Ryan's Story

Closing a five-year reading gap—one step at a time.

THE CHALLENGE: When Ryan first came to me as an eighth grader, he was reading at approximately a third-grade reading level. Years of struggling had made reading frustrating, and traditional approaches hadn't worked. Instead of forcing him through generic reading passages, I built lessons around his interests. We read articles about sports, hunting, and other topics that mattered to him. By connecting reading to subjects he genuinely enjoyed, he became more engaged, more willing to tackle difficult texts, and more confident in his abilities. Using explicit, systematic literacy instruction tailored to his needs and interests, we worked together throughout one school semester.

THE END RESULT: Ryan progressed from approximately a third-grade reading level to grade-level reading in one semester. He was able to develop stronger reading comprehension and vocabulary.  In addition, he gained confidence as an independent reader. Ryan learned that reading could be relevant, enjoyable, and useful—not just another school assignment.