Literacy at Thyme for Speech

Literacy empowers and liberates people. Beyond its essential role in the right to education, literacy improves lives by expanding opportunities that reduce poverty, strengthen community participation, and shape long‑term health outcomes. Every child deserves access to this future.

All speech and language therapy at Thyme for Speech includes elements of literacy based instruction.  When literacy is a primary concern, essential components of language comprehension and word recognition are assessed and targeted. I am currently in the process of becoming a Certified Wired for Reading Therapist, and while it is not the only method I use, it is the foundation of literacy intervention in my practice. Wired for Reading® is an evidence-based, multi-sensory program focused on linguistics and "getting mouthy," complementing and extending speech-language therapy by tapping into the same neurological pathways and brain centers. 

Lessons can include activities such as sound manipulation at the word level, (i.e., listening to each sound in a word and then adding a new sound or taking one away, to build new words), reading morphologically complex words by first identifying known prefixes and suffixes, and/or reading a story together, while simultaneously discussing novel vocabulary vocabulary and word structures as it relates to the text.  

My Passion for Literacy

My oldest daughter has always loved books and stories, but learning to read was a significant challenge. I noticed early signs of dyslexia before she started kindergarten, but my training as a speech‑language pathologist did not include courses on literacy intervention. Like many families, we trusted her needs would be met by the public school system. Despite their recognition of her struggles, additional tier 2 reading support, and her persistent effort, we did not see meaningful progress. 

It was time to find a different path. So, I did what I always do when confronted with a difficult case: I dug into the research.

I immersed myself in the work of leaders in the field to understand the neuroscience behind our ability to read, as well as the standard for best practice in literacy intervention. The work of Louisa Moats, Sally Shaywitz, David Kilpatrick, C. Melanie Schuele, and Peter Bowers taught me the importance of systematic instruction related to morphology and phonological awareness. On a local level, I reached out to teachers, reading interventionists, and school psychologists; multiple people recommended Wired for Reading, a program created by Laura Rogan – a skilled reading therapist. I took the Wired For Reading Introductory Course and immediately knew this was what my daughter needed. Wired for Reading is aligned with the research, and perhaps more importantly it provides a concrete, playful way to learn reading and spelling that my daughter connected to immediately. 

After two and a half years of hard work and dedication, my daughter graduated from the program and is now reading at and above grade level. 

Is it Thyme to Talk About Reading?

If your child is struggling to read, you aren't alone. I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your concerns and explore how we can support your child’s reading skills.