ASHLYN AND BRILEY

PHOTO BY RANDY BACON

ASHLYN AND BRILEY 

“The Twins”

(WRITTEN WITH THEIR MOTHER, DANA)

The twins were born at 35 weeks and for fraternal twins, this is only one week shy of a full-term pregnancy. Many twins are behind developmentally, but this wasn’t the case for Ashlyn and Briley. My husband and I watched the girls achieve each developmental milestone on time in the early years, but they both struggled in different ways as they have developed. .

Ashlyn was four years old when she experienced a traumatic injury to her left eye, making it difficult to read. Even with a very high prescription contact lens, she can only see 10 feet in front of her, her vision is dissected (much like looking through a cracked mirror), and it is very sensitive to light. In addition to the contact lens, by the time she started kindergarten she wore an eye-patch 5 hours/day. This caused her to be frustrated, angry, and unmotivated to go to school, all while trying to build the critical foundational skills of reading and writing.

Although Ashlyn struggled, the school did a wonderful job making accommodations for her. She read larger font books, used a magnifying glass to read, attended special reading groups, and received extra attention before school with dedicated time to read. Simply put, during this time Ashlyn felt different. She was behind her peers in reading and writing. My husband and I considered hiring a literacy coach when we learned of Ozarks Literacy Council. We immediately reached out, and soon Ashlyn was placed in the programShe meets with her literacy coach every Monday, even during the summer. Words can’t express how proud and thankful we are for Ashlyn’s growth in reading and overall maturity! We are amazed at her level of confidence in herself and her ability to reach her goals.

Last year Ashlyn helped read “The Night Before Christmas” in front of family on Christmas Eve, which is not something she would have done in the past. Her hard work is a testament to her courage and to the incredible work ofthose dedicated around her. Currently she sustains some level of vision in her left eye, and we continue to see growth in her visual acuity. She is more positive around her peers and more empathetic to others. While Ashlyn’s literacy journey has been difficult, we are thankful for what she has been given through this process – an open heart, grace, thankfulness, vision, and the gift of reading.

ASHLYN

I’ve learned that reading can be fun and it’s okay to go at your own pace. It’s also okay to be different, although I still don’t like wearing my contacts or glasses. Now that I can read better, I feel good about myself and I’m glad mom and dad pushed me. I have worked with Debbie for several years and she helps me feel organized when I read. She is a good teacher and I like working with her. She gives me ideas on how to make reading enjoyable and makes me feel good about what I do. Now that I can read better, it makes other things I do feel easier.

DANA

Briley started Second grade reading at grade level and seemed to be very excited about her new teacher. Unfortunately, he left about 4 weeks into the school year due to health reasons and the class was taken over by another teacher who did not approach the kids in an encouraging way. She would often come home crying and we noticed her becoming frustrated with school and with reading. The school stepped in to assure parents they were searching for a replacement teacher, but by the time a new teacher was identified we noticed a continued increase in her anxiety and a general disdain for school. Briley became more irritable at home and her confidence in reading and writing seemed shattered, shying away from even reading to us in the comfort of home. By the end of the school year, we became concerned Briley was falling too far behind the literacy level expected for her age, and she became increasingly aware of this too. That said, Briley is an incredibly hard worker and was eager to do anything she could do to read better. She was excited to be placed in a literacy program and her literacy coach has changed her life. She has met with her literacy teacher weekly for several years and now has an excitement for reading she has never had before.

Fast forward to the fourth grade – Briley tested behind grade level at the beginning of the year, but a little more than half-way through the year her teacher reached out in amazement. Briley is now at the appropriate reading level for her grade and we couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishments.

BRILEY

Reading used to feel hard, but now it feels right. I’ve learned how important reading is. It has taken a lot of work, but I really enjoy reading now and will be sad when I stop working with Sheila. Sheila is an amazing person and she feels like part of the family. She makes reading fun and is always encouraging me to move forward and try my best. I feel more confident and happier at school when reading and I am proud of the progress I have made. I even read on my own at home now and I’m excited for the fifth grade.