Learners' Stories

Slowing down to catch up

Nine-year-old Callie was ridiculed in school because she couldn’t read well, and the teasing was destroying her self-esteem. But after six months of getting extra help at READ, Callie has become a different child.

“She’s doing great,” says mom, Jennifer. “We are seeing improvements in so many areas.”  Today Callie is reading for pleasure and even getting bonus marks. Before, she wouldn’t get any words right on her spelling tests, and the principal called her mom regularly because Callie was getting into arguments with other children.

“She once told me it didn’t matter what she did, the other kids would laugh at her.”

Jennifer turned to READ when she realized she needed consistent help for her daughter. Teacher Lois Theaker’s says Callie just needed to learn to slow down to sound out words. “This is a huge step forward for Callie – she has found out that by slowing down she is actually going to catch up.”

Now that Callie’s reading ability is improving, her mom has noticed that Callie is also making better friendship choices and is even more patient with her younger siblings. “She now has the self-esteem to accomplish what she wants,” Jennifer says.

Read “Pink Snow” by Callie in our Student Showcase

Return to Learners's Stories