Thank you Mr. Falker

"Trisha was sure Mr. Falker believed that she could read. She had learned to memorize what the kid next to her was reading."

I'd been asked to read aloud to a school group. This wasn't something I was doing as a learning specialist or a dyslexia expert, just as an ordinary citizen.  I put a lot of thought into what book I should read and decided it should be a book students could relate to.

"Almost as if it were magic, or as if light poured into her brain, the words and sentences started to take shape on the page as they never had before."

These lines I'm quoting are from the book, Thank you Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. The main character in the book isn't about a fictional character created by an unsuspecting author. This story is about the author, Ms. Polacco herself.

I first read through the book to become familiar with the story. It had been years since I'd read this book. The plan was to 'read' the book from memory on the day I visited the school. Then I could make direct eye contact while I read, in hopes of making a connection with the students. It would be an elementary class so I knew undoubtedly several kids in the group would be struggling with dyslexia, reading difficulties and/or language skills. Maybe reading this book aloud to them would help some know that they are not alone.

I knew it was a lot to hope for over just a short amount of time, but I thought it was worth it all.

I sat down to read through the book that first time and cried. Tears ran down my face as I read about the pain Trisha had experienced because of reading struggles. Guess it was a good idea to read through the book after all. Didn't want to get all teary eyes in front of the kids and not be able to read!

Reading day came quickly and before I knew it I was walking along the school's tiled floor, through the long hallway to the gym. Time flew quickly as I sat down and began to read to the class circled around my chair. But it wasn't long before more than one child told me how they found reading to be the hardest thing they had to do at school. Immediately they began identifying with the book's main character. Some had had the book read to them before and told me it was one of their favorite books. 

In the end I think I learned more than any of the children did that day. I've been working with dyslexia and reading difficulties for over 30 years since I co-taught a 1st grade Sunday School class where one beautiful little girl could not read a word. But even after 30 plus years of trying to understand learning differences I still am trying to take it all in. 

Thank you to all the children out there who touch my heart and inspire me to continue on. 

"'But, little one, don't you understand, you don't see letters or numbers the way other people do.  And you've gotten through school all this time, and fooled many, many, many good teachers!"  He smiled at her. "That took cunning, and smartness, and such, such bravery.'"