So weird...I was *JUST* on their site checking things out and then I thought to click back here to search more about it. It looks like an interesting program and one I will look into further. To be honest, I am a little overwhelmed with the amount of resources and curricula that is available for struggling readers. Guess that is a good thing though! ;)

We just did this step in Level 1 and he struggled at first, but then got the hang of it. I like the idea of having him do it with words we come across in his reading. I also found that it helped him to put his hand under his chin to count the syllables. Every time his draw dropped, that was a syllable. He thought it was fun and I tried tricking him with longer words. He got them! :001_smile: Is ABCD (in your sig) ABeCeDarian? Is that the curricula you spoke of that follows the Reading Reflex? I read a bit online about it, and frankly, it just does not make sense to me. However, it may to him so I am going to read the book. Thanks for the suggestion!

:lurk5:

Here is a lapbook with a lot of the information you requested. I did it with my son and he enjoyed it. :001_smile:

I like this idea! Now if I can just get him to stop getting frustrated with himself long enough to do it! He wants so badly to read the Magic Treehouse books just like his older brother did when he first started reading, but he is just not there. Not even close.

:001_smile: I will definitely look into this! :001_smile:

HA!!! I thought your avatar was from Mont St. Michel! I am pretty sure I took a picture out the same window! Isn't that the most amazing place!?! Thank you for the links and book rec. in your earlier post, by the way. I haven't had time to look at them yet, but I plan taking a few hours to check them out. My son especially likes games so any way I can turn learning into a game is great. :001_smile:

I have been wondering the same thing about my almost 7 yo. Here is a thread I have started and have received some great insight and advice. Hope this helps! :001_smile:

Thanks so much for the greeting! :D *I* am looking forward to learning more about phonemic awareness and how to teach him better. I like the idea of the letter tiles as we have been using AAS and he enjoys using them. I think the biggest issue for me, as his teacher, is letting him dictate the pace. If he is struggling with ending blends, then we just need to "camp out" there for awhile, right? Thanks again!

Thank you so much for the information. I have access to testing sites in my area and will look into getting the testing done. The part I bolded in your quote is very wise and makes a lot of sense. I am fortunate to have a good library and they carry the book you suggested, as well as other books other people have suggested. I'll be heading there today. I have a lot of self educating to do! Thanks again! :001_smile: By the way...today he was reading the word "dirt" but it kept coming out as "dirit". And "for" was substituted for "from".

Thanks for the encouragement. And yes, we do still worry...we're moms! :001_smile: He is a hands on learner. I haven't really looked into a way to teach him to read that way, but looks like I should spend some time doing that. I do have Happy Phonics, but we haven't really used it much. <going to blow the dust off now>

This is FANTASTIC! They offer so many resources for free! I'm going to have a great time looking through this. I hadn't thought about Sequential Spelling, but I just might. He see things in patterns a lot. Does it teach the phonics rules at all, or is that something I may just have to not really bother with but figure out other ways to teach him like this spelling program does? Clear as mud? :confused:

So...I was thinking of using McRuffy Reading and Spelling next year but place him in the first grade materials. Any thoughts on that? I could supplement with other things. I checked out the Barton stuff and WOW...expensive! I'll look into the Reading Reflex that was mentioned as well as what AngieW did. Any other suggestions? Continue with OPGTR? Ugh!

I talked to two advisors at our charter school (accredited teachers...not that they are experts or anything, but...) and they both said I really don't have anything to worry about unless the problems are still present in 3rd grade. So my first thought was to do what Mandamom suggested... BUT...then I had the same thought EKS gave...see bolded. As far as the expertise goes, we are not far from the Bright Solutions for the Dyslexic Child place, if we decide to do testing. Thank you for suggesting these! I will take a look. Great suggestions! I noticed our library has this. I'll head there tomorrow! I hadn't thought of utilizing the University! To be honest though, a lot of the stuff "over there" scares me. ;) We've been reading "regular books" and he really likes them. I'll continue doing it with him and helping him when he needs it, combining what Kleine Hexe suggested. Sounds like a plan...for now. Ugh! Too many decisions to make. I appreciate everyone's input. You have been VERY helpful. :D

Here is the post in case you want to read the replies I have received so far. I'll copy and paste what I wrote so far: My almost 7 year old is struggling with reading. CVC is easy for him and he knows the sounds of the letters. He is almost finished with the 80 lessons in headsprout.com and ETC 2 (we've taken our time with these). He is only on Lesson 81 in OPGTR. Here are some of the issues: *He almost always mixes up "d", "b", and "p". I've worked with him on the "bed" trick and a few others, but it just isn't sticking. *Silent "e" is difficult, but he can usually read the word correctly after a few tries ("gate), but if you add an "s" and the end ("gates"), that stumps him often. *Here is the biggest...he adds letters (mostly "l", "r", "t", and "n") that aren't even there. For example... "plan" becomes "plank" or "sash" becomes "stash" or "stink" becomes "strink". He will say it over and over this way because he knows he is saying it wrong, but he just can't say it right...at least that is my assumption. So, do you think these are just normal almost 7 year old boy issues that we just need to keep plugging away at and he will eventually "get it", or do you think there is something else going on? FWIW...when he started talking he couldn't pronounce the "st", "sn", "s-any consonant" combination but would say the second letter and put the "s" at the end of the word..."stop" would be "tops" and "snake" would be "nakes". I made up the phrase, "snake sneaks up on snack" and we practiced it a lot and he finally got it...also correcting the other s-blends. I posted this after someone suggested maybe dyslexia: I've been reading through the link LeAnn gave me (Bright Solutions) and am surprised at the number of times I nod my head and say, "yep...he does that". However, I am also noticing that he doesn't have many of the symptoms either. But, I am sure that dyslexic individuals don't show ALL symptoms. For example...writing...he forms his letters correctly, but writes some backwards and from the bottom up. His spacing is good and letters are legible, but his pencil grip isn't correct. Another example is directional words. If we say, "pick up the glass on the counter behind you", he looks around and doesn't seem to understand the "where". Also, I think it might be too much for him to "hang onto" in his mind. We are giving him direction, talking about a glass, and asking him to do something with it. So...for those of you who have a child with dyslexia, do you think it could be, or do you think these are just developmental issues that will work themselves out? Thank you so much for helping me work through this. :001_smile:

Anyone else care to comment? Anyone think these are just developmental issues that will work themselves out? :lurk5:

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and curricula route with me. I've been reading through the link LeAnn gave me (Bright Solutions) and am surprised at the number of times I nod my head and say, "yep...he does that". However, I am also noticing that he doesn't have many of the symptoms either. But, I am sure that dyslexic individuals don't show ALL symptoms. For example...writing...he forms his letters correctly, but writes some backwards and from the bottom up. His spacing is good and letters are legible, but his pencil grip isn't correct. Another example is directional words. If we say, "pick up the glass on the counter behind you", he looks around and doesn't seem to understand the "where". Also, I think it might be too much for him to "hang onto" in his mind. We are giving him direction, talking about a glass, and asking him to do something with it. Thanks for reading this...if you have ;)...and helping me walk through it. Writing it all out in one place and really thining about it is a HUGE help! :001_smile:

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out and may need to ask you more questions...if you don't mind! :001_smile:

My almost 7 year old is struggling with reading. CVC is easy for him and he knows the sounds of the letters. He is almost finished with the 80 lessons in headsprout.com and ETC 2 (we've taken our time with these). He is only on Lesson 81 in OPGTR. Here are some of the issues: *He almost always mixes up "d", "b", and "p". I've worked with him on the "bed" trick and a few others, but it just isn't sticking. *Silent "e" is difficult, but he can usually read the word correctly after a few tries ("gate), but if you add an "s" and the end ("gates"), that stumps him often. *Here is the biggest...he adds letters (mostly "l", "r", "t", and "n") that aren't even there. For example... "plan" becomes "plank" or "sash" becomes "stash" or "stink" becomes "strink". He will say it over and over this way because he knows he is saying it wrong, but he just can't say it right...at least that is my assumption. So, do you think these are just normal almost 7 year old boy issues that we just need to keep plugging away at and he will eventually "get it", or do you think there is something else going on? FWIW...when he started talking he couldn't pronounce the "st", "sn", "s-any consonant" combination but would say the second letter and put the "s" at the end of the word..."stop" would be "tops" and "snake" would be "nakes". I made up the phrase, "snake sneaks up on snack" and we practiced it a lot and he finally got it...also correcting the other s-blends. Thank you for your help! :001_smile:

:lurk5:

This is a FANTASTIC idea and one I am going to steal! :auto:

I did Am. Hist. with my 1st and 3rd graders this year using the Homeschool in the Woods Time Travelers CDs. We had a great time. I added in a bunch of books, but used the CDS as a great "timeline" of sorts. We're finishing up the Revolutionary War and I'll be planning next year using the Early 19th Century cd as a spine. :001_smile:

I don't know either, but I like the idea! :001_smile:

I just came across this fun site. :001_smile:

timez attack :001_smile: