Literacy Support

When reading finally clicks

I work with kids, teens, and adults who find reading, writing, or spelling challenging. Together, we build skills, gain confidence, and discover that written words are far more interesting when we dig beneath the surface.

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Individualized Literacy Intervention

Each week, my clients and I dig into how words actually work. We build reading, writing, spelling, and handwriting skills using materials chosen for each learner's interests and needs. The work is engaging, effective, and surprisingly exciting some days!

Many of my clients arrive anxious or discouraged. As they experience real success, their confidence blossoms. Watching that transformation is the best part of this work, alongside messages like, “Sage stayed up late reading last night!”

I work with kids, teens, and adults (ages 5 to 105). Sessions are 45 minutes, online for anyone in Washington state or in-person in Bellingham.

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What Families Are Saying

  • “Kathleen at Rain City Reading is amazing. Her experience as a speech language pathologist then applying it to literacy makes her one of the best resources available in Bellingham.”

    — Katy S.

  • “Kathleen at Rain City Reading changed our child’s life – no, really! Through consistent care, masterful skill and endless creativity, Kathleen connected with our daughter, found the activities and topics that excited her, and built her skills over the years.”

    — Angie D.

  • “I highly recommend Kathleen!!!!!!! She gave my bright, dyslexic kid the tools he needs to thrive in school and in life, and we will be forever grateful.”

    — Mickie F.

  • "Kathleen’s support has been life changing for our family. S has grown her skills and self esteem and as her parents we have grown our confidence in how to support her at home. Huge growth in all aspects!"

    -Mandee M.

  • "Kathleen connected with our son, not only helping him with his literacy development but nurturing his love for reading and language."

    -Tonya and David Namura

  • "Kathleen is so patient, kind, and creative. She gave my son room to wiggle and adapted to his variable attention span. The huge boost that Kathleen provided to my son’s confidence also meant so much to us. We used to joke that, to our family, Kathleen is worth her weight in gold."

    -Alli D.

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Kathleen Love sits at a wooden desk in front of a silver MacBook laptop, smiling. The desk has papers and pens on it. Behind her, a painting of a house and trees is visible on a light-colored wall.

Language and Literacy Evaluations

Assessment helps us understand what’s making reading, spelling, or writing challenging, and what kind of practice will help most. Some people have dyslexia, developmental language disorder, or a combination of both. Comprehensive language and literacy evaluations can identify these, offering people a better understanding of their own learning strengths and challenges, as well as the opportunity to find community and more specific support.

Comprehensive evaluations are currently only available in-person for regular, weekly clients.

Kathleen Love's hands with red painted nails and wedding rings are holding a pen over a worksheet, on a wooden desk with a laptop nearby.

Parent Consultation and Talks

I provide parents with ideas to help their children build reading and writing skills. This service is ideal for parents hoping to give their kids an extra boost, unable to find specialized services, on wait lists, or willing to put in the hard work themselves. Consultations are provided individually. Talks are offered as part of a group meeting, such as those held by PTAs, homeschooling co-ops, and libraries.

Parents are also welcome to sign up to my parent-focused newsletter. Approximately twice a month I share simple ways to build in more routines that support literacy and language development at home.

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FAQ

  • There are several important differences. I'm a licensed speech-language pathologist, which means I'm trained to provide intervention for kids with language disorders. I also hold high clinical standards and must adhere to HIPAA. I can also provide diagnostic testing and progress monitoring as part of my practice. Rather than following a single curriculum, I build each session around the client's specific challenges and goals, using materials chosen for their interests. I assess informally throughout every session and adjust as needed, and I can also provide diagnostic testing as part of my practice.

  • I work with clients in-person at my very fun office at 1900 D Street in Bellingham. I also see clients in Washington state over Zoom. 

  • Sorry, I can only serve clients in Washington State due to SLP licensing requirements.

  • Not having a diagnosis should not keep anyone from receiving the support they need, however, knowing the root causes of challenges with literacy is important. It helps determine the best course of treatment. Also, having a diagnosis often leads to additional support at school, such as a 504 plan for accommodations.

    We can discuss this further during your complimentary intake call.

  • Once we determine we're a good fit during an intake call and set a weekly session time, we begin. I prioritize building a relationship with each client. Kids may need time to trust me and the process. We often play games while learning, and I choose content connected to each client's interests, schoolwork, or passions so they stay engaged.

    Understanding spelling is the key to learning to read. We spend a lot of time studying words: how they're built and what each letter is doing. We also look at how words form sentences and how sentences form paragraphs. All of this can be surprisingly fun.

    I look at each client's whole environment, working to remove barriers and support useful accommodations like audiobooks or speech-to-text when they help.

  • Length of intervention varies tremendously. Learning disabilities range from mild to severe, and a person’s support system at home and school may also impact treatment time. Generally, most children with learning disabilities will require at least a year of consistent intervention.

    I encourage families to budget for 40-45 sessions per year (due to breaks, illness, vacations, etc…). We follow Bellingham School District breaks. 

  • I do not take insurance and am private pay only. Superbills may be requested and are submitted by the client.

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