Invest in our children. Invest in literacy. Invest in the Scottish Rite Learning Centre for Dyslexia of Moncton.

My youngest daughter loves sports, playing card games, and spending time with her family.  Her nickname on the ice is “Tank” and she has an infectious smile and a wicked laugh.  Yet throughout her elementary school years, she struggled with both reading and writing.  Hours of nightly homework – often completed through tears - did little to help.  If anything, it confirmed her belief that she was “dumb.”  Nothing could convince her otherwise. Her confidence and self-worth was stomped upon daily. A diagnosis of dyslexia at the end of grade 5 changed this because it led us to the Scottish Rite Learning Centre for Dyslexia of Moncton.

The Learning Centre offers FREE individual one-on-one tutoring twice a week for three years to children who are dyslexic. Recently, nine new volunteer tutors have joined the centre allowing us to meet the needs of even more children with dyslexia.  This is amazing, but not without its financial challenges.  The tutors, who are trained without charge, use the Orton-Gillingham Approach; a multi-sensory approach that is both cumulative, explicit, and sequential.   In fact, each tutor completes 45 hours of rigorous training and eight hours of observations by one of only a handful of qualified trainers in Canada.  This ensures the integrity of the program.  This training costs the centre approximately $2800 per tutor. This year’s total is approximately $25 000. 

Like most not-for profit organizations, the Learning Centre needs financial support and relies entirely on the fundraising efforts of those who are determined to see it flourish.  In a province with alarming literacy rates, the Learning Centre works tirelessly to improve the lives of those dyslexic students it serves.  In one year, “Tank” has increased her reading fluency over three grade levels.  Seven years of schooling could not achieve these results.  Her confidence and sense of self-worth has risen exponentially and the year has passed without her even uttering the word “dumb.” Our program works. It works amazingly well.

Perhaps someone in your life is dyslexic and you have seen their struggle. Perhaps you are dyslexic. Please consider donating to our centre and, by doing so, investing in a child with dyslexia.