ABOUT US

We are a team of passionate and experienced teachers who share the same goal: to empower students through literacy and help them become confident lifelong learners.

19

years

9750

students enrolled

728000

hours of intervention

Our Services

Assessment

  • Formal and comprehensive literacy assessments
  • Informal and ongoing assessments

Remediation and Intervention

  • Individualized literacy programs
  • Instruction by highly qualified educators
  • Current and evidence-based strategies

Training and Professional Development

  • Continuing education for teachers and therapists
  • Parent and caregiver training
  • Informational sessions

SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT MY CHILD?

• persistent baby talk
• does not appreciate rhyme
• difficulty naming letters
• can't syllabicate words

• can't identify beginning sounds
• poor letter-sound correspondence
• difficulty reading CVC words
• difficulty writing letters

• can't decode unfamiliar words
• difficulty understanding Grade 1 texts
• misspells short, easy words

• can't syllabicate multi-syllabic words
• choppy oral reading
• avoids reading out loud

• difficulty identifying main ideas
• avoids reading longer texts
• misspells words previously studied

• does not read to learn
• does not read for pleasure

If your child exhibits two or more of these behaviors, consult a developmental pediatrician and a reading specialist.

Reference: Shaywitz, S. & Shaywitz, J. (2020). Overcoming dyslexia (2nd ed). Alfred A. Knopf

TRAININGS

Our Reading Specialists Team

CECILE Q. JOCSON

(C) MSE in Literacy, University of Central Arkansas
BS Legal Management, Ateneo de Manila University
Reading Instruction Certificate, UC San Diego Extension

Trained in:
Barton Reading and Spelling System
Handwriting Without Tears
Lindamood-Bell: LiPS, Seeing Stars, Visualizing and Verbalizing, On Cloud Nine Math
Making Math Real
Orton Gillingham, Basic and Advanced
Project Read

Special Education Teacher, 5 years (California)
Reading Clinician, 19 years

MA. RONA D. ERMITAÑO

MA Reading Specialist
MA Elementary Education
Teachers College, Columbia University
AB Psychology, Ateneo de Manila University
Trained in Preventing Academic Failure (PAF) program
Reading Specialist, 18 years

JOANNA F. MONTINOLA

MA Education - Monash University
BS Psychology - Northwestern University
Registered Educational Therapist and Fellow (Singapore)
MSL Centre Singapore - Orton-Gillingham Basic and Advanced English Courses
Trained in the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) Essential Literacy Approach
Learning Support Coordinator and Educational Therapist, 7 years

RAQUEL S. NER

Associate, Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE)
Diploma (C) Learning Disorders Management and Child Psychology, Singapore
AB Psychology- Ateneo de Manila University
Educational Therapist, MSL-Orton Gillingham Singapore, 3 years
Orton-Gillingham Math Practitioner
Reading Clinician, 8 years

LYRA STELLA V. PANDY

MA (C) Language and Literacy Education - UP Open University
Diploma in Language and Literacy Education - UP Open University
BS Psychology - De La Salle University
MSL Centre Singapore - Orton-Gillingham Basic and Advanced English Courses
Pre-school Teacher, 7 years
Reading Clinician, 11 years

Reading is a fundamental skill children must master to ensure future academic, social, and professional success. I am grateful for the opportunity to help children with learning differences achieve their goals!

SHEENA A. AREPENTIDO

BS Nursing - University of Sto. Tomas
Certificate in Special Education - UP Open University
LIteracy Ladder, Multisensory Approach training
SPED Teacher, 4 years
Reading Clinician, 5 years

Reading is important because it keeps our mind active, and it gives us endless knowledge and lessons in life.

IVY G. RIOTOTAR

MA Educational Management
De La Salle University
20 years in Education
MSL Centre Singapore, Orton-Gillingham Basic and Advanced English course
Reading Clinician, 5 years

Reading expands a child’s world. The look of wonder and spark of interest every time they read something new or interesting are priceless.

CARLA CAUNIN-LABAYO

MSpEd, Professional Master in Special Needs Education, Miriam College
Individual Support Teacher
Senior ESL Online Teacher
Reading Clinician, 2 years

“Reading opens our minds to a wonderful and meaningful world.”

PAULINE JAVELOSA

Assumption College
Preschool Teacher
Reading Clinician, 2 years

"Every book is a gate. If I'm able to help a child to read, then I’m an accomplished gatekeeper."

CHRISTINE ONG

MS Ed Reading, Writing and Literacy - University of Pennsylvania

“Literacy is a pathway for each child to communicate and participate in the world.”

MICHELLE ESPARAGOZA

Computer Office Management - St. Vicenta Maria Religious of Mary Immaculate
Reading Administrative Assistant, 6 years

I like working in a center that helps children learn to read.

Our Learning Specialists Team

KRIZZA ORTEGA

JAMIE MONZON

JUSTINE ROBERT M. MONZON

Bachelor of Pastoral Studies and Evangelism
New Era University - School for Ministers

"When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts."

RAFA DURAN

BA Communications & Media Studies - San Beda College Alabang

“Our thoughts are like a restless dog kept in an enclosure, running in circles and itching to be let loose just a little. Writing is opening the gate to that enclosure and letting that dog out into the world.”

RHEA SIBUG-MARIANO

BS Psychology, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Continuing Professional Education, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
MA Education, Major in SpEd, University of the Philippines Diliman

“There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.” —Frank Serafini

OUR CONSULTANTS

Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Rm. 107 Medical Office Building
Tel No. (02) 8771-0585 | 8771-0586
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment
Tuesday 9:00am - 5:00pm


St. Luke's Medical Center Global City
Rm. 1012 Medical Arts Building
Mobile No. (0939) 121 9989
Tel No. (02) 8789-7700 local 7012
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment
Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Calamba Doctors Hospital
Room 311 Medical Arts Building
Tel No. (049) 8545-0195 local 300


Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Rm. 719 Medical Office Building
Tel No. (02) 8771-9250
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment


Neurodevelopmental Center
De La Salle University Medical Center
(6346) 8481-8000 or (632) 8988-3100 local 1372

Suite 506 Medical Offices Building
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Tel No. (0925) 725 4312
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment


Pediatrics Unit, UP-PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building
(FMAB), PGH Compound, Taft Avenue, Manila
Tel No. (0925) 725 4312
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment

Room 216, Makati Medical Center
Tel. No. (02) 8893-5134
Mobile No. (0915) 086 2214
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 12:00pm
Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00 pm

Child Neurosciences Center
Manila Doctors Hospital
UN Avenue, Manila
Tel No. (02) 8558-0888 loc. 4526
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment


St. Victoria Hospital
JP Rizal St., Marikina City
Tel No. (02) 8475-1552 loc 104 | (0922) 885 4521
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment


Manila Med Child Developmental Enrichment Center
U.N. Avenue cor. Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila
Tel No. 8523-8131 local 7795/7796 | (0917) 652 4453
Mobile No. (0917) 521 8245
Clinic Schedule: By Appointment

Ledesma Group for Neuropsycological Services
Tel. No. (02) 8470-4417
rhea.lopa.ramos@gmail.com
Neuropsychological Evaluations: By Appointment


Neurodevelopmental Center - St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City
Tel. No. (02) 8727-5463
Consultations only: By Appointment

News

March – April 2023 Trainings

BINHI TEACHER TRAINING 3

BINHI English Foundation tapped Ms. Cecilie Jocson, director of the Reading Specialists, and Ms. Mary Rose Tuazon of For Kinds Only Learning Circle, as resource speakers for the BINHI Teacher Training Program 3 on March 25, 2023 at Jose Rizal Elementary School. The topic was Science of Reading-aligned practices in teaching phonics and reading. Teachers from BINHI partner schools attended the training.

Congratulations to Teacher CJ, Ms. Mary Rose, and the BINHI foundation for a successful training!


JUSTICE PALMA: An English Proficiency Training Program

Literacy is a fundamental right that transcends all barriers. We, the Reading Specialists, believe that this is made possible only through healthy partnerships with the community.

The Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma Foundation, Inc. partnered with the Reading Specialists for the Joint Upskilling Service Training of Instructors for Children’s Education Prioritizing Assistance on Learning and Monitoring Activities (JUSTICEPALMA): An English Proficiency Teacher Training Program for Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma High School (JCMPHS) in Payatas, Quezon City.

Grades 7 to 10 teachers of the JCMPHS attended the three-day workshop from April 26 to April 28,2023 at Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma High School. Ms. Cecile Jocson and Ms. Lyra Pandy of the Reading Specialists reviewed Science of Reading concepts and discussed aligned practices in vocabulary, comprehension, and writing instruction. The workshop is the culmination of the intensive teacher training program, which began with a series of live webinars conducted in July 2022.

Thank you to the Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma Foundation, Inc. for the trust and to the JCMPHS teachers for their active participation!

Event: Yoshimoto Orton-Gillingham Training Course in Manila 2023

After a long hiatus, OG IS BACK!

MSL Centre, in partnership with Reading Specialists, is bringing the Orton-Gillingham English Course to Manila. The course will be conducted by Ronald Yoshimoto, M.Ed, M.S.W., Fellow of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham (OG) Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE).

WHY STUDY OG?
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach “is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia. It is most properly understood and practiced as an approach, not a method, program, or system. In the hands of a well-trained and experienced instructor, it is a powerful tool of exceptional breadth, depth, and flexibility.” (Source)

REGISTER NOW TO AVAIL OF EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS! For more information, email rsn@readingspecialists.net.

Please join the mailing list to receive registration details. Sign up for the mailing list here: https://bit.ly/OG-MNL2023

Founder’s Desk: The priceless returns of reading aloud

Founder's Desk Letterhead Junly 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,

Last May 22, the Reading Specialists was fortunate enough to forge a partnership with Homeschool Global Alabang to conduct a webinar about Reading Essentials: What Every Parent Must Know. During the Q & A, I was asked, “What would you advise parents to do to promote children’s literacy growth?” The answer is easy: Reading aloud. The cost is time and books—hardly anything considering its priceless returns.

Reading-aloud has limitless benefits. It has the potential to promote family bonding, and foster an interest and love for reading. Reading aloud enhances readiness skills such as print awareness (e.g. knowing that print carries meaning, is read from left to right and top to bottom), alphabet knowledge, and awareness for the sounds of the language—all of which have been found to be critical to early reading success. Reading aloud also increases children’s background knowledge necessary for comprehension. It exposes them to more sophisticated vocabulary, language structures (grammar), and figurative language that they normally would not encounter in daily conversation. To make the most of this experience, I highly recommend the following:

  • Cozy up with your child with a book on the sofa or the bedroom. Set the alarm and agree to DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) at this time. No ifs and buts.
  • Choose quality books that appeal to your child’s interests. Include fiction and non-fiction. Keep an open mind. Even comics and graphic novels are now fair game.
  • Read alternately with your child if he or she already can. While you provide a model for fluent reading, your offspring gets the opportunity to practice both reading and listening.
  • Pre-reading: Set a purpose for reading by having your child make a prediction based on the title, cover, and blurb. Explain vocabulary and concepts critical to understanding the story or selected passage.
  • During Reading: Continue to encourage your child to make predictions. Ask questions at the literal level. Include those that pertain to implied information to develop higher-order thinking. For example, “Why do you think that happened?” “Do you think the character made the right decision? Why? or Why not?”
  • After Reading: Depending on your child’s ability, have him or her retell the story, or summarize it in less than 15 words. Alternatively, have him or her identify the main ideas and supporting details if the book is non-fiction.

For all you bargain shoppers (from a bargain shopper herself!), reading-aloud is the steal of the century. No buyer’s remorse. You and your child only have everything to gain.

Journeying with you in life, literacy, and learning,
Founder's Desk Letterhead June 2020

TESTIMONIALS

Ever since we enrolled our son in Reading Specialists, in just 3 months we already saw the difference. Our son used to have a hard time reading words. […] But now he loves to read short story books. Their teachers are not only equipped with skills but also have the compassion for their students.

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[…] I enrolled my child at The Reading Specialists. In one month she was reading CVC words. Haltingly, but she was reading. Now, four months after our first enrollment, her reading has gotten so much better. […] I highly recommend The Reading Specialists. Teacher Nat and Teacher Reena, you rock big time!

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