About Anne Hazelton

As Anne herself explains it, her passion is to get bright children (‘twice exceptional,’ as you’ll come to understand) to the point of being able to access their full potential within. She believes that her students, regardless of age, come to her with all the right pieces to make it up the ladder of success, but their toolbox is a bit incomplete. It is her job to start at the beginning, one on one, not only building a relationship with her pupil, but supporting them as she teaches which tools to use in order to fill in the blank steps as they go.

Dyslexia has no cure, but through her extensive training and personal experience, Anne believes that the functional daily living skill of reading is attainable if the pupil and their family decide to commit themselves to investing the time and energy into the lessons she custom fits to each student.

While completing a Master of Science in Counseling Exceptional Children at Wright State University, Anne was also training to be an Associate Member of The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. Although having already worked as a teacher for over 30 years on three continents (Europe, Australia and North America), this citizen of the world wanted to learn more and found that she connected to the approach and philosophy inherent in the Orton-Gillingham Approach.

Providing diagnostic, prescriptive, explicit, and direct instruction in multi-sensory learning situations produces amazing results. The mantra “we do it as often as we need and as few times as we have to” reminds both student and teacher that fun, flexible, open learning has a purpose but is not rigid or set in stone. For those bright students who experience a specific learning disorder (otherwise know as twice-exceptional students), learning situations, especially reading, can be emotionally stressful. Coping mechanisms develop and if there is no emotional or physical outlet for the stress, how can we expect anyone to focus and learn effectively? Anne provides a safe haven, free from judgment, with room to grow and stretch and even fidget if necessary, all so that learning can take place and information can be absorbed.

For those just discovering that they or their loved ones may need the services Anne can provide, she feels a tremendous personal empathy with you. As an educator, she can help guide your family through some potential pitfalls and become an advocate for you because she has been where you stand now — in her role as mother to three exceptional young men. She can see down the track you are on and wants to offer you help. Anne recommends that you find out all you can and accept the help that is offered. “It is easier now because the distance will be less to make up than if you wait and do nothing."

Anne has has extensive experience in teaching, tutoring, subbing and lecturing. She has taught K-12, university and adult learners. Using the Orton-Gillingham Approach, she has helped people across a wide range of ages, from early elementary school to adults. Her special education experience includes dyslexia, autism, ADHD/ADD, Asperger’s Syndrome, anxiety and specific learning disorders. She was a deputy principal of a primary school in Northern Ireland and an Advanced Skills Teacher at high schools in Victoria, Australia.

Anne’s education in the Orton-Gillingham Approach took place at both Marburn Academy in Columbus, OH, and The Kildonan School (NY). Both programs are accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). She is an Associate Member of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, and a Dyslexia Practitioner of the International Dyslexia Association.

Qualifications

Master of Science in Counseling Exceptional Children, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, 2009.

Graduate Diploma in Computers in Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 1991.

Bachelor of Education, The Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK, 1975.

Associate Member, The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioner and Educators, Amenia, NY, 2009.

Dyslexia Practitioner, International Dyslexia Association, Baltimore, MD, 2017.