About Rebuilding Literacy
The Rebuilding Literacy Journey
In 2018, I started my teaching journey at the University of Windsor, Ontario, determined to become a high school academic English teacher. During a practicum placement at an inner-city school, everything changed. I was placed in a Student Success Room, where I worked with at-risk youth who needed additional academic and social support. At first, I was nervous, but I quickly discovered a hidden strength, connecting with struggling teenagers, and helping them find success.
After graduation, my family and I moved to Brantford. I began my career teaching Business and English, at a variety of levels, at a small local high school. Soon after, I was offered a full-time position as a Student Success Teacher - a role I still love today!
I realized that I could help more students than just the ones that drop into my classroom on a daily basis, so I decided to start a tutoring service, and here we are now!
A Special Note on the Literacy Crisis
It didn’t take long for me to realize how deep the literacy gap ran. Many of my students were reading far below grade level. Some couldn’t read beyond a primary school level — and heartbreaking conversations with students made it clear that they felt abandoned by the system. Much of the time students felt as if they were being relegated to special education classes or given technology as a band-aid solution because of their literacy gaps.
Teachers came to me asking for help, but the available resources were designed for early elementary students and weren’t connecting with teens. Worse, there was no funding for appropriate high school literacy materials, and no time in teachers’ packed schedules to deliver individualized one-on-one instruction even if the resources were there.
We were failing our students — and I knew I had to do something about it. The literacy gaps I see in my students every day is just one other reason why I knew I had to start Rebuilding Literacy Tutoring Services!
Hi, I’m Naomi Turner — a coffee-loving, audiobook-obsessed, growth-minded, fitness-powered high school Student Success Teacher, proud mama, and founder of Rebuilding Literacy. I live and work in Brantford, Ontario, where I help high school students who are at risk reach their full potential.
My mission is simple: to equip every student with the tools they need to succeed at grade level and beyond, whether it be academic skills, or the confidence and motivation to learn. Through Rebuilding Literacy, I teach in an age-appropriate way that helps students understand concepts by breaking them down in a comprehensible and engaging manner. I believe that no student should leave high school without building the confidence necessary to help them succeed in life!
Get them the help they need now!
Whether you’re in need of general tutoring services or something more specialized, such as a literacy assessment, check out our services page for more information, or feel free to contact us with any questions. We look forward to helping your student build their skills and their confidence so they can succeed both inside and beyond the classroom!