"I can see my child trying so hard.
I just don't know how to help them."
If you've thought this - even once - keep reading.
Every parent I speak to wants the same thing: to make life easier for their child. If you've found yourself here, I'm feeling you do too.
They've spoken to the school. They've tried practising more at home. Some have spent thousands on tutoring. Others have heard the word dyslexia for the first time and don't know what to do next.
The good news? There is a way through, and it doesn't cost $6000 a year in tutoring.
LEARN MOREAs a parent, all you want is to see your child succeed.
Maybe school is telling you, they'll catch up.
Maybe tutoring has helped a little bit, but $100+ a week isn't sustainable.
Maybe every night ends in frustration for both of you.
You are not the only one. 1 in 5 Australian children struggle with literacy, and many of the families I work with arrive feeling exactly the same way. They are worried, exhausted and unsure what to do next.
Hi, I'm Narelle
For over 30 years, I've worked with bright, capable children who tried their hardest at school and still struggled with reading and spelling. That's never been okay.
So many parents were told, "She just needs more time" or "He's trying his best but he's not ready." I never accepted that. Waiting costs children something we can't get back.
Reading difficulties are rarely about effort or intelligence. Children don't struggle because they're not trying hard enough. They struggle because they're missing foundational skills. When those skills are taught in a logical sequence, and in a way that makes sense to them, everything changes.
"We can't say enough about this program. It is really helping everything click." Janet
I'm a registered teacher with the Queensland College of Teachers and have worked as an assessor for SPELD Queensland - the peak body supporting children with learning difficulties in Queensland.
Over three decades, and through years of working alongside a highly experienced speech pathologist, I've combined the science of reading and structured literacy into a simple, step-by-step system that gives parents the confidence to teach the foundational skills their child needs to become successful readers and spellers at home.
In 2014, I co-founded a specialist literacy clinic in Brisbane with my speech pathologist colleague and dear friend. For years, parents travelled from across Brisbane to our clinic because they wanted answers after everything else they'd tried hadn't worked. Together, we helped hundreds of families.
The Reading Spelling Toolkit is the exact sequenced program we built in that clinic, now recorded so you can confidently teach your child at home in as little as 15 minutes a day.
One parent's story
"My daughter was referred to Narelle because she wasn't making progress in English throughout Prep and Year 1. She has dyslexia and dysgraphia and had become reluctant to write. During Module 2 she wrote three sentences on the whiteboard. She didn't even realise how much she was improving."
A few weeks later her mum sent another message.
"We're so proud of our daughter's progress. Today she read an entire paragraph almost word-perfect. We can't thank you enough." Janice
Maybe you've been hoping that next term will be different.
That the extra reading at home will finally make all the difference.
That the school support will begin.
That your child will simply grow out of their difficulties.
If you've had that quiet niggling feeling that something isn't improving, trust that instinct.
Your child doesn't need more pressure. They don't need to try harder.
They need the right skills, taught in the right order.
Imagine spending just 15 minutes a day working together, celebrating the little wins and watching your child's confidence grow one success at a time.
When children start experiencing success, they stop believing they're "just bad at reading and become excited for what they can do next."
That's exactly why I created The Reading Spelling Toolkit.
Here's what the next seven weeks look like
A cumulative, sequential plan for children who've struggled with everything else.
Week 1
What are consonants?
We start by introducing your child to speech sounds - the first, critical step in their reading and spelling journey.
Consonants are every letter in the alphabet other than a, e, i, o and u. Sometimes we use two letters to spell one consonant sound.
Your child will be able to see how 27 consonant sounds are mapped on using our unique puzzle style roadmap.
Week 2
What are vowels?
We continue to build their foundation and introduce them to vowels - not just a, e, i, o and u.
Every word in English must have a vowel sound in it.
In as little as two weeks, your child will start reading and spelling CVC words.
Week 3-7
Build on their foundation
From here, we build on the foundation we've established and slowly expand your child's reading and spelling capabilities through carefully sequenced lessons that develop reading and spelling.
Each module introduces new vowel sounds. Children are introduced to the concept, that one sound can be represented in more than one way.
See how I teach
Watch a 90 second lesson and discover why so many parents tell me, "I finally know how to help my child and where to start."
Emma J, mum of 5 year old
"We were at a complete loss with how to help our son, but this program changed everything. He had just started Grade 3 and learning sight words had been a real challenge for him. I didn't realise there was a reason for this until you explained what was going on for him. Now his confidence has grown, and he's actually enjoying reading!"
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Sara, mum of 7 year old
"The toolkit gave me the knowledge and structure I needed to support my daughter. After getting my daughter to complete the initial assessment and getting your feedback on her results, I knew we were on the right track. WOW! We went from nightly reading battles to her picking up books on her own!"
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Jim K, dad of 6 year old
"This program is a game-changer. I've told my mates in the mines that they need to get this program for their children. The best feeling came when my child's teacher commented on how much improvement he'd made in just a few months. He's in Grade 2. Two weeks into the program and he read a sentence - Keep the sheep in the barn at dark. Amazing!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
These aren't isolated success stories. They're the kinds of messages I regularly receive from parents using The Reading Spelling Toolkit.
"Narelle, this is the first program that has ever worked for him."
"The Toolkit gave me a plan. For the first time, I felt like I knew what to do." Rachel
"My son's teacher pulled me aside to ask what we'd been doing at home because his reading had improved so much." Renee
"The games are so much fun that my girls don't even realise they're practising." Kate
Everything I do in clinic, in your hands - for life.
One payment.
Lifetime access.
Fifteen minutes a day.
A program designed specifically for parents.
- 7 structured modules
- 80+ bite-sized video lessons
- Hundreds of printable games & activities
- One private check-in consultation with Narelle to review your child's progress and answer your questions
- Supports children with dyslexia, ADHD, or those who simply struggle to learn to read and say things like, "I just hate reading."
- Lifetime access - no subscription, no ongoing fees
Questions parents ask before they buy
Can't find your question? Email me directly at [email protected]
