A Student Shares His Inspiring Story

I was a sophomore in high school and unable to read thirty words from the Dolch Word List. I had been in special education since kindergarten. I tutored with a private Orton-Gillingham tutor for three years, yet was still unable to read. I completed the Fast Forward and Fast Forward II programs from Scientific Learning in California. I was still unable to read.

I met Steve Tattum during a F.A.S.T. Reading System training workshop in March 2007. I worked with Steve for a few hours the first day and was able to read at about a 6th grade level by the end of the day. I remember asking my mom in the car on the way home from the session how Steve was able to teach me to read after all of those years of trying unsuccessfully. I continue to work with Steve for two more days that week. After that, I began to be tutored in the F.A.S.T. Reading System by my former elementary special education teacher.

I completed the F.A.S.T. Reading Program that summer. In the fall of 2007, during my junior year of high school, I had an entire year of the F.A.S.T. Reading Program as one of my special education classes. By that time, I was reading fluently and working on increasing my speed with timed reading.

I can now read 120+ wpm. Learning to read has completely changed my life. I graduated from high school in 2009 and am currently attending college.

Nathan D.