Clayton Learning Lab

Kindergarten is closer than you think, and a little preparation goes a long way.

Kick to K is a small group summer class at Clayton Learning Lab designed to give rising kindergarteners a strong literacy foundation before the first day of school. We use an Orton-Gillingham approach to build the skills that research shows matter most: phonological awareness, letter-sound knowledge, and early print concepts.

This is not a generic school readiness class. It is structured, evidence-based, and taught in a small group so every child gets the attention they need.

A few spots are still available for our Tuesday session starting July 7th!

Early Literacy Group Class | Ages 4 to 6

Six Saturdays of small-group, Orton-Gillingham based instruction designed for children entering or currently in kindergarten.

This class blends phonological awareness and early decoding, the two foundational pillars of skilled reading. Children build the sound-level skills that research consistently identifies as the strongest predictors of later reading success, then apply them to letters and words through explicit, multisensory instruction.

What’s included:
• 6 Saturday sessions, 9:30 to 10:45 AM
• Small group of 4 to 5 students
• Orton-Gillingham based, structured literacy methodology
• Phonological awareness and early decoding focus
Session details:
Dates: May 9 through June 20 (no class Memorial Day weekend, May 23)
Location: Clayton Learning Lab, Hingham
Investment: $320 for the 6-week session

Spots are limited. Email [email protected] to register or ask questions.

She heard it. She felt it. She wrote it. ✏️

Segmenting CVC words using manipulatives before writing helps students build true phoneme-grapheme correspondence, not just pattern matching. This is phonological awareness meeting phonics in real time.

When a student can look at a picture, pull apart each sound, and then write what she hears, she is doing exactly what the Science of Reading tells us matters most in early literacy: building the brain’s connection between sounds and symbols from the ground up.

No memorizing word shapes. No guessing from context. Just solid, systematic, sequential instruction that gives every reader a real foundation.

This is what a structured literacy session looks like at Clayton Learning Lab. 💙

Clayton Learning Lab was nominated for Best Tutoring on the South Shore for the third year in a row! 🥳

We are so grateful to be part of such a supportive community. Working with the students and families in this area is something we truly love, and it means so much to see our lab recognized.

We would love your help! Voting runs until March 23, and every vote counts - you can vote once a day, every day. Just click the link below, head to Kids & Family, and scroll to Best Tutoring Service.

Thank you to all of the families who trust us to support their children’s learning and confidence. We are incredibly thankful for you. ⭐️🌈

https://southshorehomelifeandstyle.com/home-old/boss-best-of-the-south-shore/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQev0xleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFmdkpSbkFCMUVxN0NoaEw1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHv-GwoXi6S-sVK4bkiROM1zODO # # -p3rnUXdw #/gallery/?group=535164

Blizzard ‘26 is officially one for the books ❄️

We are hoping all of our Clayton Learning Lab families are safe, warm, and slowly digging out. These South Shore snow totals were no joke.

There is something kind of magical about storms like this. Snow days, snow mountains, and memories our kids will talk about for years.

Stay safe out there 🫶🏻

Meet the Clayton Learning Lab team… as tiny humans 👶🏻

These are things I see again and again working with kids who are struggling with reading.

Not because they aren’t capable.
Not because they aren’t trying.

But because important skills were assumed, rushed, or missed along the way.

When reading feels hard, it’s rarely about motivation.
It’s about instruction.

If one of these slides made you pause, you’re not alone. Many families come to us after years of feeling like something just wasn’t adding up.

And most of the time, they were right.

Summer at the Lab ☀️

Summer here is about balance. We keep learning purposeful and structured, while making sure kids still get to feel relaxed, curious, and confident. Small groups allow us to slow things down, meet students where they are, and really focus on growth without the pressure of a typical school day.

Our summer programs mix skill building with hands-on activities, creativity, and meaningful routines that help students stay engaged and feel successful. It’s a supportive environment where learning feels doable and progress happens naturally.

If you’re starting to think about summer plans, take a look through the program guide or reach out with questions. We’re always happy to help you find the right fit.

If your child’s binder or backpack looks like this, it is not laziness.
It is executive functioning overload.

When papers are crumpled, missing, or shoved into folders, it usually means a child is struggling with organization, planning, working memory, and follow through. Many kids know the material. They just cannot manage it.

This is especially common for bright, capable students with ADHD or learning differences. School moves fast. Systems are assumed, not taught.

That is why we created Brains & Bots: Executive Skills for the Digital Age.

In this 6 week class, students learn how to organize materials, plan assignments, manage time, and use simple tools, including AI, to stay on track and reduce overwhelm.

This class is for students who understand the content but struggle with the systems around it.

Organization is a skill. Skills can be taught.
If this picture feels familiar, your child may benefit from explicit executive functioning instruction.

What if reading time felt like the best part of the week?

At Readers on an Adventure, books turn into crafts, games, and big ideas. Kids build confidence, make friends, and experience stories in a way that feels exciting and accessible.

This is for kids who:
• Love hands-on activities
• Learn best through play
• Need reading to feel fun again

Grades 1–3
Mondays at Clayton Learning Lab, 5-6:30pm