The Reading Train

Aug 7, 2023 

“The Beginning”

Everyone has a story to tell, and you are probably wondering how “The Reading Train” came to be? I have worked with children for as long as I can remember, well into my preteen years! I did my co-op placement in college at local daycares and schools. Prior to that, while I was still in high school, I did a placement in the daycare that was actually part of my high school, as part of a course I was taking at the time. I absolutely loved working in the schools, more so than the daycares. The experience I had at the schools was something I will never forget, the memories made there, the children, oh the children! I worked in a kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 3 class! On the day I left, the grade 3 class put on a play for me, it was a Robert Munsch play! They did an amazing job! One of my favorite parts of working at the school, was working along side a Speech Pathologist, and being able to assist with children who had speech difficulties. I was the one who got to do the 1-1 sessions with the child. and I was able to get creative and design my own materials for use with the children to help them with certain sounds they were currently struggling with. I was constantly being complimented on my work, and just before my time was up at the school, one of the teachers pulled me aside, and said to me “You need to seriously consider being a teacher here, we are getting old and we will be retiring soon!” as she smiled and winked.  

After graduating from Georgian College in 1997 with my Early Childhood Education Diploma in hand, I moved from my hometown Meaford, to Brantford, Ontario with the hopes of working with children there in a new big city. Fresh out of college, the world was my oyster! I worked in several local daycares, a Montessori,  the Boy’s & Girl’s Club, and I even volunteered with the Big Sisters Of Brant for several years. But I hadn’t quite found my calling yet and was just “working”. I even ended up working in a call center of all places, and if you know me…..that is completely not me! I literally hated going to work every single day there! But I did make some great friends, and one in particular who would become very supportive in my new business venture! To this day I still have the books she gifted me! So a shout out to Sarah, thank you! I do miss our gym time and good talks! So what does one do when one hates their job a lot? Well……they quit! And I literally did it with a post it note on my supervisor’s monitor at the end of my shift, classy….I know, lol. But that was quite some time ago! However, I went home and was on a mission, after all I had just quit my job, I had to pay my bills somehow! So I sat down and developed a 16 page business plan, and that is how “The Reading Train” started in development in 2006. 

From there I took a business course, went through networking and advertising and took on my first clients in my tiny apartment! I held my first open house that was unsuccessful, 

and then I went on to join a more successful vendor booth event in the summer. I learned, I experienced, I grew! I have always been very business minded, determined and passionate!

BRANTFORD, ON 2006

And I had definitely found my passion! TUTORING! And I loved every minute of it! I was obsessed, I wanted to help children in every way I could, but especially with learning to read! You see, English in particular was my favorite! From playing scrabble, to word games, and especially reading itself, as a child, I enjoyed all things to do with reading skills! And now it is my goal to spread the love of reading, to even the children who hate reading, because they struggle to read! Those road blocks are meant to be moved! And I will find a way! 

After living in Brantford for 10 years, I made a big move and headed to Oshawa….and oh how things were about to get EXCITING!

Oshawa here we come……..to be continued!