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A True Story of a 24 year old Struggling Reader
The moment she read the Instant Reader tarp posted along the highway, she felt that it might be the reading program they’d been looking for. She took the risk, dialled the number, convinced her son and travelled all the way from Bataan to Floridablanca, Pampanga.
In just 20 days, Jay-Ar at the age of 24 finally learned to read.
Unbelievable but true. Jay-Ar (not his real name) finished fourth year high school without even learning to read 3 to 4 letter words. His entire school life was more than a struggle. It was an endless battle---a year after year roller coaster ride of failed quizzes and tests, of pointing fingers and calling names, rejections from girlfriends and unwritten but strong labels of “that super slow” lad in class. He was the bully’s favorite target. The scars were deep. They were evident in his eyes.
His mom would do all ways to connect with the teachers and the entire school staff to make sure that Jay-Ar move from one grade level to another. The advice were all the same- “Jay-Ar will eventually learn to read. He just needs a tutor.” His entire school life depended from one tutor to another. His parents even got a school principal to personally tutor him. He was enrolled in every reading tutorial center there is in the city. There were no summers left for vacation. Yes, he was tossed from one grade level to another, graduated from high school but never learned to read a simple word nor a single sentence on his own. It was such a limbo for the whole family. The questions they had never got the right answers. The MRI and Citi Scan proved to be entirely clear. Nothing was wrong with neither the nervous system nor the mental make-up of Jay-Ar. The problems remained unsolved.
In spite of all these, Jay-Ar’s parents never gave room for hopelessness. His older siblings marked their support as well. It was one family’s quest for Jay-Ar’s victory. Not even the tarp that indicates teaching only younger kids stopped his mom from enrolling. Instant Reader is meant for Jay-Ar as well.
Hearing the stories straight from Jay-Ar’s mom was so beautiful and inspiring. I have felt every emotion while she poured her thoughts and recalled every pit in their journey. Seeing and hearing Jay-Ar read right before my eyes was like a miracle. It was a victory won. A battle that was finally conquered not only by Jay-Ar but their entire family as well. JAY-AR CAN READ NOW.
What could be the reasons why Jay-Ar did not learn to read earlier? And why the case of struggling readers are getting higher every year.
1. Misdiagnosed
The parents thought that Jay-Ar’s case was just a medical condition—that there is something wrong with his brain and thinking patterns. Struggling reader is definitely not a medical case.
2. Awareness
Parents lack information about the process of reading and problems a child could encounter while learning it; State of Denial oftentimes become a trap from discovering and addressing the real problem.
3. Lack of Reading Expert/Specialist
Failing to go to the right person to consult the problem; Only a reading expert would be able to give the right test, diagnosis and management of such condition
4. Lack of Reading Program that is perfectly designed and guaranteed to address the needs of struggling readers.
Obviously, the old fashioned way of using the alphabet to teach reading is no longer working to the digital learners. During Jay-Ar’s time there were less distraction in school. Today, learning has become more complicated brought about by the gadgets of this digital age. More kids will be trapped in the pit. Parents like you will be spending more in reading tutorials that will give your child more harm than good. If you can see any signs that your child is struggling in reading you should act now and save your child from any early psychological damage it can cause.
You should know now that the right step to do is to consult a reading expert. There is a solution waiting for your struggling child.
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