Local teenager’s study to examine best method of teaching someone how to read — with unique twist

A Bonnyville teenager is taking on an impressive and difficult task, in order to find out the best methods to help someone learn how to read. 

The catch is – it isn’t a foreign language, but it isn’t quite English either. It’s an alphabet, an alternative script in other words, based on English. 

Sixteen-year-old Kathryn Graham is devising a study and looking for volunteers who’ll she teach to read this language. 

The Ecole des Beaux Lacs student will then enter her results into the Lakeland Regional Science Fair next spring. 

“I’ve noticed there has been a ping-ponging of different education methods, especially for reading,” Graham told Lakeland Connect.

“I decided to put these methods head-to-head and find out how they fare in a more or less controlled area. In order to test this, I put together an alternative script for English, essentially a different way of writing the language. All the sounds are the same, but the symbols are completely different though.”

The idea is that the study will be similar to a course, completed over 12 weeks, beginning in September. It’s all digital, so you can be anywhere to complete the course through Google Classroom, and at your own pace.

Language is a huge passion for Graham.

She speaks English, French, Afrikaans, is in the midst of Japanese, will start German in the fall, and also reads Latin.

It made sense to chose a study that focused on language, after her other projects last two years were based on health and medicine.

The St. Paul & District STEAM Society was started to boost science activities within the Lakeland in 2022, and put on an annual Regional Science Fair for northeastern Alberta students from Grade 4-12.

Out of this event, the judges select four outstanding projects to advance to Canada-Wide Science Fair, which in 2025 was held Fredericton.

“It’s such a great experience. I would absolutely love to see more people there,” said Graham.

For those that want to take part and volunteer in Graham’s study, get a hold of her mom at 780-573-7446.