New Life/New Hope At NS

One of the many victories JPL employees experience with our community members can be found at Brentwood Branch where Youth Services Librarian Denise Thomas has been tutoring a 23 year-old who dropped out of school in the 10th grade.  Not being able to read, this young man and five other classmates/dropouts began selling drugs and venturing into crime.  Now three of his former classmates who dropped out with him are in jail and two are dead.  Eric decided his life had to change when he became a single parent raising a daughter.  Thanks to Ms. Thomas, he is comfortable expressing his frustration as he struggles to learn to read.  With his learning disability, Eric knows he probably won't be able to read a book fluently, but just being able to read simple books to his daughter will be the joy of his life.

Ms. Thomas says, "Although Eric can't read yet, his listeing skills are superb.  His vocabulary exceeds that of a person who can't read.  His listening and descriptive skils are very deep.  He can take the words he hears and use them in correct form.  During our sessions, Eric is learning how to connect between letters and sounds, blending sounds to words, recognizing words and relating them to everyday life.  Computer reading software, audio, and place cards help develop Eric's phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, reading and spelling.  Many students, such as Eric, act out a defense to hide and shield that he/she cannot read."