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 do next. Today, not “someday.”

Host Tracy Young, an ALTA-certified, Orton-Gillingham tutor, shares a candid Reddit thread where dyslexic adults shared the truth about being told they couldn't achieve a goal. Best of all was the moment they finally proved that person wrong. These are real-life dyslexia success stories, collegeacceptances, advanced degrees, thriving careers, all powered by persistence and the right supports. Tracy breaks down what these stories have in common, and why struggling for success is usually a mismatch in instruction, not a lack ofeffort or intelligence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What dyslexia success stories have in common, so you can copy the patterns thatwork.
• A simple way to talk to your child that boosts motivation.
• How to spot progress that’s easy to miss, so your child feels wins sooner.

Do you need a calm, clear plan for your struggling reader? Start at The Literacy Keys. Click ⁠here⁠

Chapters

(00:00) Understanding the Struggles of Dyslexia

(03:13) The Reality of Parental Fears

(05:58) Celebrating Dyslexia Success Stories

(08:57) Believing in Your Child's Potential

(11:51) Finding Support and Community

Have your mornings turned into hostage negotiations? Explore what’s driving school avoidance and how you can take simple next steps to change “my child hates school” into a new narrative. After listening, you’ll know what’s driving the pushback and exactly what to do next. It's never easy but you can start this week!

If you’re a parent hearing: “My Child Hates School” and you’re looking for answers, then this episode is for you. Host Tracy Young, certified Orton Gillingham tutor breaks down School Avoidance in plain language, with a whole lot of practical calm. You’ll learn the most common reasons kids avoid school and how to stop the daily negotiation spiral without escalating the fear.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to spot what’s really happening beneath “My Child Hates School” and respond in a way that lowers the temperature.
• A simple 3-step plan to interrupt School Avoidance without power struggles.

CHAPTERS

(02:05) — What Is School Avoidance (School Refusal)?

(05:20) — What Kids Say (and What They Mean)

(09:10) — The 5 Most Common Reasons for School Avoidance

(13:45) — Academic Struggle & Older Kids

(16:25) — The 7-Day Plan to Reduce School Avoidance

If this episode helped you, please subscribe and leave a quick review, so more exhausted parents can find support.

Learn more about The Literacy Keys: https://theliteracykeys.com/

Ready for a calmer plan? Book a consultation call: ⁠https://theliteracykeys.com/contact/

RESOURCESThe Tapping Solution (kids + school anxiety)

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 exactlywhat to ask for, how to ask, and what to do next, all without feeling like you need a law degree.

This topic hits hard because private schools can soundconfident while giving you a vague statement: “We don’t do 504s here.” This can feel overwhelming when you’re already juggling tutoring, tears, tuition, and teacher emails.

In this episode, Orton Gillingham tutor and host TracyYoung breaks down what’s actually true about a 504 plan and private schools in plain language. You’ll walk away with a simple plan for accommodations that help your child right now, whether or not the school uses a formal 504 process.

You’ll discover:

• How to get a clear answer to the question: "Do private schools have 504 plans?"
• How to request accommodations that are specific and reasonable.
• What to say to the school when you're feeling nervous or brushed off.
• How to document needs so that it's not about goodwill.
• What your backup plan is if the school won't provide the support your child needs.
• How to compare options when weighing a 504 plan and private schools versus public school support.

CHAPTERS

(0:00) Introduction: The 504 Plan Dilemma

(03:03) Public Schools: Your Rights Under Federal Law

(06:33) Private Schools: Understanding the Differences

(11:17) How to Request Accommodations in Private Schools

Download the checklist and walk into your next conversation with a plan: https://theliteracykeys.com/dyslexia-accommodations-checklist/

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this helped, please leave a quick review so more overwhelmed parents can find the episode.

Cheers,

⁠Tracy Young, Orton Gillingham Tutor⁠, founder of ⁠TheLiteracy Keys ⁠

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 diagnosis is common when girls compensate. You'll discover behavioral myths, research gaps, and a checklist of red flags for dyslexia in girls. This information will highlight why dyslexia is diagnosed more frequently in males and how societal issues create the impression of sex differences in dyslexia. All of this is important to understand when thinking about testing your child for dyslexia.

If this episode has been helpful please share it with another parent, and leave a review. Your support helps us empower more parents.

Links:

Go to the homepage of our website to download the Dyslexia Symptoms by Age mentioned in this episode.

Cheers,

⁠Tracy Young, Orton Gillingham Tutor⁠

⁠The Literacy Keys ⁠

You can watch episodes with Alex on ⁠YouTube⁠

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 Welcome and why we’re talking about dyslexia in girls

• 01:40 The “behavior bias”: why girls often fly under the radar

• 07:00 Masking and classroom dynamics that hide reading struggles

• 09:15 Red flags we missed and what parents often notice first

• 16:30 Teacher training gaps and why schools may overlook dyslexia

• 22:45 Early-childhood warning signs (ages 5–12)

• 25:55 Rhyming/tongue twisters: an easy at-home clue

• 30:35 Subtle symptoms + what “looks fine” can really mean

• 35:35 Social masking + perfectionism/people-pleasing pressure

• 41:40 What helped + practical supports to try

• 43:25 Quick wrap-up takeaways

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 and self-advocacy.

This is the second of a 2-part series, in which Tracy continues the conversation on dyslexia accommodations, shifting the focus to the critical transition into middle and high school. You'll understand why your child’s 504 accommodations are not a "favor" or a "loophole"; they are essential tools that allow students to demonstrate understanding of the material without changing academic expectations.

Over time the goal of dyslexia accommodations shifts toward independence and self-advocacy. Learn how to move away from constant adult intervention, toward a model where your teen knows exactly what tools they need to succeed in higher education and beyond.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 - Defining Dyslexia AccommodationsThe host introduces the concept of dyslexia accommodations, explaining that they are adjustments to how a student learns.

• 02:26 - Middle School Transitions and ToolsThis section discusses the increased academic demands of middle school and the importance of using assistive technologies, such as text-to-speech software and audiobooks, to help students access grade-level content.

• 04:30 - Organizational and Note-Taking SupportThe host explains how note-taking assistance and graphic organizers can help students manage "executive functioning" challenges and stay organized as they navigate multiple teachers and complex projects.

• 06:18 - High School Success and Exam PrepThis chapter covers advanced support for high schoolers, including foreign language waivers and the critical process of applying for accommodations on college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT.

• 10:11 - Fostering Self-Advocacy and ResourcesThe episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of student self-advocacy for long-term success and introduces a downloadable dyslexia accommodations checklist to help parents navigate school meetings.

If you didn't have a chance to listen to part 1 head over to episode 25 and remember to download the Dyslexia Accommodations Checklist.

If this has been helpful, subscribe to this podcast and share it with another parents.

Cheers,

Tracy Young, Orton Gillingham Tutor

The Literacy Keys

Check out episodes with Alex on YouTube

Dyslexia Accommodations Part 1 - episode 25

Dyslexia Accommodations Checklist

transcript

Dyslexia accommodations aren’t a favor or an advantage. This episode shares what to ask for, why it matters, and how to stop second-guessing yourself. Discover where you can download our dyslexia accommodations checklist.

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 breaks down dyslexia accommodations for students and explains how 504 dyslexia accommodations work in the classrooms.

You'll discover the biggest misconceptions parents hear at school meetings, and why accommodations are about access and are not an unfair advantage. Plus, Tracy shares where to find a dyslexia accommodations checklist you can bring to your next meeting so you can advocate with confidence instead of second-guessing yourself.

If you’re a parent of a child with dyslexia and want to feel prepared, informed, and empowered, this episode is a must-listen. This is the first of a two part series.

Need an Orton Gillingham tutor? Contact The Literacy Keys

transcript of this episode

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, powerful tips that help your child make real progress.

If you’ve ever sat at the kitchen table watching your child avoid doing their homework, you’re not alone. That frustration is exactly why this episode exists. Tracy, an Orton Gillingham tutor, discusses the “fourth-grade slump;” explains why traditional reading instruction leaves dyslexic learners behind, and shows you ways to confidently use Orton Gillingham at home, even if you have zero teaching experience.

You’ll learn two practical OG strategies you can use immediately to help your child read and spell with less stress. These parent-friendly, multisensory techniques mirror what expert dyslexia tutors use during structured literacy lessons, but without the price tag.

If you homeschool, or if you’ve simply been looking for a way to use the Orton Gillingham method at home, this episode will ensure you do so with clarity and confidence. Listen now and discover how.

Need an Orton Gillingham tutor?

Contact The Literacy Keys

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 motivate your kids to read without constant battles or guilt trips.

In this episode of The Literacy Keys, Tracy breaks down why so many secondary students are still struggling with foundational reading skills and what makes teens’ reading challenges very different from younger kids’. You’ll hear how low confidence, slow fluency, and intimidating multisyllabic words in subjects like science and social studies slowly drain motivation. Best of all, this episodes shares what you can do to rebuild reading motivation at home.

Drawing on a powerful Education Week article about secondary reading struggles and the book Know Better, Do Better by Meredith & David Liben, Tracy explains why it’s never too late to become a better reader, and why age-appropriate materials, targeted fluency work, and mindset shifts matter so much for teens. You’ll walk away with practical, realistic strategies you can start using right away.

Whether your child is barely reading, reading very slowly, or simply refusing to try, this episode on reading motivation shares how to motivate kids to read. If you’ve been feeling stuck, discouraged, or unsure where to start, this conversation will give you a concrete plan to help your older child see themselves as a reader.

⁠transcript of this episode⁠

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Education Week article: “Secondary Students Are Struggling With Reading, Too. A Look at the Landscape.”
  
• Know Better, Do Better: Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read by Meredith & David Liben
  
• 
  Learn more about dyslexia tutors, resources, and support for struggling readers at The Literacy Keys