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Igniting confidence
in every reader
Hey, St. George! Did you know our brains are not naturally wired to read? Walking and talking are natural, but reading isn't. Reading is a code, and we're here to help your child crack it.
Literacy
support for
homeschool
Designed to fit with your routine
If language arts instruction at home has felt confusing, overwhelming, or just plain ineffective, you are not alone.
With a clear and structured approach, we can help your children read and write with ease.
Support for homeschool parents who've been praying for a breakthrough starts here.
Every child deserves to read with confidence
Let's make that happen, together.
WELCOME
Hey There!
Before I became a tutor, I was a parent unhappy with my daughter’s language arts education, or rather, the lack thereof. I decided to pull my daughter from her expensive private school and homeschool her myself. Very quickly, I found myself at a loss as to how to teach my child to read. As an avid reader myself, I was quite surprised that I had no idea how the English language worked! I paid for an excellent tutor, but then she left. With no other tutoring options and a lack of effective homeschool curriculum, I decided to become the tutor my daughter needed.
Reading, unlike walking ot talking, is not natural. Did you know that? Although, as adults, it seems like your child should know the words as quickly and easily as you do, it actually takes systematic instruction and multiple parts of the brain to work together. It’s a lot to learn!
The John Corcoran Foundation found that in 2024, 63% of Utah’s fourth graders were below proficient in literacy. Your struggling reader is NOT alone. Why are so many children below proficient? I have ideas! Ask me about them later.
However, I have repeatedly seen success with the Orton-Gillingham approach for students struggling with reading. Orton-Gillingham is also the gold standard for dyslexia intervention, if that is a concern. But the best part? Orton-Gillingham is an excellent way to get those phonics skills to stick for EVERY student.
The one word I use to explain the OG approach is FUN! It’s multi-sensory. We listen, we touch, we jump around. Learning feels like play. It goes at the student’s pace, so no rushing! At the students pace, we go through every letter sound and combination, leaving no stone unturned.
Let’s get started!
What is
Orton-Gillingham?
Orton-Gillingham is a proven, step-by-step approach to teaching reading and spelling. Lessons are hands-on and engaging, using multiple senses. So reading isn't just sitting with a book; it's active, engaging, and memorable. Each lesson is curated for each individual, moving at their own pace.
Think of it like building with blocks: we start with a few, stack more and more on top, celebrating every tower addition along the way. With Orton-Gillingham, reading feels more like discovery than drill.
Our Mission
Empowering Young Readers
Our mission at Candlelight Literacy is to empower young readers by providing personalized and science-based literacy instruction. We chose the Orton-Gillingham method because it covers every base and leaves no doubts along the way. Each lesson is hand-crafted to fit each student's needs and explore their interests as well. We like to be effective AND fun!
We love homeschool families! With years of homeschooling experience, we understand the freedom, the fun, and the sometimes tricky aspects of homeschooling. Whether you want someone to take a subject off your hands or you are unsure how to go about language arts instruction at home, we have ideas!
Homeschool Support
Reluctant reader?
Reading can be so tricky! We know that, but what about when your child says, " Reading is boring!"
Well, actually, we AGREE! However, reading is a very necessary skill. Let us help you navigate reading reluctance as well.
Our Beliefs
Individualized Reading Support
Our literacy projects are designed to provide personalized support for reading and to move at the student's own pace.
Multi-Sensory Learning
We offer multi-sensory learning experiences that make exploring language exciting and accessible, fostering a deeper understanding.
Fun and Encouraging Sessions
With movement, games, puppets, and even songs, we try to make the most out of each session and have the most fun too!
Reading and Writing
Our literacy projects are designed to provide personalized support for reading and writing, helping students express themselves confidently and fluently through words and stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best way to help my struggling reader?
As parents, we often forget many of the rules of the English language and can’t explain the logic behind them. For instance, take the word “have”. Why does it have an “e” on the end? A parent might say, “Because that’s just the way it is.” But a tutor would say, “Phonetically, h-a-v makes sense, but no words in English end in the letter ‘v’, so we add a silent e.” No English words end in ‘j” either. We use “dge” instead, like in fudge. While parents usually have great intentions, it is easier to seek out a tutor for the most effective remediation. Tutors are trained for cases such as these. We have knowledge and resources that are otherwise hard to find. When reading is hard, a great tutor beats a bunch of random workbooks and parent frustration.
2. My child is struggling with reading. Does that mean he or she has dyslexia?
Great question. About 1 in 5 students has dyslexia, so about 20% of students. Sadly, in some states, 60% percent or more of students are struggling with reading. Most commonly, I see students who have not been able to understand their current curriculum. Sometimes the student’s school is moving at too fast a pace, so they fall behind. Tutoring provides high-quality instruction and goes at the student’s pace, which proves to be very helpful in both instances. If dyslexia is still a concern, the first question I always ask is, “Does the family have any history of dyslexia?” If so, the chances of dyslexia are greater. We cannot diagnose dyslexia here at Candle Light, but we can connect you to resources if a diagnosis is desired. How we help is that we are certified in the gold-standard approach for dyslexic instruction. Dyslexic or not, our methods provide excellent results for students with or without dyslexia.
3. What is the best language arts curriculum for homeschool?
That very popular one that everyone in Utah seems use that is very pretty and very “open and go”? Yeah, that one doesn’t make my cut, sorry. While there are a few that I (sort of) recommend, I have found that most are lacking something pretty important. I usually look for things that are rooted in phonics, multisensory (fun), offer explicit instruction, and are not a nightmare to organize. Those that are rooted in phonics are not always fun. Those that are fun are often messy, clunky, and require a lot of parent prep. Very rarely does a curriculum offer extra help and practice for students who may not quite understand the day's task, relying on parents (who we have stated may not know the rules of English) to fill in the gaps. Some families have success with these curricula, which is great. But if your child is struggling, it would be best to seek out a certified tutor. Also, I firmly believe that if your language arts block is frustrating for you as a parent, whether you seem to be fighting the curriculum or your child, it is VERY important to seek out a tutor. Tutors don't take away from your homeschool; we work together to make your homeschooling journey more special. Gone are the worries, the stress, and the frustration. You can relax knowing that your child is happy and learning with us, leaving you able to be a calmer homeschool parent.
4. Where are you located?
We are located in beautiful St. George, Utah! Our office is centrally located near Utah Tech University. We serve residents of St. George, Washington, Hurricane, and the surrounding areas.
5. Are you a vendor with the Utah Fits All
Scholarship?
Yes! We are an Utah Education Fits All approved vendor.