Stillwater Teachers Work To Help Students Struggling With Reading

The Take Flight program is helping students in the Stillwater public school district find easier ways to learn how to read, write and spell. 

"We break it down to nuts and bolts of reading and give them a concrete foundation to learn," said Abby Grantham, a Take Flight Specialist in Stillwater.  

"They know the feeling in their mouth. They know what it sounds like what it looks like, and they have a connection," said Laura Flesner, a Take Flight Specialist in Stillwater.   

Dyslexia is one of the leading causes of reading difficulties among kids, amounting to about 20% of the student population. But these teachers are going above and beyond to help them learn. 

"You have to do a have intensive two years amounting to 750 hours of working with children where you are also doing videotapes and turning those in," said Miss Flesner.  

The list of requirements to become certified to teach this program goes on, but once these teachers master the program, they say it's worth it. 

"There's always that child where you have tried everything in your toolbox, and you don't reach that one child. That one child makes a huge difference," said Miss Flesner.   

They will give those students who tested into the class 45 minutes each school day to focus on this special learning but what drives them is their personal stories. Miss Grantham saw one of her own children struggle but then blossom. 

"It is so fun every day to see light bulbs go off, and they are successful," said Miss Grantham. 

Right now, they have nine teachers in this program helping students.