A Parent’s View of the work of The Literacy Center
Hi,
I wanted to share my experience with The Literacy Center.
I am a mom of two children, ages 10 and 7. Education is incredibly important in our household. My husband and I are both avid readers, and we have always hoped to instill that same love of reading in our children. We also understand how important reading becomes as students move into higher grade levels. Our 10-year-old developed reading fluency very early on, and we never had concerns about his academics. Our 7-year-old, however, had a very different experience. Reading did not come as easily to her, and as a parent, that was deeply concerning.
Over the summer of 2025, I spent hours working with her using the Hooked on Phonics program to prepare her for first grade. While she participated, it was often a struggle. Some days it felt like pulling teeth. The parent child dynamic made it especially challenging to keep her engaged and motivated.
As she began to make progress in first grade, I knew she needed additional support to really build confidence and fluency. I started searching for reading tutors in Flagstaff and came across The Literacy Center. After completing a simple online form, we were quickly matched with Ms. Gracie. For the past two months, my daughter has been meeting with Ms. Gracie, and the transformation has been remarkable. I have seen a significant increase in her reading fluency, but even more importantly, her confidence has grown. She now looks forward to her Tuesday sessions and is excited to learn.
Before, she was hesitant to read out loud. Now, she eagerly reads street signs, building names, and flyers when we are out in the community. That never happened before. She is truly blossoming as a reader.
As a parent, this progress has relieved so much anxiety in our household. I am incredibly grateful to The Literacy Center for the support they have provided our family. I have also been sharing this resource with other moms because it has made such a meaningful difference for us.
Thank you for supporting this organization and helping families like mine.
Best,
Heidi
