Summer Reading Success

Just in case anyone is curious as to how our summer is going, we doing great! Our Tom, from previous posts, is still with us and doing great. His progress is a little bit slower than that of our younger students, but still tremendous. We are still working on letter sounds, but have also moved into words and sentences. Tom is reading a little bit, and continues to show progress and enthusiasm for his work. Seana is doing a wonderful job with him. Tom is taking a little break at the moment, but should be back with us in a week or two.

We have another student with us now who will be going into the first grade in the Fall. He is doing wonderful. Our goal is ensure that his reading is ready for the first grade level work, and I think we'll be there soon. He is doing a wonderful job with his sounds, and is able to work out and read the words and sentences we are working on. We will let you know how he does!

Be sure to take some time to check out all of the wonderful free events at you local library. We enjoyed a great magic/comedy show with Anthony the Balloon Kid at the Mt. Juliet Library. It was night to get out of the heat and laugh for a little while, and we will be looking forward to more events.

Also, something fun to check out for teachers and parents of 2nd-5th graders: www.textproject.org and look for "summer reads." These are wonderful stories with practice activities and tips to keep your child's reading skills on track for the summer. Have a great time and stay cool!

Success in adulthood...

...starts with good early reading skills.
We've all heard it before - if you don't catch a problem by third grade, you've got a problem. Hence the relief when a parent brings me a child in 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd grade, and says - "I think we need some help. Our reading seems to be falling behind..." The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Project released a report today titled "Early Warning: Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters." I encourage to read this report and learn more on the subject. You can access the full report at http://www.aecf.org/ . The bottom line is this: Up until, and partly through, the third grade - students are "learning to read." After this point, they must "read to learn." If students are not reading proficiently, they cannot master the curriculum in their fourth grade and beyond classrooms, textbooks, etc. due to that barrier that the lack of reading skills puts up. How can I understand my science material or even begin to work out a math reasoning problem if I am struggling to fluently read the words in each sentence?? Much less fluently read a paragraph or passage? It is logical, and we must strive as parents, as educators, as communities to help. I encourage to seek help for your child if they are struggling with reading - be that through the school system, through a an outreach organization, or through a private tutor or tutoring center. Research the help that you receive and ensure that it is fast paced and effective - you need to see a good track record. If you are involved with an adult or older student who is struggling with reading, it is never too late to seek assistance and assistance is out there!
If your family or your "circle" is not struggling with reading, I would encourage to get out there and volunteer to help someone who is!! It's not as hard as you'd think, and training is available to you. If we do not help our students with reading, it far too easy for them to end up on the fast track to drop out of school entirely. It is up to all of us to keep this from happening. Ok. I think I'm finished with my soap box for today. Go read something to your children and have a blessed day.

Adult Student Update

Well, our adult student (we'll call him Tom) is doing absolutely wonderful. He has completed eleven lessons, and we will test after 20. Tom remains very enthusiastic in his work - he is always here as scheduled, always on time, and has always completed his assignments. Tom is becoming more comfortable and confident with his sounds and words, and is slowly beginning to sound out and read words independently. We will continue to work through his Beacon lessons, as well as adding a bit extra for him (extra sight words, extra practice on sounds he might struggling with, things he can try to read/think about during his normal day) to work on. We will keep you posted on that!

Have a blessed day and remember to be the change you want to see in the world.

Girl Power

Yesterday, the Tennessean had an article listing some fantastic books for girls. We love books, and we love girl power! Check out this great list of books - many of which I would recommend for young & old. And remember, your daughter, niece, granddaughter, cousin, sister...etc! is never too old for you to read aloud to them. Many of these would be great fun to read together. Too bad my house is full of boys!

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100322/FEATURES01/3220312/Girl-power-graces-pages-of-beloved-books

Beacon is for kids AND adults!

We are two lessons in with 57 year old student, and already tremendously excited about his progress. Seana is working with him on the basics - sounds, blending, segmenting, etc. I am so anxious to see how he does with all of this. He is very enthusiastic so far, doing his homework (and then some!). Still baffles me how we let folks like this slip through the system, get all the way through school, and yet they have not been taught to read. I don't know that there is a good answer, but I'm so glad we were here when he is ready to do this. This gentleman is excited about this opportunity, as he spends a great deal of time with his grandchildren and wants to be able to read to them and help them with their schoolwork. So here we go on another journey! We'll keep you posted!

Beacon Literacy Welcomes Seana Fisher to the Family...

Former high school teacher Seana Fisher decided to become a reading tutor because she loves words and reading and hopes to make each of her students feel the same way! Seana taught a variety of subjects to grades 9 -12 for 4 years in Los Angeles. She has lived in lots of places around the country and over the years has moved from Chicago to Fargo to Sacramento to Los Angeles to Nashville to Columbia. She was recently filmed for the HGTV show House Hunters because she moved once again, this time to her new house on Old Hickory Lake. You can see your very own reading tutor on TV starting in May of 2010. Now that's almost as fun as reading!

God Lives Under the Bed...

I received this story in an email. It's a lovely story and reflection on our faith, so I wanted to share. I try not to forward emails, so I am sharing it here. May you be blessed today.

I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed.. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said..
'Where are you? Oh, I see.. Under the bed...'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room.
Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevi n lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the
capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different.
Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the
entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working.. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others His heart is pure...

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always si ncere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap . I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed..

Kevin won't be surprised at all!