Hey there! I’m Andra Harris, the author behind Magnificent Meg
In third grade when someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said, “A teacher!” For over 20 years I have loved seeing the smile on children’s faces as they learn and grow.
Soon after I began teaching upper elementary and junior high students, I realized that many of my students were 2-3 years below grade level in reading. As they struggled in their studies, they also struggled with anxiety, low self-confidence, fatigue, and a growing dislike of school.
Looking for a way to help, I began taking seminars about Dyslexia from Susan Barton, an international expert on dyslexia. I became a certified Barton tutor and tutored students with dyslexia for the next 16 years. Using Orton-Gillingham methods, I saw my students’ grades improve, their anxiety decrease, and their confidence grow. They went on to succeed in high school, college, and in their careers.
In 2015 I started homeschooling my daughter during her Kindergarten year. She had all the classic warning signs of dyslexia. I didn’t want her to fall behind, lose confidence, or begin to dislike school. When she was in first grade we began using the Barton Reading and Spelling system. All of her peers were reading chapter books by 2nd grade, but she wasn’t…yet. It was hard for me to see her struggling. I needed encouragement as a mom, and she needed encouragement too.
Patience, love, and Orton-Gillingham methods are helping my daughter to develop a solid foundation in phonics, spelling, and grammar. We read books aloud daily to keep her love of story alive. We are helping her discover and develop her strengths and dream about her future. We practice with multi-sensory tiles, review flashcards, listen to audio books…and we encourage her to never give up.
Just as I needed encouragement as a mom of a child with dyslexia, perhaps you do, too. I hope that Magnificent Meg will encourage both your child and YOU.
If you are worried about your child’s progress with reading and spelling, you are not alone.
If your child is reading below grade level and wondering if school will ever get easier, they are not alone. Follow Magnificent Meg on Instagram and be encouraged.
Q&A
Why did you write Magnificent Meg?
When we saw our daughter struggling with phonics and spelling in 1st grade it was really difficult...not just for her, but for us as parents, too. Tears and frustrations flowed strong. She worked very hard, but traditional methods weren’t helping her. She needed encouragement and so did we.
We didn’t want her to fall behind or begin to hate school. We began using the Barton Reading and Spelling System, which laid a solid foundation using proven Orton-Gillingham methods. She couldn’t read chapter books like her peers...yet. She just needed to learn reading in a different way and have accommodations to support her.
I wanted a book to encourage her not to give up. I searched for a lovable character to reassure her that she wasn’t alone and that reading would get easier if she persevered with the right methods. I wanted her to believe that she could dream big and run after her dreams, even though reading was hard. I wanted her to develop courage, determination, confidence in her ability...and hope.
And so the story of Magnificent Meg was born.
Is Magnificent Meg your first book?
Yes. I wrote my first draft in April, 2019. I joined a writer’s group to receive feedback on my manuscript. I sent it to friends whose children had dyslexia, as well as to some of my former students. They all gave me helpful suggestions. Over the next 8 months, the title and some elements of the book changed, but the basic story stayed the same. I found a wonderful illustrator, Julie Wells, and she began designing Meg in December of 2019. I attended a writer’s conference, joined SCBWI, read every online article, and listened to every seminar I could find to learn more about writing and publishing a children’s book. At times I felt overwhelmed by all of the decisions to make and work to do, but I wanted my daughter and other children with dyslexia to have this book. Now it is finally finished. I hope that it encourages my children as well as children around the world.