LearningRx students, Autumn Fryar (left) and Kevin Fryar (front) with homeschool mom, Kellye Fryar.
Autumn Fryar, 12, a homeschooled student from Cleveland, has struggled most of her life with reading and writing. Her parents knew she was capable of much more and tried everything from tutoring to having Autumn evaluated for visual problems. None of those seemed to solve her learning struggles. Then the Fryars discovered LearningRx.
“Autumn was always the last one doing copy work in the classroom. She could tell me an amazing story but she couldn’t put it on paper. It would take her three hours to write half a paragraph. She could tell me the story, but she couldn’t get it written,” said Kellye Fryar, her mother.
Autumn has never been diagnosed as dyslexic but at times she has felt that her struggles with reading and writing made her feel as if she was not smart or capable. “When I was younger, I never could keep up with my class. I always abbreviated everything because I couldn’t write as fast as other people,” said Autumn Fryar. But after six months of the ReadRx program at LearningRx, the sixth grader says now she is writing papers that even her teachers say are the best in the class.
Autumn, who dreams of becoming a teacher and choreographer, has also improved in her coordination of dance steps and movement. Even a simple activity like jump roping which was tough before she began the LearningRx program is now a breeze for her.
“Unfortunately, many people wrongly assume that less-than-stellar grades are a reflection of poor teaching or laziness on the part of the student; this is rarely the case,” said LearningRx Chattanooga Director Michelle Hecker Davis. “The truth is that it simply means that the child is struggling to learn. And the majority of learning struggles are due to weak cognitive skills. The good news is that these learning skills can be strengthened through intensive one-on-one brain training.”
LearningRx Chattanooga will conduct free screenings for those struggling with symptoms of Dyslexia on Saturday, from 1-3 p.m. at the LearningRx Chattanooga Brain Training Center, at 2040 Hamilton Place, next to Marshall’s and Bed, Bath and Beyond. Call 423 305-1599 to schedule an appointment.
According to the International Dyslexia Association, as many as 15 – 20 percent of the population has some symptoms of dyslexia. “Dyslexia” simply means “Poor with words or trouble with reading.” This could mean reading fluently, out loud, reading new words, and/or pronouncing words correctly. Dyslexia doesn’t need to be a permanent diagnosis or condition.
For more information or to learn more about treating the root cause of learning struggles or those associated with ADHD, Dyslexia, Asperger’s, Autism or Dyscalculia (“trouble with math”), contact Michelle Hecker Davis of LearningRx in Chattanooga at m.davis@learningrx.net or (423) 305-1599.