Falling behind in school can spell the end for a decent education by the time you leave. Debbie Valette has been doing outstanding work helping those with poor reading skills at her school in Boulder, Colorado, catch back up with – and even surpass – their classmates.
We’ve been proud here at Catalyst Exhibits to play our roll in helping support her efforts.
Debbie was in touch this week to fill us in on the reading success of one school wrestler who has, for some time, being wrestling with reading and writing difficulties. Here’s the first part of her update.
Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you. I’ve been waiting to take a picture of one student in particular. He is on the wrestling team and has been in and out between practice and meets. I will be out tomorrow at a conference, but I will take a picture of him on Wednesday.
I am particularly proud of his incredible progress. I had him in 6th grade and now I have him in 8th grade. He has always been such an immature kid, avoiding all tasks that involve either reading or writing. I’ve worked hard to inspire him to like reading. Up until October of 2010, nothing worked.
(His oral intelligence level is so high, but reading/decoding is extremely challenging for him–hence, his hate of reading. His writing skills are fairly low as well. He’s always had low self-esteem–thus the immaturity.)
Well, I don’t know what took me so long, but one day it occurred to me that he would probably respond well to the recorded books (on CD or on the iPod-like contraption). Eureka!! He has not stopped reading since. He has been through at least three recorded books. The “ipods” have five speeds.
He sets the speed really low and reads along with the hard copy. Every time he has finished a book, I’ve allowed him to request another (that I’d purchase with the Catalyst Exhibits grant money).
This exciting development with Lewis (the 8th grader I’ve been referring to) led to a discussion with my LA department about the need for recorded books for other students.
To be continued….
That is so awesome! What an absolutely fabulous idea – I’m just thrilled that she was able to get through to a reluctant reader at that age. It’s so much more difficult the older they are. Way to go, Debbie!!!