Mark’s Success Story

Struggling to Read in 3rd Grade

Mark’s success story began when he was 10-years-old and in third grade. Reading felt like an uphill battle. Despite being highly intelligent, he struggled to decode words, spell correctly, and write legibly. His mom noticed the challenges early on and reached out for dyslexia intervention before he was even formally tested or qualified for school support.

Mark’s difficulties extended beyond reading—his spelling was inconsistent, and his handwriting was hard to read. While his teachers suggested a “wait and see” approach, his mom knew intervention was necessary.

Building a Strong Foundation with Dyslexia Intervention

We started Mark at the beginning of a structured Dyslexia Intervention Program to establish a solid reading foundation. Since he already knew basic consonant and short vowel sounds, we moved quickly through the early lessons. However, as we introduced more complex vowel teams and diphthongs, progress slowed. These advanced phonics patterns required repetition, practice, and multisensory learning strategies to help him master the rules of reading and spelling.

With consistent one-on-one tutoring and structured home practice activities, Mark made significant progress. His reading fluency improved, and he became more confident in applying phonics rules.

Navigating the School System for Support

While Mark was making gains with dyslexia tutoring, his family was fighting to get him tested at school. Unfortunately, they encountered the all-too-common “wait and see” response—teachers and administrators insisted that he might simply “outgrow” his struggles.

Knowing that early intervention was crucial, his parents pursued private dyslexia testing, which confirmed a diagnosis of dyslexia and dysgraphia. Armed with these results, they secured school accommodations, including extra time on tests, assistive technology, and modified assignments. However, while accommodations helped, it was the structured dyslexia intervention program that truly taught Mark to read.

Mark’s Success: From Struggling Reader to Thriving Student

Fast forward to today—Mark is finishing middle school and preparing for high school. While he still battles self-esteem challenges related to reading, his academic success speaks for itself. He no longer avoids schoolwork, and his handwriting and spelling have dramatically improved—so much so that I was amazed when I saw his neat and legible handwriting.

Although he doesn’t choose to read for pleasure, he excels in his studies and continues to benefit from the strong reading foundation we built together. His mom recently told me, “Mark learned to read because of your program.”

(Student’s name and image have been changed for privacy.)

The Power of Early Dyslexia Intervention

Mark’s success story is a testament to the impact of early dyslexia intervention. Without structured literacy instruction, many bright students continue to struggle unnecessarily. Dyslexia doesn’t go away, but with the right support, kids with dyslexia can succeed in school and beyond.

Is Your Child Struggling with Reading? We Can Help!

At Apricot Tree Academy, we offer a proven Dyslexia Intervention Program designed to help struggling readers build strong literacy skills. If your child is falling behind in reading, spelling, or writing, don’t wait for the school to take action—early intervention is key!