Step By Step Dyslexia Solutions

At Step by Step Dyslexia Solutions, Dr. Cintron’s research-based reading program produces solid results in reading comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary development. In some cases, students have made 1-3-year gains with structured literacy programs combined with music in as little as 6 weeks.

Dr. Marianne Cintron is a recipient of a grant to receive training from the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators for Associate Level course work and practicum. Step by Step has developed a reading curriculum that combines explicit reading instruction with music, significantly increasing its efficacy. A deeper understanding of Orton-Gillingham training will add to the ongoing research of her program using music. Additionally, she will begin her practicum within weeks. She will teach two high school students using the Orton Gillingham curriculum; however, one student will also use her music app, to continue her research on the efficacy of music to teach reading.

Step by Step Dyslexia Solutions is working within a network of community organizations in Claremont to offer its curriculum to teachers and tutors at Title 1 and other public schools or locations to bring the advantages of reading instruction with music into their lexicon of developing skills. Step by Step Dyslexia Solutions’ mission is closely connected to community development and revitalization. Students, particularly dyslexics in various communities in California and the surrounding county go without fundamental structured language instruction because schools of education do not prepare special education or classroom teachers with adequate training. Poor student reading performance is the unfortunate outcome. Research shows that students who don’t reach grade level reading skills by the end of their 3rd grade year in elementary school rarely catch up. Step by Step Dyslexia Solutions believes thatt the pleasurable combination of music with reading instruction will be a beneficial asset to both teachers and students.

Step by Step Dyslexia Solutions began its fundraising activities in 2020. We are so new the ink is barely dry on our mission statement and tax- exempt status. Small, first step in-kind donations of office space and a five-figure gift made it possible to draft the required documents to establish our 501(c)3 status, and begin the process of credibly fundraising from local individuals and foundations to provide scholarships for teachers and tutors for students. The City Council in Pomona, West Covina Kiwanis, the Mental Health community, and one other philanthropic organization are supporters.

Dr. Cintron is determined to have her reading curriculum have the highest standards, backed by professionals with the strongest training credentials. The opportunity to train at the Academy of Orton Gillingham will ensure she can provide the best instruction available, while she continues with her research related to the neuroscience of music related to reading.

(in a non-COVID World-----otherwise we work with students online)

Many parents commute to work and their children remain on campus after school up until 6:00 pm. Many of these children struggle with reading and low self-esteem because they are not reading at grade level. Some may even be diagnosed as having dyslexia, some undiagnosed. Dyslexia affects 1 in 5 students of all ethnicities.

People with an education background will receive a one-day training to work with dyslexic students at the dA Center for the Arts in the hours after school. Parents will make arrangements for them to go to the center and picked up by parents.

Students in a similar program have made 1-3 year gains in only 6 weeks and we anticipate the same results now. They will be in the program for an hour a day, for five days for six weeks. Then new students will begin for another six weeks. We are helping them “break the code.” If students aren’t reading by 4th grade, they are at risk of dropping out of high school and going to prison. We will have an impact in our communities as Claremont’s “Uncommon Good” modeling for other communities what can be done to help students read.
Students learn to read in grades K-3, and then read to learn in grades 4-12. We need to get our students reading at young ages but we will sign students up in grades 2-8 to begin. Parents are already speaking up that their children need help now and the schools are limited to help these students.

The mental health issue is addressed in the well -being grant because students who could not read and now will read will impact many areas of their lives. They will have improved self-esteem and preparedness to succeed in school and in life. Families will immediately see positive changes in their homes and teachers will experience such improvements in students in their classrooms as students’ behavior improves and learning takes place.

Monies (ie. $10,000 will be designated for each 5 tutors) to be trained and then pay them for 6 weeks of tutoring 3 students each.
Candidates with education or social services background to receive training.

Families whose students are struggling with literacy and not receiving intervention.
Five tutors will be trained in the Step by Step Reading program if they agree to tutor students for 6 weeks (25 sessions) in an afterschool intervention at the dA Center for the Arts. We are also speaking with Pomona’s Promise with their after school programs to discuss partnering with them in their after school programs.

Students will be pre and post tested by Dr. Cintron, in order to measure and report improvement over six weeks.

Step By Step Dyslexia Solutions wants to keep the momentum going with training of additional teachers, and paying minimum wages for after school tutoring.

As additional students are added for subsequent weeks, pre and post tests will be done. Students who fail to reach grade level reading by fourth grade are at risk of dropping out of High School.

Passion and Vision
We are currently receiving support from the SBDC to develop our board and meeting with marketing organizations to learn how to fundraise in local communities.

Dr. Marianne Cintron is a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Administration, has a Masters in General Education and one in Special Education, and has two California Teaching Credentials. She is a Dyslexia Specialist, President of Step By Step Dyslexia Solutions, and a National Teacher Trainer. She has twenty years of experience in Education, ten years as a Classroom Teacher, is an Author, App Developer, Curriculum Writer, and Speaker, Virtual Teacher Trainer and Speaker.

After teaching in several districts, she left the school system to have a greater reach and to help schools learn about teaching dyslexic students. She is currently a board member of the International Dyslexia Association–Tri County Branch, a member of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, and a member if Christian Business Partners in Upland. She is the only educator using music with her reading program to effectively help dyslexic students improve in reading at a profound rate. She is passionate to share this information with schools in order to close the achievement gap in reading and stop the school to prison pipeline.

This type of intervention was accomplished years ago in Dr. Cintron's Doctorate program for her Dissertation.
The results were great.
Step By Step Dyslexia Solutions has received a $6000 grant to begin the intervention in Pomona, CA. Tutors have been trained and
we are currently contacting schools to obtain the 9 students for the intervention.