"That's not true at all, Jamie," she said firmly, meeting his gaze. "You're not stupid. Reading is just a skill, like riding a bike or playing a game. It takes practice, but I know you can do it."
She pointed to the first word on the page. "Let's start with this one. What sound does the first letter make?"
Slowly, with Emily's encouragement, Jamie began to work through the word. His face scrunched up in concentration, his lips moving silently as he sounded out each letter. When he finally spoke the word aloud correctly, his face lit up with a smile that seemed to illuminate the entire room.
"I did it!" he exclaimed, his earlier doubt forgotten in the thrill of success. "I read the word!"
Emily felt a surge of pride that took her by surprise. "You certainly did, Jamie! I knew you could do it. Shall we try the next one?"
