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Learning Philosophy

I believe strong readers are built through explicit, systematic instruction—not guesswork. At SunnyRoots Reading, I identify each child’s specific needs and provide targeted instruction in foundational reading skills, morphology, comprehension, and writing. My goal is to help each student understand how language works, think deeply about what they read, and become a confident, independent learner.

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27 Years of Experience • Master’s in Reading • NYS-Certified Teacher • Orton-Gillingham Trained • IMSE Morphology Trained

I am a New York State-certified educator with 27 years of classroom experience and a master’s degree in reading. As an Orton-Gillingham Academy Classroom Educator with specialized training in morphology through IMSE, I understand how to identify the underlying skills holding a reader back. I provide explicit, systematic, and personalized instruction that helps students become stronger, more confident, and increasingly independent readers and writers.

 Services

🌱 Reading Foundations: Orton-Gillingham

I guide your child through the Orton-Gillingham approach to build a strong foundation for accurate reading and spelling:

  • Phonemic awareness and sound-symbol relationships

  • Decoding and encoding words

  • Syllable types and syllable division

  • Spelling patterns and rules

  • Irregular high-frequency words

  • Reading accuracy, automaticity, and fluency

đź“– Interactive Read-Alouds

Engaging classes help your child develop:
• Vocabulary
• Listening comprehension
• Critical thinking
• Discussion skills
• A love of reading

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🌱 Morphology & Vocabulary

I teach students how meaningful word parts work together, helping them unlock unfamiliar words and strengthen vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension.

  • Prefixes and suffixes

  • Greek and Latin bases

  • Base words and word families

  • Breaking complex words into meaningful parts

  • Using morphology to determine word meaning

  • Connecting word meaning to spelling

  • Building academic vocabulary across subject areas

✍️ Writing

I help your child grow as a writer through explicit, structured instruction in:

  • Recognizing complete sentences and fragments

  • Developing clear who/what  action sentences

  • Expanding sentences with meaningful details

  • Using conjunctions to explain, contrast, and show cause

  • Combining sentences for clarity and variety

  • Taking organized notes from a text

  • Planning and developing structured paragraphs

🧠 Reading Comprehension

I will help students become thoughtful, confident readers by developing their ability to:

  • Making inferences

  • Identifying theme and central idea

  • Analyzing characters and their development

  • Determining vocabulary in context

  • Summarizing important ideas and events

  • Understanding text structure

  • Identifying the author’s purpose and point of view

  • Supporting responses with text evidence

  • Comparing ideas across texts

  • Developing critical-thinking skills

🔍 Read It, Prove It

I teach students how to understand a question, develop a clear response, and support their thinking with evidence from the text.

  • Analyzing what the question is asking

  • Restating and answering the question clearly

  • Developing a focused claim

  • Selecting relevant text evidence

  • Explaining how the evidence supports the answer

  • Organizing ideas into a complete response

  • Revising for clarity and accuracy

Words from Parents and Community Members

Barb Kuhn is a phenomenal teacher who makes reading come alive for her students! She has a unique gift for reaching children and fostering a genuine love for books. A win for every learner!

Patricia S.

As a colleague who worked with Barbara for three years, I can testify to her profound commitment to literacy. She is an expert at identifying individual needs and creating a supportive environment where students feel safe to take risks and grow. She doesn't just teach reading; she builds the confidence necessary for a life of learning. Her advocacy for every child she works with is truly commendable, and I am thrilled that more families will now have access to her incredible talents through SunnyRoots Reading.

Heather C.

Spending a decade working alongside Barb showed me exactly why she is an elite educator. Her deep understanding of literacy development is matched only by her patience. She has an uncanny ability to break down complex concepts into manageable steps, ensuring no student feels left behind. Barb treats every family as a partner, ensuring a holistic approach to student success.  I am confident that her tutoring services will change lives by giving children the tools they need to succeed academically and personally.

Jess K.

Thanks to the foundational techniques and encouragement provided by Mrs. Kuhn, my daughter developed the essential skills to finally excel as a confident, independent reader.

Amy O.

The transformation in our son's literacy skills has been remarkable. Barbara's structured, kind-hearted guidance has turned a child who avoided books into one who reads for pleasure. We are so grateful for her expertise.

Sarah M.

Highly recommend SunnyRoots Reading! As my 4th grade teacher, Barbara helped me become a much stronger reader and greatly improved my literacy skills. She was always patient, encouraging, and made learning enjoyable. Her dedication and ability to build confidence makes her an excellent tutor for any student. She genuinely cares about each student's success and takes the time to tailor her teaching to each student’s needs.

Shianne W.

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