They don't know the whole Braille code yet. They go to our school library and check out some children's books. There's less reading on each page, and even though they don't know all the contractions yet, they can ask or figure them out by context. I use the Braille Too teaching curriculum. Another fortunate thing is that, because I work in a residential school, I have available to me a lot of role models for my students.
Students are more easily able to identify with someone their own age.
Students don't feel so isolated when they see others their own age reading Braille, and they learn that mastery of Braille reading is an achievable goal. Both age groups really look forward to this time together. Sometimes, my students prepare a special story for a holiday, such as Halloween. Unfortunately, blind kids in public schools don't have access to these role models. That's where the NFB and parents come in.