Originally published in TEACH Magazine, March/April 2018 Issue
By Martha Beach
Jasmine is in third grade. She loves camping, fishing, and hiking in the woods with her older sister. She is a confident, enthusiastic, supportive friend and team participant. Yet, when it comes to reading, her confidence slips away. She has trouble going from the end of one line down to the next, often skipping lines and losing her spot, and struggles with turning pages quickly and carefully.
Jasmine’s self-esteem plummets each time the teacher asks her to read aloud. She understands letters, phonics, and spelling, but has difficulty with overall comprehension. Because she finds no enjoyment, she lacks motivation to continue reading, and her skills do not improve.
Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.
