Barton instead of All About Reading / Spelling?

[poppy]

Barton is usually a supplmental tutoring program (I think?) but I am wondering if it would work as an alternative to All About Reading  and All About Spelling.

 

My daughter is dyslexic and will be 8.

I also have a 1st grader.... would I need a separate reading program for him?

TIA.

[OneStepAtATime]

Barton isn't a supplement.  It is a full reading/spelling remediation program designed for dyslexics.  It breaks things down further than All About Reading/Spelling.  It is also supposed to completely replace all other language arts for the first 4 levels.  It can be used with a neurotypical child but is really way more than an NT kid would normally need.  Still, it could be done.  Just move at a faster pace, maybe even cut out some of the parts of the lesson.

 

Pacing varies from child to child.  The levels are not equivalent to grade levels.  They are building blocks. Typically Level 1 and 2 go pretty quickly.  Level 1, especially, is very very short.  It is not representative of the rest of the program but is frequently that basic building block that many dyslexics are missing.  An NT kid might get through Level 1 in an afternoon.  A dyslexic might take a week or a month or several months, depending on how severe the dyslexia and any co-morbid issues.  By the way, if your child finished level one very, very quickly, Susan Barton will let you return Level 1 and exchange it for Level 2 instead of you having to buy Level 2.

 

Level 3 takes longer but many can complete it in 3-4 months, sometimes sooner.  Level 4 is the hardest, usually.  It can take a lot of time and some find they even need to repeat lessons in full.  It could take 6 months to a year to complete.  After that, levels usually progress at about 3-4 months per level but again that depends on the child, how often the lessons occur and any co-morbid issues, as well as any strengths.  Most find the lessons after Level 4 to go much more smoothly.  Level 4 is a bear.  There is a whole thread regarding Level 4 on the Learning Challenges board.  It is doable. It just takes time, dedication, and sometimes repeating the level or at least parts of it.  It is great once you get through it, though.  Lots of things will probably click that didn't click before.

 

Level 9 and 10 are for High School level prep.  I don't really consider those reading remediation so much as just a specialized Language arts program for High School (9th grade, really).

 

FWIW, one woman I know who uses Barton uses it with all 10 of her kids and only 3-4 are dyslexic.  She just moves at a faster pace with the NT kids.  In level 4 students are taught how to use a spell checker for words they cannot sound out.  She buys a new one for each child that they can keep for their own.

 

To use Barton you would need to pass the tutor screening and your child would need to pass the student screening.  You can find them on the Barton website.  Free, doesn't take a ton of time, and is not testing knowledge but sound discrimination.  Just make sure you are both rested, can focus, will not be interrupted and it is relatively quiet.  If your student doesn't pass, they may need something like the Linda-Mood Bell LiPS program first, before tackling Barton.

 

Don't stop for any length of time.  Plan on working through summers.  With a dyslexic I wouldn't take a break of longer than 2 weeks, and I would hesitate to break for that long, especially before you finish Level 4.  All your gains may disappear.  It can take a lot of time and exposure for a dyslexic to really master and internalize reading and spelling.  It isn't intuitive for them.  It is really, really hard work, especially at first.  

 

Thankfully, Barton provides a ton of scaffolding for the tutor as well as the student.  Really laid out well.  You can keep lessons shorter if that is what works for your student, which is one of the advantages of doing Barton yourself, instead of hiring a tutor.  A tutor might only be able to meet with your child once or twice a week, and at a steep cost, and the lessons will probably be an hour.  Some students struggle with a lesson that long.  Their brains are working overtime.  They get worn out.  You can do it for 20-30 minutes a day and just play Barton games on days that your child or you are not really feeling up to a full lesson.

 

If you need more information, feel free to ask or do a Barton search on the Learning Challenges board.  Lots and lots of posts there regarding Barton.

Edited March 21, 2016 by OneStepAtATime

[poppy]

Amazingly helpful, thank you.