The Little Way Readers

What Do We Do?

peach_cropped-removebg-preview

The Little Way Readers is a teacher-led, Catholic, distance-learning program that supplements at-home literacy instruction by providing live, differentiated, effective, and engaging guided reading lessons to small groups of  homeschool students.

How Does it Work?

peach cropped

Reading
Assessment

Prior to enrollment, students will meet with the teacher for a 45 minute, complimentary, one-on-one reading assessment where we will determine the child's current instructional reading level as well as identify specific reading strengths and weaknesses. The teacher will provide parents with notes of the student's reading abilities as well as a list of recommended books at their child's independent reading level.

peach cropped

Leveled Group
Placement

After enrollment, students will be placed in a reading group with other children at their instructional level. A text at a child’s instructional reading level provides just the right balance between struggle and ease in order to ensure reading growth when guided by a teacher. Children will be grouped with 2-5 other students currently reading at their same instructional level who also exhibit similar reading patterns.

peach cropped

Guided Reading
Instruction

Instruction will take place virtually. Groups will meet for 35 minutes, three days a week at their designated time. Students will be exposed to a variety of genres and texts that will be used alongside targeted, guided lessons to teach new vocabulary, phonics, comprehension skills, reading strategies, and fluency practice. Students will also practice responding to reading through writing.

About Me

My name is Rachel Ferullo. I am a Massachusetts certified elementary teacher for grades 1-6. I have been a Catholic school elementary teacher for 7 years, while also performing in the role of lead teacher for grades 1-3. 

I am a hardworking, dedicated, and creative teacher. I was a recipient of the Excellence in Education award for the Archdiocese of Boston which honors teachers who have found success in their craft and who live out the values of the Catholic faith. I have found that I have a gift of working with small groups of students and a passion for teaching reading. My hope is to continue in the field of Catholic education and share my gifts and talents with Catholic homeschool students.

My goal is to help foster a love of reading, improve fundamental reading skills, all while supplementing the hard work of home educators in a “little way” that ultimately leads to well-rounded reading success in elementary students. I am a person of deep faith and am passionate about helping students grow both academically and spiritually. 

Testimonials

The assessment and report were so thorough that it gave me faith that this was going to be a great investment.
Parent
This program was built on a love of Christ and that truly shined in each and every class session! My son went from pushing through his reading lessons with me to asking to be the lead reader in our family read aloud time! He is now even asking his siblings if he can read to them from the virtual library made available through the class and asks to read to all of us throughout the day. The prayer, the Catholic mission stories, the living out of the Catholic faith by the instructor are all core to the class as well as naturally part of the conversations. The Little Way Readers is an excellent way to allow another adult to cherish your child in the learning to read process and in growing your child (and your) faith! Thank you The Little Way Readers!
Emily
Parent

Our Patron Saint

St. Therese de Lisieux is the patron saint of The Little Way Readers. Inspired by Proverbs 9:4, “Whoever is a little one, let him come to me,” St. Therese learned to depend completely on God in the same way a child trusts wholeheartedly in his mother and father. She taught us to follow in her Little Way by “doing little things with great love” and in trusting God to fulfill His will for our lives. At The Little Way Readers, we ask for the intercession of St. Therese as we follow in her footsteps by putting our trust in God and showing great love and kindness to one another.

Theresa
peach_cropped-removebg-preview

O Saint Therese the little flower please pick me a rose from the heavenly garden and send it to me as a message of love.  O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands.  Saint Therese, help me to always believe as you did in God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day.  

Amen