National Adult Literacy Database

March 7, 2011

This week, we have a story written by Theresa Varty, from Edmonton, Alberta. Theresa was born and raised in Edmonton. She has three sisters - one older and two younger. She is enrolled in literacy classes at The Learning Centre in Edmonton. When she was in school, Theresa had a lot of trouble with math. Her grade 6 teacher, Mrs. Tate, would stay after class with her to help her understand math better. She was a great teacher. In school Theresa always wanted to be a mom and have a family and a good husband. Well, she had four beautiful boys, but she and her husband have since split up. Theresa has two hobbies that she enjoys. One is to sit and do jigsaw puzzles for a long time. She also loves to read.

My Space, My Life

by Theresa Varty

In elementary school, I took on to reading quite well.  I kept bugging the teacher in grade one.  I wanted to read the Dick and Jane books, and I wanted to take them home.  I became top reader of the class.  I got to go to the front of the class; she'd always call on me.  I can still sit for hours and read a book.

Math was a problem because I never did fractions or decimals.  I don't remember doing anything but adding, subtracting, division and multiplying.  I never learned stuff like the kids take now, like geometry.  I don't remember learning much of math.  We mostly played games.

With my kids going to school, I felt like a dummy because I wanted to help them, but I didn't know how to do it.  They called me names, saying “You're stupid.  You didn't learn anything in school.  You can't even help us.”

I felt it wasn't my fault.  Maybe in some sense it was; maybe I should have pushed the teachers more about teaching us the basics instead of playing math games.  We were playing tic-tac-toe and counting with beads.  I kinda felt like a little kid.  We're in high school, and we're counting beads?  But as a kid you want to play games.

In 2003 I had a nervous breakdown.  I was working in a daycare and there was too much pressure.  So I left my job, and after a month or so, I started volunteering at the free clothing store at Abbottsfield Mall.  One day I met Susan and she told me about the reading, writing and math classes at The Learning Centre.  She said they might help with my depression.  I said, “Sure, I'll give it a try.”

I started just listening to everybody else at first.  I took the first classes to get to know everybody and try and settle myself down.  Then I started to interact with everybody else.  I was scared at first.  But now it is one of the few places where I have time for myself.  And now I've come to realize that these classes are great to come to.  I've learned more math here than I did in school.  I don't worry what people think when I have trouble reading a word.  They have problems, too.

I started tutoring other students.  They read to me and I make them sound it out, or I cover up part of difficult words.  I have had two students.  I enjoy helping people.  I like helping out at The Learning Centre.  Sometimes I volunteer to help with displays or whatever they need help with.  One time I was invited to read at City Hall for International Literacy Day.  I read for one of the other students that wasn't able to make it.  Everyone said I did a good job.  I'll keep helping as long as they need me.