What Is Dyslexia? Aspen's Story
“I didn’t understand why I wasn’t progressing like the other kids.”
Those were the words of Aspen Mille as she described her early elementary school struggles despite being in a private school setting. To the young first grader, it seemed as if everyone around her was excelling. Could something explain why she had difficulty processing information and needed different tools to succeed?
The answer was dyslexia, a learning difference that affects 20 percent of the population and represents between 80-90% of all individuals with a learning difference (via Yale).
Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects how the brain processes symbols and sounds of letters. People with dyslexia often struggle to recognize, recall, spell, and decode words. But dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. Some of the world’s brightest people are dyslexia, and so too is former Swift School student Aspen.
Aspen (left) showing off her college commitment to Belmont University alongside friend and former Swift School student Raffaella.
Aspen enrolled at Swift in second grade and stayed through sixth grade before matriculating back into her previous school with the necessary remediation from Swift School. She noticed a change before the end of her first year and credited Mrs. Salapka, a former Swift educator, with helping her.
“Near the end of second grade, I noticed a change,” stated Aspen. I knew how to read and write, and I was starting to excel with the help of Mrs. Salapka. I felt more confident in myself academically. She was unlike any teacher I’ve ever had.”
Aspen also had Mrs. Salapka in for third grade and credited the instruction using the Orton-Gillingham Approach for her academic transformation.
The Orton-Gillingham Approach provides guiding principles for instruction and emphasizes multisensory techniques including auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic pathways. At Swift School, not only are language arts and reach taught with OG principles, but so are math, science, and social studies. Even better? Each Swift School teacher completes the Orton-Gillingham Associate Level Course (70 hours of coursework). Lower Division faculty must pursue certification through the academy, which includes a 100-hour supervised practicum.
The Orton-Gillingham-trained faculty at Swift School helped Aspen have a fulfilling educational experience. According to Aspen, “Swift School taught me that I needed to work harder than other kids my age because of dyslexia.”
Aspen, who recently graduated from nearby Saint Francis High School, plans to attend college with hopes of becoming a teacher. The former Swift student wants to make a difference in students' lives by teaching “like Swift teachers.”
To hear how your child can experience the Orton-Gillingham Approach every day and receive remediation email admissionassociate@theswiftschool.org or click the link below to visit the admissions page.