Stories of Children’s Lives Changed

LSEM > stories
May
31
Importance of the Basics

I have one little guy in 2nd grade who was tested and found to have a learning disability that involves his short-term memory. I have worked with him as a student in Kindergarten for two years. Retaining the names of the letters of the alphabet and their sounds has been a very difficult process for […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
May
24
Loving Literature

A goal I set for myself was to move away from teacher-led discussions where students wait for my questions after the book was read. These discussions almost always resulted in conversations that did not go deep enough. But first, students had to learn how to talk about books in a format that differed from what […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
May
17
Being Special

Recently I took some new students for testing as they were showing some signs of struggling in reading.   This is sometimes an intimidating time, especially for younger students.  Now, I have been at this small Lutheran school for a few years and have walked the halls and talked with many of the students at different […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
May
03
Celebrate the Victories

In January, one of the students I work with, a 7th grader, won our school spelling bee. This student, like so many others, has been dealing with some emotional and mental health issues. He’s been having trouble seeing his true worth as a child of God. He needed this win to start building himself back […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
Apr
26
Learning, Reading, Helping

My WOW story is the growth of my 3rd grade reading group. I worked with both students last year and they have made so much progress so far this year! Both students have grown in their Fountas & Pinnell reading levels. Both students are applying the reading strategies that we have learned during group (i.e.: looking […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
Apr
12
Benefits of Partnership

I am amazed how LSEM can really partner with a school and really help out those struggling students academically so that they can stay at a private school.  Our caseload here at Our Savior Lansing is growing rapidly and I am so happy knowing a lot of our students can stay and perform here at […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
Apr
05
Hearing God’s Call

This is my 13th year of teaching, but my first-year teaching for Lutheran Special Education Ministries. I am honored and humbled to be called to this ministry and working alongside dedicated teachers, leaders, and staff to share God’s great love for all children.   Little did I know when I began my teaching career in Lutheran […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
Mar
29
The Book Bunch

Last year I was able to implement “Book Bunch” at my school – a reading intervention program for students in grades 1, 2 and 3 who needed some explicit and targeted phonics and fluency lessons.  This year I am excited to be expanding the program to include kindergarten.  Students meet with me 3 days a […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
Aug
10
Never Give Up

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” – Galatians 6:9 B is a very responsible third grader, and he gives his best effort when it comes to schoolwork. Unfortunately, there are aspects of school that have not been […]

Posted in: Wow Story,
Aug
03
More Than Just Book Learning

I had a student who was a Senior this year.  He was well known and liked by others in his class but due to his disability he has difficulties interacting socially. Quite often, he could be found standing on the outside while others congregated.  If someone spoke to him, he would respond, however, he did […]

Posted in: Wow Story,