My first year as an educator was spent merely surviving each day, similar to how I imagine a struggling reader feels when asked to read. It was like jumping out of an airplane and crossing my fingers that my parachute would open. That something or someone would save me. Feelings and wishes I am sure every struggling reader experiences. 

I think childhood reading is also similar to skydiving because you are relying on the experts around you to guide you, protect you, and give you the tools that you need to successfully learn the skill. Do you remember your childhood reading experience? Have you ever been asked if you remember how you learned to read? It’s a pretty telling reflection. Most people respond with something along the lines of “I don’t know, it just happened. It’s natural.” Well, I hate to be the fact checker but that is wrong. Literacy is a learned skill. Therefore, it is imperative that the experts guide, protect, and equip our students - ALL students - with the tools they need to be successful.

Have you ever been told your struggling reader will eventually “get it” and “not to worry?”

YES! This belief that learning to read and write is a natural skill is huge and quite frankly misleading.  It is true that some people are able to create the appropriate mapping in their brain, quickly and with ease but it is still learned. People still have to be exposed and immersed in the language to develop the necessary brain mapping and files to retrieve sounds, letters, and words quickly enough to read and write in the language. Everyone has a different process that their brain goes through to create these connections and files, and this is why struggling readers need a simple, confidence-building approach to developing their literacy brain mapping. They will “get it” but they will be more successful and happier with the appropriate tools and strategies.

That’s why I am here to tell you helping the struggling reader is easier than jumping out of an airplane - hoping your parachute opens.

After my first year of teaching, I needed a fresh start and a lot more support, so I moved schools and grade levels. Fortunately, this new school had a great culture and teacher coaches. I learned so much throughout the entire year and eagerly jumped into these methods with both feet. I loved knowing exactly what to do to create my reading groups, build excitement for our books, individually coach my kids during the small group, and all that jazz. I became an amazing reading teacher who could facilitate a guided reading group that would blow the kids’ socks off…well most of their socks. 

WAIT, what? Why were not all of my students progressing with small group guided reading instruction? Yep, my first year I just associated this small oversight with being inexperienced, but I like to think I am a fairly intelligent individual (common sense is more my jam than book smarts) and something wasn’t right. Year after year, I kept seeing the same pattern, a few students who did not progress AT ALL and a few others who only progressed a level or two. Something was missing. I didn’t know what, but I knew that there was some reason why the struggling reading interventions I was using were not working on these few students. 

YIKES! This was not a good feeling. This is not why I wanted to be a teacher. How could I help most but not ALL? I couldn’t imagine if I was one of those “unlucky” children who just didn’t make it into my “I know how to help you category.” Fifteen years later, I can still tell you their names and something about them. You know “mom guilt,” well I have “teacher guilt.” I lost a lot of sleep over these kids because I didn’t want them to be “unlucky” and I certainly did not want to be the cause of that misfortune. 

This guilt led me on a quest to find a better way to teach them. It was a long journey and to be completely honest oftentimes very frustrating but eventually, I found the Orton Gillingham approach. I won’t lie, I was skeptical at first. It actually took me seven years to finally decide to start my training and earn my membership in the Orton Gillingham Academy. You know that saying, “It’s worth waiting for?” I think it is safe to say that applies here.

My leap of curiosity spiraled into a bit of an obsession, and this is why I am beyond excited to share Simple Literacy with the world. With appropriate resources and methods, the struggling reader can rebuild their confidence and succeed at reading. I've been fortunate to witness it over and over again. 

Have you witnessed struggling reader behaviors? Maybe at a guided reading table or your kitchen table?

Ya’ know, the ones that have haunted me for 15 years. 

• NEVER wants to participate in reading
• GUESSES at words
• Use the PICTURES to read
• ACTS OUT as a distraction
• Has an “I CAN’T DO IT attitude”
• Does NOT LIKE school

This does not have to continue. Simple Literacy is committed to nurturing the struggling reader - giving them back their confidence.

Read this testimonial to hear more about how Simple Literacy protected this child’s confidence and can do the same for you.

“My daughter’s confidence with reading has skyrocketed. She used to shy away from reading - especially in front of groups. Now she is up for any challenge and can’t wait to start reading chapter books. To protect her confidence at such a young age is so important to us - and with Ashley’s help - we’ve been able to do just that. No child should ever think they are less than just because they learn differently than others. We are blessed to have Ashley’s help.”

Simple Literacy is committed to embracing science-based strategies to support and nurture struggling readers

Check Out 3 of Simple Literacy’s Key Strategies for Struggling Readers

Explicit Teaching

The "throw it at the wall" method to see what sticks, does not work well when teaching reading. The benefits of clearly identifying the target skill (sound, spelling pattern, syllable division pattern, morpheme) to a struggling reader (all readers for that matter) are well worth the effort! Therefore, Simple Literacy is committed to creating and sharing resources that are packaged by target skills. 

Scaffolding

I will speak for myself here, but I didn’t jump on a two-wheel bike and ride off down to the neighborhood pool when I was three. I started with a tricycle, then a bike with training wheels, and eventually was that wild, invincible adolescent riding down the middle of the road to the pool in the summer. We are amazing creatures, but our brains and bodies need time and practice to master things. Oftentimes it is easier for us to succeed when we learn new things in small pieces that eventually lead to the whole. Simple Literacy is committed to creating and sharing resources that introduce target skills at the most basic level and then build on them to create a deeper understanding.

Repetition

I’ll admit I always looked at my mom like she was crazy and old when I would see her scribbling down to-do lists and sticking them all over the kitchen but now, I can say she actually knew something :) For things to become automatic we must be reminded of them through repetition. Simple Literacy is committed to creating and sharing resources that utilize the same vocabulary in order for students to build their mental word files. The Simple Literacy format is fun and easy for all users. It starts with the use of word cards, moves to using the same words with a literacy practice sheet, then the same words are used in various memory, board, and headbands games, and yet again the same words (see the repetition here)  are then used in decodable texts to put the words into context.

Simple Literacy is committed to inspiring others to change a struggling reader’s life

Inspiration comes in many forms. I often find inspiration knowing I am not alone. That others have faced challenges and persevered through them. Others have wanted to quit but didn’t. This brings me strength and peace. Simple Literacy strives to create a warm, comforting community for educators, parents, and students to thrive. That comfortable, safe feeling surrounds me when I see a beautiful sunset or sunrise. Simple Literacy is centered around building a community with this warm, supportive heart and soul that uplifts each other just like a sunrise reminds me of new opportunities in a new day and a sunset reminds me of appreciating each and every day. 

Well, thankfully my first year as an educator is over!!! It was tough but we all know success doesn’t come without failure. I have failed many times (more than I would like to admit) but I am here now to share with you that I have learned from those failures. For all those struggling readers I did not help the way I wanted to, I am truly sorry. It is now my mission to be a parachute for other struggling readers. To inspire them to believe in themself and to conquer their challenges as a struggling reader. I’d love for you to share this journey with me, it’s going to be an amazing flight!

Want to learn more about helping a reader in your life? Check out the great resources below.

Helping Struggling Readers

At a Loss for Words - How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers

Working with Struggling Readers in the Early Years