Awards:
Alberta Literacy Award of Merit
Finalist for Canadian Postal Literacy Award
Member of:
Better Business Bureau of Southern Alberta
To
Whom it May Concern,
March 28, 2002
For
most of my school years, I struggled with learning, especially in high school.
I worked really hard and studied hard but could never remember what I was
studying or comprehend what I was reading.
In ninth grade I was diagnosed with having ADD.
I
started taking Ritalin and stayed on that until after I got married. It helped me a lot and my grades did improve, but I always
lived with a gut feeling that there was something else missing because I was
still having trouble comprehending what I read.
In 1995 I quit taking Ritalin. I
could not function adequately without medication and in 1999 started taking Wellbutrin.
It helped me as well.
Before
I went through my program with Larry Smith, I was a little sceptical.
I thought maybe nothing could do any better that my being on Wellbutrin.
I decided to take the Davis learning course with
Larry for my reading, and even though I would be off my medication during the
course, I was sceptical about staying off of it.
In any case, I clearly decided I was going to take the course.
During
the course, I first realized just how poor my reading comprehension was.
In fact, I had difficulty accepting the fact that I had to start working
at a grade 3 level reading. As
Larry proceeded to help me with the reading, I felt better about it.
Most importantly I felt like I was learning and I was able to easily
comprehend what I read. By the end
of the course, I jumped 10 grade levels and I was
feeling very happy about myself and feeling as though I could understand so much
more.
Working
with the clay was the most fun. I
am still working with my words and I really enjoy doing them. It just goes to show that we as dyslexics do think in
pictures and we do quite well at it. When
Larry and I worked with the clay, I was able to get a clearer picture of what
the words truly meant.
When we
worked with the Koosh balls, it helped me to stay focused and oriented.
I was able to reorient quicker. The
unique thing about Larry, that not many teachers that I have had could do, was
he could connect with me, and learning was not only fun,
but also simple and relaxing. He did not push at all, and he could always tell when I was
having difficulties. Larry was very patient and let me take breaks whenever I
felt I needed them as well as when he could tell I needed one.
There were many times that I was enjoying myself so much that time was
flying by, and when it came time for a break, I wanted to keep going.
Now
that I am done with the course, I have gone completely off
my medication, and I intend to stay off of it.
I am awake and alert without it.
I feel better about myself and other people have
told me time and time again that I look better and more relaxed.
I have noticed differences not only in my
reading, but in my ability to get organized and take care
of my responsibilities. I would definitely recommend Rocky
Point Academy to anyone who is ADD and dyslexic.
Larry has a gift with working with people and he is very good at what he
does. He helped me out a lot and I
did better than I than I would have thought during my course with him.
Ashley Benjamin
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