Reading Ahead of the Curve

When Scott’s son, Atlas, turned 6 in October, he had already accomplished something remarkable—he was the only student in his kindergarten class who could read independently.

Atlas completed Mentava's curriculum in just 5 months, working on lessons each morning during breakfast before school. Scott, who learned about Mentava through his cousins, quickly recognized the curriculum’s potential to accelerate Atlas.

Finding a dependable curriculum

For Scott, one quality stood out immediately: trustworthiness. "You guys are trusted there. When I had the choice to do reading or math, I knew that I trusted Mentava to get the kids [reading]. I don't trust [other programs to work] without myself."

This dependability allowed Scott to integrate Mentava seamlessly into Atlas' morning routine.

Mentava = time compression

Scott sees Mentava's offering in clear, compelling terms: "You're selling time compression. You get your kid at the next reading level in half the time."

Comparing it to traditional tutoring options, he explains, "A private tutor would be $75 an hour, plus there's all the back and forth, the travel time, transportation, the chitchat and whether they actually connect with the kid."

The question Scott poses is straightforward: "If you could get your kid to read—a year ahead in half the time—how much is that worth to you?"

Confidence is the ultimate goal

For Scott, the most valuable result hasn't just been improving Atlas' reading ability, but Atlas' self-beliefs. "In the grand scheme of things, knowing that Atlas can read and is the only one in his kindergarten that can read—he gains confidence in himself."

This early success shapes a child's self-perception in crucial ways. "If you're the last of [your class] to read, you develop self-talk that says, 'I'm not as smart as everyone else. I can't learn things.'"

Instead, Atlas has "developed the [assurance] that he can do hard things, and he can be a leader in doing it." This mindset extends far beyond reading—it's a foundation for approaching all future challenges.

The impact has been so significant that Atlas's 5-year-old sister, Allegra, has now started learning with Mentava as well.

Adopting learning technology

Scott sees the current moment as pivotal in his kids’ education: "I think we're at an interesting inflection point where the use of [programs] like Mentava is not expected yet. But in five years, it 100% will be. You'll have an AI tutor, and so will everyone else."

He recognizes the early-adopter advantage his family now enjoys: "Right now, those of us who can prioritize and afford [Mentava] are getting an advantage, because we're willing to pay for an AI tutor when it's not fully available yet. My kids will [be far ahead of] their classmates."

Looking ahead, Scott predicts widespread adoption: "In five years, [Mentava] will be fully available and everyone's gonna catch up. But we're in this inflection point for the next couple of years until everyone has that AI tutor laptop that is carried with them at all times."