Melody
Naomie faced an overwhelming challenge; her 8-year-old daughter Melody struggled to meet 4th-grade reading requirements, and it was frustrating to find cost-effective solutions. The most common method for improving a student’s reading proficiency is intensive, one-on-one tutoring. Tutoring can require four or five sessions per week, over six months, and on average, costs $5000 yearly.
Limited in resources and financial assistance, Naomie reached out to her daughters’ Boys & Girls Club of America, where funding had enabled income-eligible families to participate in The SOAR Program.
Melody, who loves singing and dancing, became highly engaged with the program and enjoyed the repetition of the songs. Using the power of singing through gamified software, and a personal coach, SOAR gave Melody and her family a cost-effective way to gain essential reading skills. The songs in the program vary in difficulty; students read and sing the music repeatedly and in a meaningful context. Over 12 weeks, Melody’s quiz results proved a steady increase in her reading proficiency. Subsequently, she scored above the 80th percentile in the program.
Since the SOAR Program, Melody has picked up karaoke! “She plays Bruno Mars nonstop and easily reads the subtitles,” Naomie exclaimed. Melody is not only on track for 4th grade, but her reading has improved by a full year.
