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\u201cStructured literacy is huge. It is based on actual brain science \u2014 on how your brain learns, specifically how to read,\u201d Bell said. \u201cThere used to be this idea that kids could learn to read just by looking at the picture and looking at the letters to make sense of what it was, but kids need to know the [phonetic] rules. We first solidify a student\u2019s phonemic awareness to be able to decode, but also work on the language comprehension aspect, building up a student\u2019s vocabulary and background knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2023, her roster had grown to eight students, and the program was so successful that she had 16 others on the waitlist. Bell was inspired by the growth in her students. One child returned from spring break thrilled that she had finally been able to read a restaurant menu and order for herself. One of her adult students, Betty Bertrand, is an 80-year-old woman who struggled with dyslexia her whole life. After going through the program, she gained confidence in reading and writing that had never been offered to her before. These changed lives made Bell realize she needed to expand to be able to support more people, but she was not sure how to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI challenged God, which you should never do,\u201d Bell said, laughing. \u201cI said, \u2018I need people. I need a location. If you want this to happen, God, you\u2019ve got to make this happen.\u2019 He did, and quickly. Within a couple of months, here was a person already trained with the same passion. Here\u2019s the location.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Melissa Stout, one of the main tutors, has over 35 years of experience in special education. She was perfect for the job. Bell then found the office space at 790 Kings Lane, Suite #200. It was all coming together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll of our tutors have their teaching credentials,\u201d Bell said. \u201cI hire people who are willing to keep looking for answers and not just take things at face value. They need to be compassionate, and they need to understand dyslexia and learning disabilities in general.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bell said her tutors also have to be good communicators, because they are not only teaching the child but communicating with the child\u2019s school teacher and family. Bell\u2019s commitment to excellence ensures that students at the center get the best support possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She chose the name Firm Foundation because of her philosophy that going back to master the basics is essential to giving students the framework for succeeding at higher levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bell said she is passionate that every child believes in their ability to learn, but this is always the first hurdle to overcome with new students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe first several weeks, we\u2019re simply building a fact \u2014 convincing the child and proving to them that they can learn,\u201d Bell said, \u201cbecause when they come to us, they are pretty defeated. School is hard, they feel like they can\u2019t learn, or they can\u2019t read.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bell and the other tutors work quickly to help their students unlearn this false narrative and understand the power of the word \u201cyet.\u201d Each tutor focuses on the child as a whole being, recognizing that academic knowledge is one part of a larger equation and that a child\u2019s confidence makes a big difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTypically, within that first month, students want to come to tutoring because it\u2019s a place where they finally feel confident. It\u2019s a safe place to try and fail. We teach them about how their brains work. We introduce this idea of a growth mindset: that even if this is hard, you are capable, and just because you don\u2019t get it yet, doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t get it in the future,\u201d Bell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While literacy intervention is a core service offered, The Firm Foundation also offers individually-tailored math and writing remediation. Bell also provides crucial support for parents navigating Individualized Educational Programs and 504 plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The center serves both traditional and homeschool families in the area. For traditional students, tutors coordinate with classroom teachers to support grade-level work. For homeschoolers, Bell offers curriculum consultations to help parents understand when to trust their instincts rather than curriculum expectations. She has a unique perspective, having worked in the school system while also homeschooling her son and daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/tullahoma\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/04\/1-2-1024x683.jpg\")
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