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Aspire Academy strives to deliver the highest-quality learning experience for children who struggle with reading, writing and spelling whether that be in-person or online.
We take children ages K – College. It is never too late.
– Heidi Stoffel, Executive Director, Aspire Academy
We personalize every lesson to their specific needs with the aim of getting them to grade-level reading as fast as possible. We use diagnostic testing and student learning progress to determine their needs and progression.
We provide parents a fast, efficient way to see if their child is showing the warning signs of dyslexia and if their child would benefit from an Orton-Gillingham reading, writing and spelling program. We screen for the three leading indicators a child will struggle with reading: poor decoding, spelling and phonological processing. If your child shows these warning signs, we can start an Orton-Gillingham program while they are on a waiting list for a full educational evaluation.
We provide one-on-one, direct instruction between tutor and student at Aspire Academy. We do not use iPads or computer programs to instruct children during any part of the lesson. Children are placed with the same tutor each time which fosters trust. Students are directly instructed on letter-sound knowledge, and how to use that knowledge to sound out and spell words. Children practice these skills till fluency and automaticity are achieved. Children are taught at their pace and each lesson is customized to them.
The Wilson Reading System is a 12-book system, based on the Orton-Gillingham method. Many of our students graduate from the program. Click here to see the results students make on the standard bell curve during their time at Aspire Academy.
All techniques used in the system are supported by 60 years of reading, writing, and spelling research summarized in the book: Structured Literacy Interventions by Louise Spear-Swerling. The system’s methods are also supported by the research detailed in the book, How the Brain Learns to Read by Stanislaw DeHaene.
Main Branch (Urbandale, Iowa)
6701 Douglas Avenue, Urbandale IA 50322
Visit AspireIowa.com for enrollment options.
Northeast Branch (Dubuque, Iowa)
700 Locust St. #915, Dubuque, IA 52001
Visit Dubuque.AspireIowa.com for enrollment options.
There is a lack of affordable dyslexia services for students in our community, state and nation.
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque recognized this need and began its quest to provide these services.
When Dubuque native and Executive Director of Aspire Academy, Heidi Stoffel, was made aware of the foundation’s goals, she contacted them to offer her expertise to get services up and running.
The partnership was formed in the fall of 2023 — Aspire Academy provides the services, training of tutors, and the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque provides scholarships to help citizens in the seven county area afford dyslexia tutoring. Teachers and tutors must study the Orton-Gillingham method in a 60-hour class and complete a practicum in order to tutor dyslexic students.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Learning occurs best when children are engaged socially, emotionally and are not stressed. Learning occurs best when it is customized to the child. That has always been the philosophy of Aspire Academy, founder Heidi Stoffel, and every tutor she hires. It continues to be whether learning is delivered online or in-person.
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