Igniting a Passion for Reading in Your Struggling Reader

Carol was homeschooling her son, Sam, and trying to figure out what was holding him back from learning to read. She had bought different gadgets and subscribed to other reading programs over the years, but he still wasn't picking up reading. Carol had always loved reading books, so it was an important skill to want her son to master. Yet, she felt powerless because nothing seemed to be working. Various programs had taken him through letters and sounds, but nothing seemed to stick.

Trying to get him to read anything was a nightmare. Tears... anger... and then he'd shut down. Sam couldn't see himself as a reader, and he didn't see the point of trying to sound out words. With each passing month, the more discouraged he became, the more hopeless Carol felt. She so genuinely desired for her son to read by the end of grade three and felt like she was failing him. 

If this only affected reading time, that would be one thing, but over time it began to permeate their relationship. Carol began to avoid doing anything related to reading to forgo the battle to protect their relationship, but she knew this wasn't the answer. She had an adult friend who never learned how to read and knew the pain it had caused not being able to read her own grocery lists or fill out job applications without help.  It hurt to think that this could be her son. There had to be a better way to teach her son in the way that he learns.

Finally, Carol met a Facebook friend who suggested a new reading program with Confident Kids Academy. She was skeptical, but she decided to give it a try. Every time they met for the program, Carol got ideas of new ways to help Sam grow, and before her eyes, he began to blossom.

The 1st day in the program was about helping her son see himself as a reader and focusing on his strengths. Together with Sam, they made a "Sam's Strengths" book to read at the beginning of each lesson.  Each page started with the words, "I can…." As he began to brainstorm everything he COULD do, the things he couldn't start to dim and have less power over him. These were valuable tips for making a strengths book:

1. The book was simple, "I can draw." "I can skateboard." "I can ride my bike."

2. Sam loved to draw pictures and cut out printed pictures for those he couldn't draw.

3. Because it was a book about him and because each page started the same way, Sam felt successful "reading" the book.

4. The purpose of this activity wasn't to be able to decode every word but to deepen the understanding that each group of letters is a word (voice-print match). Sam had a favorite Harry Potter wand, so when Carol reminded him that "good readers always point to the words," he could use his wand to touch each word, further solidifying his voice-print match.

 Almost immediately, Carol saw a change.  As they began each reading lesson by him reading his strengths, his mind began to open up, and he was more receptive to learning new skills.  Sam began to see himself as a reader the more times he read words and his "Strengths" book. He couldn't wait to show Grandma that he could read. He read to his stuffed animals and even his little brother. As his confidence grew with each new technique.  To Carol's surprise, Sam started asking to do more reading activities. Carol began to think about how far her son had come in just three sessions of the course, and for the 1st time in a long time, she felt hope. Could it be this easy? If things could change this much in such a short amount of time, how far would he be by the end of the program?

Are you tired of spinning your wheels but going nowhere? You don't have to figure it out on your own anymore. Like over a hundred people who were coached by Shari or Rosemary, you can watch your child ignite a passion for reading. Start your journey with these 3 easy steps:

1) Book a free one-on-one session.
2) Watch us do activities with your child to assess reading strengths and needs.
3) Let us partner with you in teaching your child to read.