Behind or Reluctant Reader?

[Lily1102]

My child is now 9 years old. Struggling reader and reading under "grade level." My kiddo refuses to read anything on her own, pick up a book and sit and read, read aloud without me right next to her, read a sign, read a package, refuses to READ anything. If she does read she will know some of the words, she may guess at some words, she may make up a word, or she will just get to a word and look at me as if awaiting for me to tell her the word. Reading has become a chore in our home. Its frustrating to all parties involved and I am stuck not knowing how to help her. We have continued with phonics, grammar, and now spelling and reading 1st and 2nd level books. She enjoys anything I read to her. We have tried by getting books she will enjoy and partner reading-this is what gets the most accomplished reading. I am at the point of thinking about pushing all subjects to the side and fully focusing on reading? But then will all of our other subjects suffer? Any advice anyone would give will be taken as helpful! - Mommy with a frustrated reader!

[boscopup]

Have you had her eyes checked yet? (http://covd.org)

[unfrumpable.]

My son is 7 and has been a reluctant reader too, despite having been read to since he was an infant. He still fusses about any reading we do in school and even goes as far to say he can't read. Very frustrating! I started using LLATL this year and instead of having (forcing) him to read some everyday, he reads one story at the end of each week, the story we have been working with. This is still trying, but he reads it fine. One thing I've noticed though is that he is actually reading some on his own now. He'll bring a book out and tell me he read it all and I give him high praise. They're easy books, yes, but he's taking the initiative to read on his own and that is great. I don't know if that is due to age/maturing some or to the fact that I cut back on the required reading, though I like to think it has to do with cutting back and not forcing him to read everyday.

[Ellie]

My child is now 9 years old. Struggling reader and reading under "grade level." My kiddo refuses to read anything on her own, pick up a book and sit and read, read aloud without me right next to her, read a sign, read a package, refuses to READ anything. If she does read she will know some of the words, she may guess at some words, she may make up a word, or she will just get to a word and look at me as if awaiting for me to tell her the word. Reading has become a chore in our home. Its frustrating to all parties involved and I am stuck not knowing how to help her. We have continued with phonics, grammar, and now spelling and reading 1st and 2nd level books. She enjoys anything I read to her. We have tried by getting books she will enjoy and partner reading-this is what gets the most accomplished reading. I am at the point of thinking about pushing all subjects to the side and fully focusing on reading? But then will all of our other subjects suffer? Any advice anyone would give will be taken as helpful! - Mommy with a frustrated reader!

 

 

It would be helpful if we knew what you are using to teach her to read. That we won't recommend something you're already doing, or something you tried and hated and never want to see again. :-)

[mom2bee]

May I ask what you've tried already or what you guys are doing?

[abacus2]

Don't drop everything except reading! It is discouraging to focus on your weaknesses all the time. The confidence that comes from excelling in your areas of strength can give you the courage to attack other difficult things. I would definitely get her eyes checked. It does not sound like an attitude problem; something is getting in the way of her enjoying reading herself like she enjoys you reading to her. I love the All About Reading readers. They have interesting stories that include only words that should be readable based on what has already been studied. The Elephant and Piggie books are also wonderful. They have few words per page and lots of opportunity to read with feeling. Does she like to make up stories? Could you approach things from the writing angle?

[Lori D.]

If anything I would set aside the reading for the moment and quickly get in for some testing -- impaired vision, yes, but especially get testing by someone knowledgeable about other issues such as vision tracking, eye divergence, and dyslexia. It is very important to find out if DD has either a physical or processing issue now. If not, then you can focus on getting a tutor, or trying some of the suggestions from Dianne Craft who works with struggling students. But if there IS a problem, NOW is the time to get it addressed with the appropriate therapy or specialized program.

 

Continue lots of read alouds, encourage enjoyment of books by letting her stay up an extra 20 minutes in bed with picture books, I Spy books, or whatever else she might enjoy book-wise. And keep on with the rest of school. But give the reading a short break while you gather information about what is going on. 9yo is starting to be on the older side of delayed reading, and that really suggests something else might be going on here.

 

BEST of luck, and hoping you quickly find some answers! Warmest regards, Lori D.

[Lily1102]

We have used OPGTTR, Leveled readers like Elephant and Piggy, Dr. Seuss, Sonlight 1st grade readers and 2nd grade readers. She went to public school for K and had her eyes checked (they were fine), had speech for some letters she couldn't properly pronounce a few sounds due to a lisp. She graduated speech in the middle of 1st grade. At this point in time we are reading for 20 min a day. I set a timer for 20 minutes and she reads as many pages as she can in that time. I help her as she needs it. She uses her finger to follow along with the words and sometimes skips over words or guesses. She doesn't get letters mixed up so I believe dyslexia is out of the question-she doesn't show any other signs of it either. I am wondering if there is a tracking issue or language processing disorder?

[Ellie]

We have used OPGTTR, Leveled readers like Elephant and Piggy, Dr. Seuss, Sonlight 1st grade readers and 2nd grade readers.

 

Did you finish OPGTR? If not, and if y'all liked it, I'd say finish it. Readers don't actually *teach* phonics; they just review and provide practice. For some children that's enough, but some need to finish comprehensive phonics instruction.

 

 

She went to public school for K and had her eyes checked (they were fine), had speech for some letters she couldn't properly pronounce a few sounds due to a lisp. She graduated speech in the middle of 1st grade. At this point in time we are reading for 20 min a day. I set a timer for 20 minutes and she reads as many pages as she can in that time. I help her as she needs it. She uses her finger to follow along with the words and sometimes skips over words or guesses. She doesn't get letters mixed up so I believe dyslexia is out of the question-she doesn't show any other signs of it either. I am wondering if there is a tracking issue or language processing disorder?

 

 

If you did finish OPGTR, then I'd say do something more intensive and speech-explicit, which of course in my world is Spalding or one of its spin-offs. :D

[Lori D.]

We have used OPGTTR, Leveled readers like Elephant and Piggy, Dr. Seuss, Sonlight 1st grade readers and 2nd grade readers. She went to public school for K and had her eyes checked (they were fine), had speech for some letters she couldn't properly pronounce a few sounds due to a lisp. She graduated speech in the middle of 1st grade. At this point in time we are reading for 20 min a day. I set a timer for 20 minutes and she reads as many pages as she can in that time. I help her as she needs it. She uses her finger to follow along with the words and sometimes skips over words or guesses. She doesn't get letters mixed up so I believe dyslexia is out of the question-she doesn't show any other signs of it either. I am wondering if there is a tracking issue or language processing disorder?

 

 

No expert here! Just going from our own experiences with DS. (When he was still struggling and making very little progress with writing and spelling by age 10, we took him for testing.)

 

You mentioned the speech therapy -- there are auditory processing issues connected with difficulties reading; is it possible that the speech difficulties are a related symptom? (i.e., not hearing clearly, or not properly processing what is heard) Again, not an expert, but it sounds to me like you have worked carefully and systematically in teaching reading, and have been at it long enough that a student would normally be showing more comfort and ease at this point with reading, so that suggests to me there may be some issue holding her back.

 

Here is more info on vision tracking and other vision issues: http://www.childrensvision.com/reading.htm

Here is more info on both visual and auditory processing disorders: http://www.ldonline.org/article/6390/

Checklist of symptoms that indicate possible learnind disability = http://www.helpguide.org/mental/learning_disabilities.htm

More on various types of processing disorders in this article (starting half way down) = http://www.adhd.com.au/Visual_Processing_Disorders.htm

 

 

Sometimes you can get good testing (and free!) through the public school system. They may at least be able to point you in the direction of a good specialist for testing. Wishing you and DD the very best! Warmest regards, Lori D.

[nono]

My dd sort of presented as dyslexic, and didn't learn to read until a year ago (she's 9 now). One companion problem mentioned on the dyslexic sites is something called scotopic syndrome, which intrigued me because my dd said the letters on the page were often shimmery. Basically, people with this syndrome perceive white much brighter than average folks. Anyway, for her, what worked was using books on the Kindle Fire and changing the background to black with white lettering. Finally, the letters sat for her! So, she started to read. I eventually did black letters on blush and then switched to traditional books with white paper and black lettering. Once her brain knew what the letters should look like "seated" (her words), she could then start to train her eyes to make dark letters "sit" on white paper. She's now reading within 3 months of grade level, as I had her tested last week.

 

I tell you her story for two reasons. 1. Keep poking around and reading about different issues if you aren't in a position to have your child tested immediately. You may hit on something that will work for her in the interim. 2. A child who doesn't learn to read until late doesn't necessarily stay behind by the same gap once they do learn to read. My daughter made up 2+ years in exactly one year.

[Lily1102]

I called the PS to see what I would need to do to get her tested. I believe she may be showing signs of a Language Processing disorder or tracking issues with her vision? I am not for sure, but after talking with the PS specialist she said to get her vision tested. Not just a vision test but a more in depth test to see about which eye is her dominant eye. The PS specialist also said that she could test for entrance back into PS with reading level. Well I know her RL so that wouldn't be much of a help, and she isn't going back into PS. LOL! So, I think at this point I am going to make an eye doctor appointment, do a little research online and see where it takes us.

[Lori D.]

I called the PS to see what I would need to do to get her tested. I believe she may be showing signs of a Language Processing disorder or tracking issues with her vision? I am not for sure, but after talking with the PS specialist she said to get her vision tested. Not just a vision test but a more in depth test to see about which eye is her dominant eye. The PS specialist also said that she could test for entrance back into PS with reading level. Well I know her RL so that wouldn't be much of a help, and she isn't going back into PS. LOL! So, I think at this point I am going to make an eye doctor appointment, do a little research online and see where it takes us.

 

 

Sounds like an excellent plan! :) Also sounds like you've got a great PS advocate there -- although the "testing for entrance back in to PS" is probably just something she has to say, so you know what all your options are. ;)

 

Hopefully, you will soon know something more -- either that there are no issues (yea!) and that DD is just blooming on her own unique timetable, or that if there is an issue, you will be able to easily address it now while DD is young, so it won't be a long-term stumbling block. Post again as you know more; we're all behind you! Warmly, Lori

[MerryAtHope]

Don't drop everything except reading! It is discouraging to focus on your weaknesses all the time. The confidence that comes from excelling in your areas of strength can give you the courage to attack other difficult things.

 

Yes. Also, the vocabulary, language ability, and knowledge gained from read-alouds is especially important for struggling readers, though beneficial for any child.

 

We have used OPGTTR, Leveled readers like Elephant and Piggy, Dr. Seuss, Sonlight 1st grade readers and 2nd grade readers. She went to public school for K and had her eyes checked (they were fine), had speech for some letters she couldn't properly pronounce a few sounds due to a lisp. She graduated speech in the middle of 1st grade. At this point in time we are reading for 20 min a day. I set a timer for 20 minutes and she reads as many pages as she can in that time. I help her as she needs it. She uses her finger to follow along with the words and sometimes skips over words or guesses. She doesn't get letters mixed up so I believe dyslexia is out of the question-she doesn't show any other signs of it either. I am wondering if there is a tracking issue or language processing disorder?

 

Getting letters mixed up is only one sign of dyslexia. A child doesn't have to have all of the signs to have dyslexia--usually if they have 3 or more symptoms on the list, it's considered worthwhile to check it out. But a tracking or language processing issue is also worth checking out. Skipping words and guessing can go with dyslexia as well as the others. An Orton-Gillingham based program would be very worthwhile (we used All About Spelling and it filled in a lot of gaps for my kids--All About Reading wasn't out yet then, but that would be worth checking out too).

 

I called the PS to see what I would need to do to get her tested. I believe she may be showing signs of a Language Processing disorder or tracking issues with her vision? I am not for sure, but after talking with the PS specialist she said to get her vision tested. Not just a vision test but a more in depth test to see about which eye is her dominant eye. The PS specialist also said that she could test for entrance back into PS with reading level. Well I know her RL so that wouldn't be much of a help, and she isn't going back into PS. LOL! So, I think at this point I am going to make an eye doctor appointment, do a little research online and see where it takes us.

 

Have you had her eyes checked yet? (http://covd.org)

 

Definitely check www.covd.org. The exam that a developmental optometrist does is completely different from a regular eye doctor exam, and my experience is that some eye doctors are knowledgeable about it and some are not (I even had one disagree with his diagnosis while he was in therapy, but I could already see the difference). It can be controversial. Vision therapy really helped my son though.

 

Hang in there, it's good that you are looking into possibilities. Merry :-)