Our annual Best of Basic (BOB) Summer Program helps students in a way that a regular summer school cannot. BOB is designed for students with dyslexia or characteristics of dyslexia. A typical BOB student has difficulty with reading fluently, spelling, writing legibly, and/or math. For students with multiple diagnoses, we find that students have success in BOB when reading presents as their primary difficulty. Our small group classes and one-on-one options focus on building skills using the multi-sensory Orton-Gillingham Approach. 

Students in BOB (as in all Reading Center programming) must: (1) demonstrate appropriate behavior for group learning and (2) sustain attention for stretches of 30-45 minutes. BOB classes are 60-90 minutes long.

Screening: Each registered student will be screened prior to class placement. We use these screens to determine if our program is a good fit for your chid as well as to assess skill level for appropriate class placement. Students are placed in group classes by skills, not by grade level/age. Screenings are not diagnostic for dyslexia, though they may determine characteristics of dyslexia. Further testing may be necessary to make a determination of dyslexia.

Technology: Our online tutoring requires that you have a working laptop or desktop computer that is compatible with WebEx. Please see our full technology requirements here.

A special thank you to our 2024 Sponsors

Academic Level Sponsor

Pupil Level Sponsor

In-kind Sponsor

Best of Basics includes:

Multisensory instruction by specially-trained teachers that has proven exceptionally effective for students of all ages.

A small group learning environment with students of like skills.

Review & reinforcement of vital, foundational skills to help prevent the summer slide.

A boost for students before school resumes.

A short pre-screening to determine skill level for each student.

Option to try Orton-Gillingham for ten 1:1 tutoring sessions.

Elementary Classes

In-Person Small Group Language Arts (Rochester and woodbury)

Grades: entering 2nd to 5th grade

Date: M-F, July 8 - August 2

2-3rd grade meets from 8:30-9:30 AM*

4-5th grade meets from 9:45-10:45 AM*

*Students may be placed in a different class based on skills determined at the prescreen

Fee: $441 for all 20 class dates

Classes meet at The Reading Center, Rochester, MN and Woodbury, MN.

There are no online small group elementary language arts classes

Middle & High School Classes

In-Person Study Skills & Reading Comprehension

Grades: entering 6-9th grade

Date: 10 sessions: July 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Time: 12 - 1:30 PM

Fee: $551 for all 10 class dates

Classes meet at The Reading Center, Rochester, MN

Individual Tutoring

1:1 language arts Tutoring for students entering 2nd to 5th grade*

Fee: $551 for 10 in-person sessions (Rochester, MN)

Fee: $581 for 10 online sessions

1:1 language arts Tutoring for students entering 6th to 12th grade

Fee: $608 for 10 online sessions

1:1 MATH Tutoring for students entering 2nd to 5th grade

Fee: $551 for 10 in-person sessions (Rochester, MN)

Fee: $581 for 10 online sessions

*Note, the 10 sessions must be scheduled across 2-5 consecutive weeks this summer (June - August) coordinated with the instructor. No make up lessons offered unless the instructor must cancel