Dakota’s Story: How a committed reader is born
“On the last day of school when I get home I’m going to lie on my bed and read a book.”
Dakota’s face lights up as he discusses his plans to keep reading over the summer months. As a Grade 2 student who once struggled to read, he’s been working with a Calgary Reads volunteer twice a week for the past sixteen weeks. He can barely contain his enthusiasm about some of the books he now reads on a daily basis. With a reading goal of two books per day, he radiates with pride when he states that “sometimes we have time to read another book.”
When asked about his favourite books, Dakota becomes animated and rattles off a list of several of the M+ level books and chapter books he’s mastered. While many of Dakota’s favourite books are story books, he also cites an impressive number of non-fiction books and eagerly lists off the fascinating facts he’s uncovered with his newly found mastery of reading.
The Calgary Reads program has helped Dakota surpass his reading goals. The confidence he acquired through the early literacy program has opened the doors to his imagination. As Dakota puts it: “I’ve been reading weird books that I hadn’t even known were invented!”
Calgary Reads students like Dakota and their tutors forge a bond during their time together while they learn reading strategies and uncover the mystery and the magic of words. A comfort develops between tutor and student over time and this trust opens doorways to many types of learning.
“We usually read,” says Dakota, of the time he spends with his tutor, “but sometimes we talk about problems that we had in the past. And I tell my tutor what I did. And if I ever have that problem again, I’ll know how to solve it.” His face falls a little as he remembers that his sessions with his tutor have now come to an end. “It’s pretty sad,” he says softly.
Dakota, now a lifelong reader, smiles with confidence when he’s asked what he would tell other children about his experience in the Calgary Reads program. “I would say you should go into Calgary Reads,” he declares.
“It’s really good. You might get my tutor!”
