More Help with Reading

Get her books on tape and have her read along with them. Those books with albums at the time helped me as a child by hearing and reading at the same time.

My kids are much younger and just learning their alphabet right now, but we use www.starfall.com . I know there are higher levels of reading on the website, we've just never had a need for them yet. Maybe this site would be helpful to her for more practice?

R.-
I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter struggling with reading. I work with the special education department at my school and one of the things that we like to use with our kiddos that are slightly below their peers, in regards to reading, is to go to www.starfall.com. It's a great interactive computer site that has many fun activities related to reading. Maybe than your daughter will enjoy these simpler activities more?!
Best of luck!
-A.

I have a daughter, now 27, that had trouble learning to read in school. We had her tested at the UMKC Reading Institute in Kansas City. Dr. Wheelock was the doctor at that time. My daughter was dislexic in phonetics. We took her to class there at the UMKC Reading Institute every Sat where they taught her how to read much better. We also spoke with her teacher and the school incorporated the reading guidelines for her. She exceled and by the time she was a freshman in high school, she had overcome the dislexia. You may find that your daughter excels in other areas - such as math. I'd check into the Reading Institute at UMKC. My daughter became a Telecommunications Programmer! Don't give up - just continue to search for the help she needs.

Thank you for bringing up this subject. My daughter is in Kindergarten this year and is struggling with phonics. Her teacher has noticed this and is setting her up with a reading specialist during school. I am trying to work on letters one at a time during the day. Sort of bringing it up while the kids are eating lunch, or we're in the car. It helps that I have younger children around. I really try and make it a game.

Thanks to the other Mothers who suggested the Starfall website! I love it and can't wait to see what my daughter thinks.

I agree with some of the other people, dislexia could be a problem. i really don't understand how a child can be "labeled a non reader" in first grade. If she has the desire to read, but can't there is a problem, and simply saying that she didn't learn her phonics isn't good enough. It's the school's responsibility to teach your daughter. What does it say about our schools when they simply give up when a child isn't learning in the conventional way? You need to keep bugging your school about it, you know what they say about the squeaky wheel. Hold them accountable, and don't let them get by with simply labeling her a non reader and that's it. I know of a non-graded school that teaches dislexic kids how to learn, or read as it may be, they may have after school programs, or suggestions for you if you are interested. Let me know.
Good luck.

Does your daughter's school have a Fast Forward program? My youngest has benefitted from the one at her school. She too has trouble with reading, but is doing better after being in this program at school. She also, in first grade, had a TAPS teacher help her one on one daily for 6 or 8 weeks and that helped also. She is still a phonetical speller, but is improving. Check out the programs your school offers or enlist a tudor for a while. Sylvan Learning centers are good to if you have the money. Good luck and God Bless.

I agree with a learning center or trained tutor. I also never really learned to use phonics and I really wish I had.

How well was she tested for any problems? Dyslexia is a very complex disorder and it comes in very different forms. I have never been tested, but I have done a lot of research. I suspect that I have a mild form of it. I was a strong student and I did well in college, but I have always felt that my language skills lag behind my other skills.

Any help now will make the rest of your daughter's life much easier, and it probably won't take much to help her. Do what you can. If you can't afford one of the learning centers I would keep asking at the school until you find a way to get her trained help.

You might try looking into some of the learning centers, such as Sullivan, I have heard of children who make great progress. It is expensive, but you might get by with one or two months of intervention. Or, you may try hiring a tutor , preferably one recommended by her school. It sounds like she is very bright, I am sure she will do fine. Good Luck.

Try to make reading fun for her. Have her work on leveled reading programs. Scholastic has them. Start with the easier reader books and read them out loud to you and work on sight words and sounding word out(phonics). Then have her work up to each level. You may even want to make a reward chart and give her a goal for each week. You could also buy or get phonics computer games from the library. THere are also many free games on websites including www.starfall.com. Godd luck.

Have you tried MAPPING? Mapping is saying each sound in the word for example CAT...your daughter would say c-a-t (each sound) and then say the word. Even if she knows the word, it is good practice. We use this method with our sped kids at work. Good Luck!

My son who is in third grade is also very bright. When his teacher tested his phonics knowledge, it was not as high as we would have expected given his reading skills. I think that phonics in not necessarily the only way to learn to read. But since your daughter is having problems, it might be a good way to start.

I am not an expert, but I have a few suggestions:

1. Try playing word games with her. This is especially great in the car. Like name all the words you can think of that start with the "sh" sound. Have all the kids participate until they can't think of any more words or it gets stale. Then do all the words that end with "th". Don't let her slide with incorrect words. Say, "Try again!" You can also do rhyming. Like all the words that rhyme with "star" and emphasize the -ar phonetic sound. Do let her sneak by with art or another word that almost ryhmes.

2. Find some on-line games. I think there are some fun, 10-year old appropriate ones at Starfall.com.

3. Get some outside help. Pay a high-schooler who is good with phonics to tutor her. For $15/hour, once a week, someone cooler than you can work with her.

4. Read aloud to her and follow the letters as you read them with your finger.

I hope these help! Good luck!

A.

Hi R.,

My son is virtually a non reader also. What is helping for us is to find the book on tape/cd and have him read along to the story. He has done it and was excited because he finally understood the book.

The best place to go to get his book and book on tape: Walden Books, Office/Maxx, there are others out there...we are on a repeat session and he is reading (out loud) with much pride.

If she finds you reading your own book in spare time will be setting a positive. It's very important that other family members spend time set aside to read while your son is in the room...you'll be setting a good example.

Good luck...W. Q

PS
I found a store in CO that sells comic books...and had my son pick out a couple. He did and his practice (night and day) is important to him. I haven't located a comic book store yet here.

There are phonetic type books for older readers. I would try and check with Scholastic books.
She needs to get this down. The context clues are great - but in the long run she needs phonics and whole language.
I have a niece who was taught Only whole language and sturggels to this day. If the reading specialist thinks it is wrong...well they need to think about how all kids learn differently.
Barb

My oldest daughter who just turned 9 over the summer has had problems with reading as well. I requested that she be tested at school for any learning issues. Because she was bright enough but was having problems she qualified for extra help through the school. The school has so many days to test, so many days to have a meeting, and so many days to complete a learning plan for your child. My oldest child gets extra time on the MAP she goes to a special reading teacher for a set number of hours each week. We started this last year at her old school and saw a tiny bit of improvement. We moved during the summer to a much better school and have seen great improvements in just a few months. You have to have great teachers and get communication! You may also consider a tutor for after school. A lot of times you can contact the school and there maybe a teacher who is looking to do some parttime work. What is great about that is they can just meet right after school. GOOD luck to you.
N.
MaMa of 3

I may have a little different take than any of the responses I have read, because I home school my children.
If I had took the advice of school personnell, teachers and "trained professionals" my NOW 16 yr old (college attending, straight A making) son would have been on Ritalin since age 7. My 15 yr old daughter would not be one year ahead of her peers and my 11 yr old would probably be labeled with ADD or ADHD!
Ok, that said, I guess I should give advice because that is what this is about, but my best advice, is to go with your gut!! I went to college to become a special education teacher and did all BUT my student teaching. When I was in the public school system (my children were in K and 2nd grade) I saw many children who just needed some extra attention. By the time they got home from school, they were frustrated and often emberassed because of the way they were treated. I didn't see this just at one school but at several and in different parts of the state.
Yes, I am a HUGE advocate for homeschooling and will help ANYONE who truly wants to teach their children outside the public school system.
Your child is READING! Is your child LEARNING? Who says HOW FAST she must read? Who has a right to label her?
School is often about competition and reaching some standard that is usually not a measurable thing and is not related to success in life.
Ok, so enough of my rambling (I could go on and on and often do)but seriously, take a look at your child and determine really why you are concerned, what your gut tells you about her, and that will help with the answers. She WANTS to READ!! She is READING!! What crime is it if she needs help in her reading as she reads the BIG BOOKS??? I still mispronounce words and turn things around, but I actually read faster than anyone I know. That doesn't make me dyslexic!! And what is that anyway?? (I know what it means technically-studied it in college-but what DIFFERENCE does it make to label someone. DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR CHILD!)
If you have questions about home schooling or about my advice, feel free to e-mail me.

I'm not sure how much it would help but check if her school or any schools in your district are Reading First schools. It is a program to help k-3 readers but they have specialized coaches that might help. Or you could see if there is a Kuman center in your area they are very reputable. Hope this helps.

Hi R.,

I am so sorry to hear of her struggle! How are are things going now? I am with Usborne Books and we have a selection of books dedicated to learning Phonics. On the back cover of the books,there is a chart showing each word used and explaining its purpose. Also, we have 3 books that might also be helpful. Improve Grammer, Punctuation and Spelling. Ages 10 and up, they include enteraining quizzes and puzzles for extra practice.

Please let me know if I can help further!
*I have a mamasource perk available*

www.ubah.com/W2474
S.

My daughter recently went through the same sort of thing. We ended up taking stories with Bratz, or Hannah Montana, which were mostly pictures, (kind of like a comic, with real pictures rather than drawings) with words coming out like a screenplay. Because she was so familiar with the subject matter, as a huge fan of both, she was able to figure out the words a lot easier, than trying to read phonetically. She used to try to actually memorize words rather than break them down to read. It was frustrating. She responded very well to things on the internet, mostly game related, but if it got her reading, I didn't care. It mostly boiled down to practicing every night, I'd read with her for a half an hour, she had to read for 15 then I would finish up. She also got a tutor through school. She's 9 now, but is reading at her proper level now.
Good Luck, I hope this has helped a little!
L.

I have a 13 year old son who is a severe dyslexic. When you tell me your daughter doesn't have the phonetic principles down, that tell me she may be dyslexic. Dyslexics have no phonemic awareness. Please check out the Bright Solutions for Dyslexia website and the Barton Reading system. Get her tested by someone who knows what to look for. The public schools don't know how to test for dyslexia and many don't even recognize it. It can't hurt.

my advice is since she loves to read, go to the library and encourage her to read...the phonics will come, especially if you ask her to read the story to you...be patient...she will get it! Just remind her to slow down when she reads so she gets the whole story...you can even tell her you need her help in making sure you say the phonics correctly...what child doesn't like thinking they are smarter than their parents at something! good luck! I am sure she will learn her phonics with your help!