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Readers are Limitless

Traci Neal
Columbia, SC, USA
February 14, 2023

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Nina's Story

Carolin Stelzer
Bluffton, SC, USA
November 2, 2020

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A Passion for Reading…

W. Ian Walker
Hamilton, ON, Canada
September 1, 2020

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We are collecting Literacy Stories!

We want to hear from you!

We are collecting stories on literacy journeys from around the world!

The world needs to hear individuals’ struggles, processes, and successes to crack the reading code. Your story might be the push that inspires someone else to find the courage to persevere. You could motivate someone to transform education so that all children, regardless of their learning differences, can be taught to read!

Please share your experience with us; we want to hear from you!

Your courage, boldness, perseverance, and willingness to learn, advocate, or teach reading is inspirational to others!
Examples of submission topics include:
  • ● What was your experience learning to read?
  • ● What was your experience as a parent helping your child learn to read?
  • ● What is your experience as a teacher helping your students learn to read?
  • ● What is your success story?
  • ● What were your reading challenges?
    ● What was your experience as a student with dyslexia?
We will share the most inspiring and heartfelt stories, maybe even yours!

You have several submission options:

  • Write your story in the space provided.
  • Write your story in a separate Word or text document and upload it.
  • If you would like, you can record a video on your phone (iPhones work best) or other recording devices (ideally 5 minutes max).
  • You can also submit an audio recording (ideally 5 minutes max).
  • Please be sure to include a photo of yourself for written or audio submissions.
Each of these submission types can be uploaded in the space below.
We thank you for your willingness to contribute. Thank you for helping us. Your story matters, and we are excited to hear from you!
We are here to help if you have any questions, and we are grateful that you have chosen The Margaret Byrd Rawson Institute to share your story.

Click Button below to review guidelines for submitting your story in writing, photo, video, or audio recording.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW GUIDELINES

Students, Parents, and Teachers Please Share Here

By submitting your video/written text/photo/audio file here, you consent to allow the Margaret Byrd Rawson Institute to post your submission(s) on our websites, promotional materials, publications, social media, or other purposes elected by MBRI and its affiliates and representatives. You release MBRI, its officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication and use of all video/written text/photo/audio files you have submitted to us. By submitting your video/written text/photo/audio file story here, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any use, exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such use, exhibit, broadcasting, webcasting or other publications irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any final video/written text/photo/audio file you have submitted. By submitting your video/written text/photo/audio file here, you acknowledge that you have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release of all materials you have submitted.

Readers are Limitless

Traci Neal
Columbia, SC, USA
February 14, 2023

Reading keeps people limitless no matter where they come from or who they are. I write and perform poetry for a living. I am a black female originally from Hopkins, SC. It is a small town, but as a black kid growing up in the early 90s, I knew I could not be lazy regarding reading. The funny thing is that when I was in second grade, I had difficulty pronouncing words as an emerging reader. My second-grade teacher told my parents about my reading problems.
I never gave up trying to learn how to read, even after I gave my report card to my parents and they read my teacher’s concerns. One day, I miraculously began reading words unfamiliar to me from one of my mom’s work papers. I still remember her amazement when she heard me read the words! I have been reading ever since. Now, I understand the endless opportunities being an active reader brings.
My reading pastimes are usually poetry, biblical chapters, children’s books, or newspaper articles. I have such a busy schedule these days, but I still want to ensure I read something. In March 2021, I read a book called, Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur by Clifton Taulbert and Gary Schoeniger. This book has been such a game-changer for me. It describes different lessons from a man who lacked a background of entrepreneurs around him. I can’t assume everyone has read the book and spoil the details by sharing too much. I will share my personal life reflections, though. I have been an entrepreneur since I was five years old. As a kid, I felt like I could do and be anything. This book confirms my journey into self-identity.
Growing up, I realized I could connect well with youth, but deep down, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I found this out at the age of 12, as life has a way of creeping up on you. Inner circles can make you question and reshape your true identity. I continuously tried to please my father by going after his profession. I wanted to stop people from asking me what I would do with my life.
I decided to work to become an elementary school teacher. In previous years, a person had to pass the Praxis II Exam to become a certified teacher in South Carolina. I never did pass the exam. I took this test ten times and spent ten years of my life trying to pass it. By age 30, I finally threw up my hands. I told myself I would never take that exam again.
Today, I am doing what I truly love. I write poetry books and create individual poems giving hope to people of all ages. I perform my poetry and use my writing to bring inspiration to others. After reading the book, Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur; I believe I can do anything. I feel like a kid again. I am unstoppable, and so are you. Do not let anyone tell you differently. Go out there and find something to read! The more knowledge you open yourself to, the more limitless you will be.

Nina's Story

Carolin Stelzer
Bluffton, SC, USA
November 2, 2020

My daughter Nina has always been a fun, happy, and sweet child. She also is very bright. However, I noticed early on that she struggled with specific tasks (like learning the days of the week and the months of the year) more than other children her age. As a Montessori teacher, I teach my students the sounds of the letters and, ultimately, to read phonetically, which I tried to do with Nina, who also attended my school. However, something seemed to be amiss. Her teacher and I decided that her reading difficulties might be due to her being a very young student, given her birthday in her age group. After she completed her three-year cycle at Montessori (which ends after the kindergarten year), I decided to let her re-do kindergarten in the public schools. She had a teacher giving her extra help with sight words and more, and her grades were good, but her teachers gave us mixed messages.
Nina still seemed to be struggling with reading and spelling in second grade. What made matters worse for her was that her kindergarten and first-grade teachers had taken a completely different reading approach than Montessori, resembling more of a memorization approach instead of learning to decode the words phonetically. I decided to ask a colleague who had taken an Orton-Gillingham course to read with Nina. She immediately agreed that Nina was not reading at an average level, which, at that point, had also been confirmed by my daughter’s school. She was now in jeopardy of needing to repeat the 2nd grade or, at the very least, go to summer school. So, even though Nina was an A/B student and her standardized testing was good, she did not read on grade level according to the Fountas and Pinnell reading level chart.
I reached out to a tutor who was highly recommended to me. This tutor was a fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Society and blessed Nina and our whole family. We saw her for an hour, twice a week, for 1.5 years. I watched the lessons closely so I could work with Nina at home as well. The Orton-Gillingham approach, right away, made sense to me as it breaks down the language, explains the rules, and encourages phonetic reading. Nina’s tutor not only helped her in all these areas, but she encouraged us to have Nina evaluated to see if she had Dyslexia.
We felt in our hearts and minds that she did, and having a proper diagnosis from a child psychologist could help us get Nina the help she needed in school. Now Nina gets accommodations at school that allow her to succeed, for example, extra time for tests and assignments. With an Individualized Education Program (I.E.P.) in place, she did not have to be on reading level to graduate the grade. I don’t know what might have happened otherwise to my daughter, an “A” student. Nina’s hard work and perseverance paid off tremendously. Our willingness to work with her and invest in her education by getting her a tutor and formal evaluation made a huge difference!
Nina is now in the 5th grade. She is still a happy and sweet child who loves school and is an excellent student. According to her teachers, Nina now reads on grade level. Nina can decode even the most difficult multi-syllable words because she got the needed tools to learn. She might still be reading slower than other kids her age, and reading long passages makes her tired, but she CAN READ ANYTHING! Her teachers are overall delighted with her, and she needs less and less support. We are very proud of Nina, and I want to encourage parents not to give up! First of all, trust your instincts! Secondly, there are people out there who can help! Also, never forget that Dyslexia is not a disability; dyslexic children are very smart! Did you know Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, and John Lennon all had Dyslexia? Whoopi Goldberg and Henry Winkler also have Dyslexia, and each wrote children’s books, which my daughter loved to read when she was younger! Hang in there, parents, and always advocate for your children!!!!

A Passion for Reading…

W. Ian Walker
Hamilton, ON, Canada
September 1, 2020

What was your experience learning to read?
I am W. Ian Walker, I am a passionate reader, and I am also an ADHD survivor, author, and Arts Administrator, specializing in Choral and Orchestral organizations. I own my business in Hamilton, ON, Canada. My book is titled Stirring My Soul to Sing, Overcoming ADHD Through Song (Word Alive Press, 2018).
It was 1966, I was six, and my mother would take my older sister Anne and me to the library where we could take out five picture books a week. Each night before bed, we would read these books with either our mom or dad. We would have these books for one week, return them and start all over again. My mother mostly read to us and taught us to read. I developed a passion for “reading,” thus, after kindergarten, I was put in a “reading readiness” class, and I think that I was an advanced reader. As I went through public school and would be told that “I was a hyperactive child,” later diagnosed as an adult with ADHD in 1996.
All through public school, high school, and just before college, I would work part-time in the library, as I loved to read books and would get lost in doing much research with my passions in history and the arts. If you came into my office today, I have my extensive library now (when we renovated my office, I wanted a special place for all of my books), and just a few weeks ago, I rearranged it so I could find my books at a faster pace. I also have them all listed in an Excel file I designed, so should anyone want to borrow one of them, I can provide the details and follow up with friends who borrow my books, and I am persistent in getting any of my loaned books back!
What was your experience as a parent helping your child learn to read? My daughter Christina was passionate about books like I was! We started her on a unique “alphabet book” from the UK with beautiful pictures from A-Z. Each night we would sit together, and I would read to her; I would point out these items, say their names, and move on. Eventually, Christina understood, and she would say the word of the item on the page back to me and sound out the letters of the words she was learning. Dad would mix it up a bit to see if she could pick out a picture and say the name of the image all on her own; she passed with flying colors. I was so proud of my daughter! Christina is still as passionate about books as I am, and with two small boys, I know she has her hands full. However, reading to them is a joy for her.
What is your success story?
My passion is reading, being curious, loving to learn, and experiencing everything in life; reading and learning can provide for one’s self-esteem. With my ADHD, I attempted to work on a degree in music in 1982, and it wasn’t until twenty-seven years later, in 2009, that I was going to get my degree. However, I changed my major to “Theatre and Film” at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
There were many nights and years of wanting to throw in the towel, as with my ADHD. I did not always get it or study what I should have known from my notes for the tests or exams. There were many nights of reading and analyzing documents that needed to be processed to succeed and obtain that education and degree. I was so proud when my mom and dad, who always believed in me, could see me graduate and become the professional Arts Administrator, an international writer, author, and baritone soloist. I finally discovered all of the talents and skills I was created with and became who I was intended to be! Thinking back, it was such a glorious day when my wife Elaine, my closest friend and mentor Robert Cooper (Canadian Choral icon and Order of Canada member), and my parents, Bill and Doreen Walker, were all there at my convocation ceremony to see me graduate. In 2010, my mother, Doreen, passed away from cancer. I was so happy that Mom was there on my graduation day and got to see this long-time goal accomplished with flying colors!
What were your reading challenges?
I think with ADHD, sometimes I would see the words backward, but that did not happen too often, and when it did, I knew that my brain and eyes were tired, and it was time for a break. A reading challenge for me was to read everything in my library. I have almost succeeded in that goal, and I have dots on the books I haven’t read but will read in the future. I still have books on my night dresser and around my room that I want to read very soon! I feel very proud and have accomplished many things, from that young boy to a man who survived ADHD and still has a passion for reading!