Just Keep Swimming Reading

I was watching Pixar's Finding Nemo with my children at the weekend. When Dory kept repeating, “Just keep swimming,” it made me smile. That little mantra of hers reminded me so much of what I already say in my lessons: just keep reading - because that’s how progress really happens. One fin-flap at a time, or in our case, one word at a time, children move forward. The tricky bits don’t feel quite so daunting when you keep going steadily, with encouragement and patience.

Some lessons can feel a bit like swimming in the sea... Letters are tricky, words get jumbled, and even simple sentences can feel impossible. But every attempt matters. Every stumble, every misread word, every mixed-up letter, every hesitant sentence is actually a step forward. Children may not notice their progress in the moment, but looking back, the change is astonishing. Those small wins - the first word read confidently, the first neat letter formed without help are proof that persistence pays off.

My lessons aren’t just about reading words correctly. They’re about helping children find the pleasure in learning, building their confidence, and trusting themselves along the way. When a child keeps going, even when it’s difficult, they learn something far more important than letters - they learn that they can.

Parents, notice the effort as well as the result. Celebrate the persistence, the determination, the small victories. Encourage them, cheer them on, and most of all, help them enjoy the journey. Because when children keep reading, keep trying, and keep believing in themselves, that’s the real success.