxiety (includes advice from a dyslexic teenager)

    · 31 min · S1 E22

    Co-hosts Tracy and Alex discuss their personal experiences with parental guilt, anxiety and dyslexia, and the importance of seeking therapy when anxiety in teens becomes too much. They explore the emotional journey of…

  49. 4 Ways to Improve Reading Fluency

    · 20 min · S1 E21

    Dive into the essential skills of reading fluency — what it is, why it matters, and how parents can strengthen it at home using multi-sensory techniques. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: • What reading fluency…

  50. Spotting dyslexia symptoms from Toddler to Adult

    · 19 min · S1 E20

    If your child avoids reading, mixes up words, melts down over homework, or keeps saying, “I’m just not smart,” you may be wondering whether there’s something deeper happening beneath the surface. What if these…

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