07/01/2026
Who are my readers out there?
You all know I love to read and read ALOT! What you dont know is that I am part of 3 generations of dyslexic readers. I was a struggling reader and didn't learn until I was in 2nd grade when my mom decided to work with me daily. At this time "reading groups" and "silent reading" were all the educational trends. Both experiences were embarrassing and painful. I was alway in the lowest reading group and don't get me started on what I used to do during silent reading time... because that was a big fat nothing but stare at letters and look around at all the kids reading.
Let me share with you about my 3 generations of dyslexic readers: my mother, myself and my son all have struggles with this in different ways. My mom was in high school before she could read, my son was 12 and I, luckiest and youngest of all, at 8. All three of us had to have individualized support in learning how to read and each of us took a different path to do so. The amazing thing is we all learned to love reading. In fact, my son used to tell me, at 10 year old, that he just wasn't made to read. This statement would break my heart every time I would hear it. Today, only 4 years, later he states that learning to read is probably one of the best skills he has ever learned and feel blessed to have had private tutors to work with him on developing this skill.
Why do I share this? Because I know we are not the only ones out there that struggled to read. There are tons of parents trying to understand their kiddos and want to know what they can do to help.
Sally Rippin, an author I love, has written books to support the dyslexic reader for some time. She decided to share why she had made the decision to develop her books and tools for families in her self witten book, Wild Things: How we learn to read and what can happen if we don't. I first read this book in the summer of 2023 when the book was newly release. I was so grateful because it helped me see my own reading path, as well as my son's, through the story she shares about her own dyslexic child. It was the first time I felt understood by someone in regard to the process of learning to read.
This book changed my life and it can yours as well. For the month of July I will be hosting a book club to read and discuss this book as parents of readers. There are no reading requirements, mandatory reading schedules or homework to be done. This is a book club to read and share our experience with others. Would you be interested in reading this book with me?
Comment Wild Things if you are interested and I will share with you the options you have to get this awesome book.
