Just Keep Swimming Reading

I was watching Finding Nemo with my children the other day, and Dory kept repeating, ‘Just keep swimming.’ It made me smile - and then I realised: in my lessons, I could tell my pupils the same thing Dory tells herself ‘just keep swimming.’ Or in our case, ‘just keep reading.’ The little struggles my pupils face aren’t so daunting when you see them that way. One fin-flap at a time, or one word at a time, they keep moving forward.

Some lessons feel a bit like swimming in the sea. Letters are tricky, words get jumbled, and even simple sentences can feel impossible. Every attempt matters. Every misread word, every mixed up letter, every hesitant sentence is 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 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 is the real win.