Van Roekel Learning Center

Make it a movie night! 🍿

“True Spirit” is an inspiring film about a 15-year-old Australian sailor who became the youngest ever to travel the world alone. Jessica Watson achieved this incredible title along with the title of author and storyteller despite her dyslexia diagnosis.

Watson kept a detailed blog during her travels and wrote her memoir, “True Spirit,” prior to the release of the film. “I’m just an ordinary person who had a dream, worked hard at it, and proved anything is possible,” she said.

Comment below if you loved this movie as much as we did!

Timber is an English Labrador that is a certified, yet retired, Service Dog. Timber is currently working on getting his Therapy License so he can work with children with all kinds of disabilities.

During Timber’s time as a Service Dog, he had two jobs. One was deep pressure therapy where he would provide snuggles when needed; and the other was ‘scenting’ so he could help locate humans who weren’t where they were supposed to be.

Since retirement as a Service Dog, Timber has spent time with his mom, Bernadette Redmond, at the Van Roekel Learning Center providing calming comfort to children learning to read.

Timber loves napping and swimming, and his favorite foods include strawberries, apples with peanut butter, and cheese.

Our students love having Timber as part of our team!

We love a good story about how dyslexic celebrities help bring awareness to the diagnosis and how they thrive despite it. "Happy Days" star, Henry Winkler, gave some encouragement to Kelly Clarkson this week when he appeared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" this week. Clarkson's daughter has dyslexia and is often bullied at school because she can't read like the other kids. Winkler, who has written several children's books, welcomed her to the dyslexic "tribe" and told her: “How you learn has nothing to do with how brilliant you are."

Thank you, Kelly Clarkson and Henry Winkler for raising awareness and supporting those with a dyslexia diagnosis. ❤️

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/henry-winkler-advice-kelly-clarkson-daughter-river-rcna80371?fbclid=IwAR2j5SCNWyetNlnRQQonvXjVG6PRhY_UwPCHCnuWNT5aaWaK9BcXpSZPt1U

Kelly Clarkson tears up after Henry Winkler, who has dyslexia, shares advice for her daughter The "Happy Days" star's words really got to Clarkson.