The picture above is of my son, Austin. Austin never wanted me to read to him when he was itsy-bitsy. It got even worse when he went to school. Reading teachers and parent-teacher conferences didn't seem to help. As a reading specialist, I felt frustrated. Embarrassed for the poor guy, we plugged along. He maintained average grades throughout school, never excelling in any subject that required much reading. We had him tested once. "Average IQ. Should have had more phonics. Has a slight problem with staying on task." That's not too horrid. In fact, we were elated that we had so much with which to work! I bought The Phonics Game. He hated it. I begged him to read in his spare time. He made sure there was no spare time. Austin graduated high school, attended a community college, and now attends a university majoring in photography. He's an awesome photographer, IMO. See the glass picture he took just on a whim at my parent's house?

Why am I saying all of this? Well, sometimes we have to admit that some kids (adults) don't like reading and writing and all things academic. But that doesn't mean we should give up on them. Austin reads autobiographies now. He's quite computer literate. He can maneuver an X-Box menu like a chef can whip up a gourmet menu. He passed his driving test, took his SAT test (well, twice), and daily devours the Sports section. Maybe the greatest influence on his life were not the hours we spent begging for a change, or the hours of additional instruction, or the hours my husband and I prayed for him (although I never discredit prayer...it always works, IMO)....maybe it was the example he saw around him of literacy. Maybe it was my husband who read the paper daily and frequented the library for new books. Maybe it was seeing his mom read her books and relish them lovingly. Maybe it was seeing his grandparents read books and magazines. Maybe it was seeing the need to be literate in an ever-increasing literate world. Whatever it was, it happened. Suddenly, we had a son who read. He realized somewhere along the way...it mattered. Don't be discouraged, for those who have sons or daughters struggling. Teachers, don't give up on your Josh or Janie who 'hates' reading. With your great example of a literate being, it too will matter to them. If we all are sure we have given our 'all,' then we just need to be patient to see reading happening.

That was my son's story--Austin's story.

We all have stories in our journey to literacy.

Perhaps one day I'll write more about my own story. It's a story about a timid second grade student, crying profusely at her desk when Mrs. Adkins asked her to read aloud. Next, it's a story of being one of the very first Title I reading remediation students in the USA.

It's also a full-circle story with a happy ending. It's a story of a little girl who grew up to BE a Title I reading teacher herself, who loves to read aloud and inspire struggling readers to love reading.

Ask me my story, a story of one who's 'been there.' I love telling it.

Along with a cuppa, I share this freebie with you. My friend, you deserve it.

Go to http://www.balancedreading.com and you will find a whole reading assessment book for FREE. It's geared for the primary level. Click on Abecedarian Reading Assessment. It opens in .pdf. Print it. Laminate the covers. Bind it. It's just like those pricey assessment books you find in those high-end educational catalogs. Did I say it's FREE?

Email me for more educational freebies. I'll post them here.