Fish in a Tree

Mr. Daniels tells Ally that he spoke over the phone with her mother and that Mrs. Kessler’s tests confirm she has dyslexia. Mr. Daniels wants her to continue spending time with him after school so he can help her develop strategies to deal with her learning differences. He explains that he is studying to get a degree in special education. Working with Ally will also help him earn his degree.

Mr. Daniels offers Ally a visual metaphor for her dyslexia. He explains, “just like there are different ways to get home […] there are different ways for information to reach the brain” (167). He implies that Ally’s dyslexia characterizes her different way of processing information in her brain.

Mr. Daniels explains that our five senses often work together to help us relate to the world. He helps Ally practice writing letters by using her sense of touch, tracing the shapes of the letters in shaving cream. 

Ally’s family talks to her father over a Skype call on the computer. Ally enthusiastically tells him about her progress in school and her new friendships with Albert and Keisha.