Reading Placement Assessment

Here at CK Tutoring, we know firsthand the frustration of knowing your child needs help reading, but not knowing where to begin. We can help! Through a one-time assessment, I will examine your child's reading skills and compose a report of my findings, to ensure you're supporting your child most accurately.

Available for all locations*.
- If you're not in an existing service area but would benefit from an assessment, please reach out directly and I'd be happy to discuss options.

*Note: A travel fee will apply for Areas A, B, C, D and E - please see Locations page for more information.

FAQ's:

How long will the assessment take?
- The exact length of the assessment will depend on each child and their capabilities, but it usually takes around an hour on average. Although this may seem long for a young learner, the assessment includes engaging activities and hands on materials, so rest assured the children have more fun than you'd think!
Can I be in the room/watch the assessment?
- Although I have no issue with parents listening to the assessment, it can be distracting to both me and the child to have a parents/guardians/siblings in the room. For this reason, I ask that you please choose to be in another room at the time of the assessment.
What skills are you assessing?
- The assessment tests five skills, all crucial to reading success. Grapheme awareness (letters + digraphs), vowel/consonant identification, phonemic awareness, reading + decoding, and spelling + encoding.
  - Grapheme awareness tests the student's knowledge of the 26 letters and 4 most common digraphs - their names, common sound(s), and whether or not the student is able to write the letter/digraph successfully.
  - Vowel/consonant identification is a simple chart to determine if the student can decipher between a vowel and a consonant.
  - Phonemic awareness tests the student's auditory skills when hearing a word and/or its parts. This includes isolating and blending sounds, segmenting words, adding/deleting sounds, substituting parts of words, and making rhymes.
  - The reading + decoding portion of the assessment examines the student's ability to decode a word when seen written on paper. The student will attempt to read words, systematically progressing in difficulty. This portion uses both real and nonsense words to curb potential memorization and focus on testing the student's knowledge of phonics skills.
  - The spelling + encoding portion examines the student's ability to accurately write words when heard. The student will be given both real and nonsense words (systematically progressing in difficulty) to test their knowledge on applying proper spelling rules.
When/how will I receive my child's report?
- Approximately one week after your child's assessment, you will receive an email with a PDF document attached. If you have not received this email after 5 business days, please reach out to camille@ck-tutoring.ca.
I have received my child's report. Now what?
- There are a few different directions you may choose to go once you have received and read about your child's current skill level. You may choose to use those findings to independently seek resources to support your child's continued learning yourself. Though for some families, it makes more sense to hire a tutor to come alongside you and your child to give specific support in the areas of need. If you are in one of CK Tutoring's service areas, please feel free to reach out and see if there is a spot available for your child - we're always happy to help!
I want to be able to help my child myself. What approach should I take, and how do I begin?
- This is totally understandable, and common for a lot of parents. For students with reading struggles, it can be overwhelming to know what resources to use and when to use them. Although CK Tutoring follows the Orton Gillingham method for teaching reading to all students, there are other methods that may be successful for your child! I'm always happy to give recommendations for resources and curriculum that could be helpful. Please reach out directly at camille@ck-tutoring.ca to set up a consultation time.