Em-Powered Literacy
Specialist Literacy Tuition & Pedagogical Services in Canberra
About
Hi there! My name is Emily Stokes and I am a specialist literacy tutor working in the ACT (Belconnen region).
I work with primary and secondary-age children who have learning difficulties, most particularly in the area of literacy acquisition. I am trained in direct instruction methods, the Orton-Gillingham approach and have extensive experience working with students who have diagnoses including dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD and ASD.
My background is in linguistics where I researched developmental speech-language disorders as well as undertaking post-graduate level studies in advanced English grammar. Basically, I'm an all-round "word-nerd" and whilst that's not for everyone, literacy is!
To make literacy accessible, I work exclusively 1:1 and take a diagnostic and adaptive pedagogical approach. This means each student receives individually tailored attention and ensures that gaps in literacy knowledge are filled.
For more information, please peruse the Services and FAQ sections, or contact me on the web-form below.
Services
Tutoring at Em-Powered Literacy is structured, multi-modal and individually tailored to each student. Scroll down for an overview of the services on offer and to get an idea of how sessions operate. Please note: the prices provided are current at August 2025, but are subject to change.
Pre-consult
This is a brief chat over the phone or email exchange to ascertain what services are suitable and to arrange a time for the next step. There is no charge for this.
Initial Consult
Duration approx. 1.5hrs
Cost: $250
An initial consultation is the best way to tailor individualised and diagnostically targeted intervention to students struggling with literacy acquisition.
Prior to the consultation, parents/carers will be asked to complete a form and submit this either before or at the beginning of the consultation.
The consultation involves an interview with parents/carers and the student, and some informal testing/skills assessment to best determine which areas need addressing and how to best to approach these in tutoring.
A brief written summary of findings and recommendations will be provided within 15 business days of the consultation (typically fewer).
Although I use these sessions to plan a tutoring program, there is no obligation to book tutoring sessions with me. Once the session is paid for, the summary of findings and recommendations will be provided to you. In some instances, this is enough to help schools better support the student, but if you would like to book tutoring sessions, read on!
Tutoring
Ratio: 1:1
Duration: 1 hour*, usually 1x weekly during school term
Cost: $100 per session**
For students in years K-8, my tutoring sessions are rigorously planned. I take a diagnostic approach to lessons, which means I am always checking for understanding and adapting my pedagogical approach dynamically. For each student's session I have multiple options and modes of approach to addressing the foci of that lesson.
Although content and materials used will differ depending upon the age, abilities and specific literacy difficulties faced by each student, sessions involve direct and explicit instruction of each literacy concept. On top of this, the instruction is provided in multiple modalities to engage all relevant senses for best retention (i.e. kinaesthetic, touch, sight and sound).
Whilst there are individually designed programs of learning for each student, sessions typically involve combinations of the following:
Review of previous week's lesson
Phonological/phonemic awareness drills
Encoding (spelling) and Decoding (reading) drills
Handwriting
Dictation drills
Reading fluency
Reading comprehension
Grammar and/or compositional writing skills
Homework for reinforcing newly learnt material
At the heart of each session is the principle that good learners need to want to learn. This means finding out HOW each student learns and what drives them. Ultimately, sessions aim to find what will engage students to not just develop a love of learning, but to gain confidence in their own abilities and build resilience.
At the conclusion of each semester a brief written report outlining what we have been working on and progress monitoring data is provided to parents/carers.
* Collection times must be adhered to, however I do provide time to discuss the session at the conclusion with parents/carers before the next student arrives. For full terms and conditions, please request such using the "contact" form.
** Prices subject to change.
Optional/Additional Services
Interim report: Mid-term, written progress report (max 2 pages in length) detailing what the student has been working on and what progress has been noted/areas to work on. Cost: $80 each. Maximum 1 per term.
Assessed interim report: as above, but with added informal written testing conducted to provide additional data. Testing is carried out during tutoring session, but tabulated after. Cost: $100 each PLUS an additional $20 for every additional test requested.
Please note: students enrolled for 1 semester or more, get a complimentary written report at the conclusion of the semester - the above reports are optional and in addition to the semester reports.
Transition to High School/College letter: (only for students I have worked with for longer than a term) These are charged at $50 per 1-page letter, $80 per 2-page letter. Prior testing results/data is included in these prices. If additional testing is required, a quote will be provided outlining costs.
Other assessments/letters of support/recommendations for existing clients: Please contact me to discuss. An obligation-free quote can be provided.
Alternative Delivery
Nothing will ever be as good as face-to-face lessons, but work/school/life doesn't always cooperate.
My preference will always be in-person tutoring. However, if your child is too ill to attend in person (but well enough to learn), or you have some other pressing commitment and can't make it to a scheduled session, then I can conduct an online session.
Memberships
SPELD NSW
"SPELD NSW effects change for people with specific learning difficulties by providing support, advice learning opportunities, and resources to their families, teachers, tutors and schools."
ATA
The Australian Tutoring Association (ATA) is "...Australia’s peak body representing tutoring organisations and educational tutors nationally.All members must meet our strict standards and are bound by the ATA code of conduct."
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some answers to questions I'm asked. For more information about tutoring, check out the Services section.
My main focus is literacy tuition for students who have difficulties with reading and/or writing. However, I do also tutor numeracy (maths) up until year 10 level for students who are struggling in maths due to their reading and/or writing difficulties.
For my high school students, the focus is on written composition, structuring assignments and study skills. I am very experienced and familiar with the ACT English and humanities curricula to year 12, but again, my focus is helping students with literacy difficulties achieve their personal education goals.
All ages! The majority of my clients fall between the ages of 7 and 18, but when I actually began specialist literacy tuition, I first worked with 5 year olds.
I have also successfully worked with many adults over the years and have a particular passion for helping people improve their basic literacy skills when undertaking vocational training (e.g. young people starting apprenticeships).
No! In fact, I prefer to tutor during school hours where possible. Particularly with younger students, it can be advantageous for them to attend during the school day when they haven't expended so much mental and emotional energy at school. Of course, this isn't practical for all, which is why I have a limited number of after school sessions available.
I have a Bachelor of Music (vocal pedagogy) and a Bachelor of Arts with first class Honours in Linguistics. My Honours thesis was a cross-linguistic analysis of features of verbal dyspraxia.
I am a member of SPELD NSW (https://www.speldnsw.org.au/) as well as a member of The Australian Tutoring Association ATA . As such, I am bound by ATA's code of conduct and have completed mandatory child safety training. More info can be found at https://ata.edu.au/parent-info/
In addition to the above, I have undertaken training in the Orton-Gillingham Method (considered the gold-standard in Dyslexia intervention).
In my previous position I was employed as a specialist literacy tutor and Multi-sensory Learning (MSL) Therapist.
Naturally, I also hold a current WWVP card (ACT).
Of course! In the ACT these are called Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registrations. My details are provided to you prior to enrolling. I recommend when looking to engage any tutor for your child that you ask for the WWVP details and confirm these with ACCESS Canberra.
No, however, I did major in 1:1 pedagogy at university. Classroom teaching and individual teaching are very different modalities. Not all teachers make suitable tutors and vice versa!
That's a really interesting question and is better phrased - "WILL you formally diagnose..." to which the answer is, NO.
BUT why is it an interesting question, I hear you ask?
You see, for certain disabilities, such as dyslexia and dysgraphia (more recently referred to as SLD, or Specific Learning Disability in reading or writing), government guidelines for diagnosis are lacking. Best practice however, is for these learning disabilities to be diagnosed by a psychologist or other suitably qualified practitioner.
What I will do, is conduct a screening assessment that will indicate if there are features consistent with dyslexia and/or dysgraphia. See the services page for more details.
I have experience teaching literacy skills to people who have one or more of the following diagnoses/conditions:
Dyslexia
Dysgraphia
ADHD/ADD
ASD
Dyscalculia
Verbal Dyspraxia (childhood apraxia of speech)
Expressive speech disorders
Auditory discrimination disorders
ODD
Pathological Demand Avoidance
Anxiety
No. My own kids keep me busy ferrying them to various sporting and social commitments on weekends, so at this point in time, I only work Monday - Thursday.
At this point in time, I only work from my own office (though I do offer online lessons if you're unable to come to me).
Coming soon articles on: "What is dyslexia" & "Orton-Gillingham, Multi-Sensory, Direct Instruction: What Do They All Mean?"
Testimonials
Links
Here are some links to related organisations you may find helpful.
Please note: websites may have changed since initially provided. Em-Powered Literacy does not guarantee the usefulness or safety of 3rd party links.
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