The Reading Group, which has been helping students improve their reading
and study skills for more than 30 years, is now in Monticello.
The group recently opened at 213 W. Washington in the downtown area.
Teaching hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday or by appointment. Regular office hours will be 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 1-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and
Friday.
The Reading Group is the only not-for-profit, independent reading clinic
in East Central Illinois that serves children and adults who have
dyslexia, attention problems and other reading difficulties.
The group was established in 1972 by Marilyn Kay, who retired in September
2004. Kathy Wimer of White Heath is now the group’s Executive Director.
The Reading Group provides one-on-one instruction and diagnostic testing
for children ages three to 18 and adults with reading disabilities and
language related problems. It serves approximately 300 students per year
and uses individualized, multisensory teaching techniques.
Besides one-on-one tutoring and the Supplemental Education Services, the
business also has small group instruction available which is a more
affordable option for many families. The group also tutors for ACT/SAT
preparation and English as a Second Language services.
The group provides 50 to 70 scholarships each year to youngsters with
attention problems and specific reading disabilities that come from
families with limited resources. Funds for scholarships come from many
segments of our community including banks and other businesses,
foundations, service clubs, churches, city and county governments and
individuals.
The group also has a website www.readingroup.org. There is a lot of
information regarding the scholarship program on this site.
The Monticello office will five new staff members to teach. They include
Sally Bower, who also teaches Reading Recovery at Lincoln School;
Christine Merritt, former Countryside teacher in Champaign and University
of Illinois student-teacher supervisor; Elizabeth Baldridge, who is
currently a PhD student at the U of I in English/Learning Disabilities and
tutors high school, college and adults with learning disabilities at
Parkland College; Lori Freemon, a local school psychologist who also
provides testing and assessment services; and Amani Ayad, former Urbana
Adult Education career advisor and ESL services for children and adults.
For more information, call 217-367-0914 or 217-762-2714.
Congratulations! You've turned to the right source for specialized reading instruction. The Reading Group is a not-for-profit learning center located in Urbana and Monticello. We’ve been serving this community for 35
years with highly specialized, one-on-one instruction. We offer lessons to students ages 3 and above, in most subject areas and
for any skill level, including special needs such as dyslexia, speech and language developmental delay, ausperger's syndrome, autism or gifted learning needs.
