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

An episode of [The Literacy Keys - Dyslexia resources and structured literacy tips by an Orton Gillingham tutor](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1826142266), 6 Aug 2026, 36 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/107172a70/podcast/play/123871218/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-7-6%2Fb57783ef-92bc-08f2-f4ae-f93acb23ebcd.mp3

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 quietly fails so many in high school, and exactly what to look for and how to: • Tell the difference between a tutor with one week of training and one with hundreds of logged hours • Ask the three questions that reveal whether someone can actually connect with a teenager • Understand why I use spelling, not decks, to find the gaps in an older student's reading • Use the three-session rule to save you from spending six months with the wrong fit • Choose from four real ways to pay for tutoring, including your state's ESA funds Alexandrine was diagnosed with dyslexia as a junior in high school, and she will tell you plainly that she despised high school tutoring. Her first tutor was wonderful with little kids but had limited experience with a sixteen-year-old taking AP classes. They talked about the alphabet. Alex shut down completely, and stayed shut down. That wasn't a discipline problem or a bad attitude. It was a mismatch, and it's the most common reason tutoring stops working for older students. Virtual tutoring wasn't really a thing and we didn't have many high school tutoring options. If you're not sure whether your teen needs tutoring, testing, or something else entirely, book a free 15-minute consultation. No pressure and no pitch, just a clear next step. https://theliteracykeys.com/contact Resources mentioned: • PRIDE Reading Program, a scripted Orton-Gillingham curriculum for parents • UFLI, from the University of Florida, affordable and downloadable • ESA vendor states Follow the show so next week's episode finds you and if you know another parent whose teenager has quietly given up on tutoring, please share this episode. Cheers, Tracy Young, Orton Gillingham Tutor The Literacy Keys p.s. Check out episodes on YouTube Chapters 00:00 Starting the high school tutoring conversation 08:36 How to choose the right tutor for your child 16:33 Customizing Orton Gillingham for different age groups 25:00 Resources for all parents of struggling readers in high school

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