I believe all students can learn to read. Teachers must carefully assess a child's present reading process to determine both strengths and areas of need. I contend that assessment is an assistant to instruction, effective teachers meet children where they are and take them elsewhere, blending competence with compassion. Competence involves knowing how reading develops and knowing how to observe literacy in action. This is especially true when teaching students who are struggling below grade level. The path to reading is different for every student. It's the tutor/ teacher's job to find the entry to that path and then guide the reader with appropriate language and materials to eventual success. Ideally, I expect every child I teach to become an avid reader. Thus, my hope is that the student not merely reads books but falls in love with them!