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From: David Shapiro
Date: 16 Oct 2009
Time: 10:47:38 -0500
Remote Name: 152.30.155.19
Hi Meredith, Boy, are you asking a good question! Isn’t it interesting that, for many of us who stutter, reading aloud by ourselves can be so challenging? One thing I found easier, and even fun, when I was your age was to read aloud in unison (i.e., in chorus) with other students. Have you noticed that when you and your friends say the same words at the same time, stuttering seems to disappear? You may have noticed this happening when you say the Pledge of Allegiance in class. Anyway, in some classes, reading aloud is practiced in this way. Here’s another idea. Have you noticed how when you read or speak alone, stuttering again seems to disappear? Well, what if you began by reading alone and then, when you felt ready, maybe you could read with one special friend or teacher? Once you felt comfortable doing this, maybe you could add another friend, and so on until you were reading among more and more people. One more idea, related to the second one, might be to try to read in smaller reading groups of increasing size before you read in front of the whole class. Usually it is easier to accomplish challenging tasks in smaller steps. That enables us to experience success. When we experience success, then we feel more comfortable to try again. Before long, the challenge gets easier and easier; we experience more and more success; and we have more and more fun. Maybe these ideas will help, or maybe they will enable you to think of other ideas that would make reading easier. It is really good that you are working to overcome this challenge. Feel free to let me know how things work out. Good luck and keep up the good work. David