My Story: Learning to Read Shouldn’t Be This Hard

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 I had a happy, loving childhood filled with creativity, imagination, and plenty of daydreaming. But when I started school, I often struggled to keep up—especially when it came to learning to read. While my classmates seemed to grasp things quickly, I felt like I was always a few steps behind. Thankfully, I had incredibly supportive parents who helped me find my footing. Still, I often wonder: if the amazing teachers I had back then had access to what we now know through the Science of Reading, would my educational journey have been different? My LETRS training was a turning point in my career—it gave me the answers I had long searched for. I finally realized I wasn’t behind because I couldn’t learn—I just needed to be taught in a way that made sense for how my brain works. 

 As a veteran teacher, my journey in education has grown from a career into a mission—one shaped by personal challenges and a passion to create opportunities for every student. I’ve come to believe that the longest road to understanding often leads to the most meaningful growth. Everything changed for me after completing my LETRS training and diving deep into the Science of Reading, especially in the area of early literacy. What once felt like setbacks in my own learning became the driving force behind my teaching philosophy: every mind is unique and learns in its own way, at its own pace.