New program gives hope to dyslexics

Brittani Lusk

Melissa Johnson never thought her daughter would like books. School, especially reading, was awful for MaKala, 9, who is in the fourth-grade at Wasatch Elementary School in Provo.

• "I NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD pick up a book for pleasure," Melissa said. "Before it was pure torture."

MaKala's parents were about ready to give up on the public school system and send their daughter to private school to treat MaKala's dyslexia, but this year the Provo School District started something new. MaKala has been working all year with a teacher using the Wilson Program. She improved by two grade levels in five months, according to her teacher, Frank Thompson.

Thompson said that when MaKala entered his classroom in August she was reading like a first-grader and hadn't even mastered all of the letter sounds. She has made leaps of progress, as well as the two other students Thompson is teaching.

The Wilson System was originally designed for adults, but has recently been modified for children. The system focuses on phonics, but uses a hands-on approach to learning. Students use magnetic flash cards and are taught to read words a part at a time and not guess. Thompson said MaKala is reacting well to the systematic approach. The other day MaKala spelled congress, then a group of sixth-graders came in the room. MaKala asked them if they could spell congress; they couldn't.

Melissa said she and her husband, Richard, were at a loss as to what to do at the beginning of the school year. Even Thompson noticed.

"You could just tell they had just kind of given up," Thompson said.

The Johnsons had sent MaKala to several tutors who were too expensive for the family, and were looking for another solution.

"You do anything you can to give your child a chance," Melissa said.

Today, MaKala is looking forward to reading well enough to attack the "Harry Potter" series where brainy Hermione is her favorite character. Thompson said the books are on about a fourth- or fifth-grade level and MaKala will be ready in a while, but not yet. Right now she's reading the "Superfudge" books by Judy Blume.

The new system has done more than make her able to read the books she's always wanted to explore. It's helped MaKala be more confident

"I've seen the change just lift her up," said her father, Richard.

Other students sometimes tease MaKala. Her advice to other students is to hold their head high.

"I'd just tell them don't be scared of them," MaKala said. "You get to think what you want to be, not other people."

• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at blusk@heraldextra.com.