Our mission is to build confidence and unlock the potential in children with dyslexia through comprehensive, tangible resources.

Our mission is to build confidence and unlock the potential in children with dyslexia through comprehensive, tangible resources.

About Coloring Confidence

Our Story

Coloring Confidence was born from the personal journey of its founder, Julia de Montagnac, a current student at Princeton University, who transformed her struggles with dyslexia into a mission to empower children facing similar challenges. From a young age, Julia faced significant obstacles due to undiagnosed dyslexia. Her academic journey from kindergarten through twelfth grade was marked by late nights, painstakingly working through school material, and developing creative coping mechanisms to manage her difficulties. While Julia’s arduous hard work and relentless spirit resulted in her academic success, the weight of these struggles took a profound toll on her self-esteem, confidence, and led to school-related anxiety.

Driven by a passion for equity and a desire to make a difference, Julia dedicated herself to helping other children with reading struggles. Starting in middle school, she led self-esteem workshops and offered tutoring, but her desire to make a sustainable change took full form during her Girl Scout Gold Award project. During this project, Julia founded Coloring Confidence, focusing on supporting kids with dyslexia.

Our Story Continued…

In her quest to understand and address the challenges faced by these children, Julia connected with neuroscientists and dyslexia therapists across the country. These connections provided her with invaluable insights that not only shaped the foundation of Coloring Confidence but also led to her own diagnosis of severe dyslexia just before her senior year of high school. This diagnosis allowed her to receive the accommodations she had long needed, altering the trajectory of her academic journey.

Coloring Confidence was founded with a clear and powerful mission: to boost the confidence and academic outcomes of elementary school students with dyslexia. The name itself reflects Julia’s belief that building confidence is an ongoing journey, much like the continuous act of coloring. Coloring Confidence strives to create an inclusive space where every child can embrace their unique strengths and thrive. Julia’s story is a testament to her resilience, passion, and determination—qualities that lie at the heart of Coloring Confidence.

Our approach combines mindfulness and art integration to support children with dyslexia in ways traditional methods often overlook. Here's why this combination works and how it benefits your child:

Why Mindfulness and Art Integration?

  • Mindfulness and art integration address both the academic and emotional needs of children with dyslexia. Together, they:

    • Engage the whole brain, combining logic, creativity, and emotional processing.

    • Support the development of skills in focus, memory, and comprehension.

    • Encourage self-awareness and emotional regulation, fostering a balanced learning experience.

  • Many children with dyslexia experience heightened anxiety and difficulty concentrating. Mindfulness practices:

    • Teach children how to calm their minds and manage stress through breathing techniques and meditation.

    • Improve attention and focus, making it easier to engage with learning activities.

    • Help children build resilience to navigate academic challenges with confidence.

  • Art integration turns abstract concepts into visual and tactile experiences. For children with dyslexia, this approach:

    • Makes complex ideas easier to understand and remember.

    • Provides an alternative way to process and express what they learn.

    • Encourages hands-on exploration, which is especially beneficial for dyslexic learners.

  • Dyslexia affects more than academics—it impacts mental health, too. Mindfulness and art integration help by:

    • Providing tools to process and express emotions in healthy ways.

    • Encouraging emotional regulation, reducing outbursts and frustration.

    • Promoting relaxation and joy, improving overall well-being and classroom engagement.

  • Children with dyslexia often feel frustrated by traditional learning methods. By integrating mindfulness and art, we:

    • Create a safe, supportive space where children can explore their unique abilities.

    • Highlight their strengths in visual thinking and creative problem-solving.

    • Foster a sense of accomplishment and pride, boosting their self-esteem.

Global Scale

When you join Coloring Confidence’s community, you are joining a global community of change-makers. 

Coloring Confidence is a global force, uniting members of the dyslexic community across all 50 states and over 50 countries. Together, we make up a worldwide movement uncovering the incredible value the dyslexic mind brings to society.

Serene Scholars Curriculum FAQs

  • We recognize that academic interventions alone cannot address the full spectrum of challenges faced by children with dyslexia. Dyslexia carries a significant psychological toll, including frustration, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. When these emotional challenges are left unaddressed, they can lead to far-reaching consequences, including social, behavioral, and emotional difficulties, as well as negative long-term outcomes (Livingston et al., 2018).

    These challenges often manifest as:

    • Social struggles, including difficulties forming relationships, higher rates of loneliness, and involvement in bullying as both victims and aggressors.

    • Behavioral risks, such as delinquency, suicidal ideation and actions, aggression, and higher rates of school suspensions, expulsions, and dropout.

    • Severe long-term impacts, including a higher likelihood of incarceration and violent involvement, particularly among females.

    Our approach is different because we focus on the whole child. By integrating mindfulness and art-based learning into our curriculum, we provide tools that help children manage their emotions, build resilience, and foster confidence. This holistic method empowers children to thrive not just academically but emotionally and socially as well.

  • The program equips children with tools to succeed both academically and emotionally. Here's how it supports your child's learning:

    • Improved Understanding: Art-based lessons help make abstract concepts more tangible and easier to grasp.

    • Boosted Focus: Mindfulness exercises enhance concentration and attention, key skills for classroom success.

    • Confidence in Learning: The program fosters a positive relationship with learning, reducing frustration and building self-esteem.

    • Enhanced Social Skills: Collaborative activities and emotional regulation techniques help children connect with peers and navigate challenges.
      Ultimately, children develop a sense of accomplishment and a growth mindset, which carries over into all areas of their education.

  • Children often begin to experience benefits within a few weeks of engaging with the curriculum, though progress varies.

    • Early signs may include reduced stress, increased focus, and greater engagement with learning activities.

    • Over time, children typically see enhanced confidence, academic growth, and emotional resilience.
      The curriculum is designed to create steady, meaningful improvements through regular practice and participation.

  • These projects are designed to be completed under the supervision of a parent, caregiver, teacher, or homeschool educator. No background in teaching is required! We provide:

    • Clear, step-by-step instructions for every project.

    • Helpful resources and templates to make the process straightforward and engaging.
      Whether at home or in the classroom, the curriculum is easy to follow, ensuring that anyone can confidently support children as they explore and learn.

  • Yes, the curriculum is grounded in evidence and developed using research from neuroscience, education, and psychology.

    • Mindfulness practices included in the curriculum are supported by research showing improvements in focus, emotional regulation, and stress reduction for children with learning differences.

    • Art integration is a proven method to engage multisensory learners and enhance memory and comprehension.
      The curriculum is created by a team of educators, therapists, and individuals with dyslexia, ensuring it reflects best practices and scientific insights.

  • Absolutely! While the program is designed with dyslexic learners in mind, its focus on art integration and mindfulness offers benefits for all children. For example:

    • Art activities encourage creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, skills that are valuable for all students.

    • Mindfulness practices help children manage stress, improve focus, and develop emotional resilience.

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