Sorry to hear about DH. We used the Reading Horizons program "Discovery" and DS (9 at the time) did ok with it. I like that it was on-line so we could use it while traveling and I didn't have to fight DS to do lessons (which was a daily thing when it was ME teaching), it also improved his reading at least a full grade level in the aprox 6 months he used it. The only draw back to it was DS tends to strugle with staying on task using the computer, but maybe your DD does fine. I did a review on it, you can read it here http://craftyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2013/04/reading-horizons-discovery-at-home.html hopfully that gives you a good idea of the layout and if that would work for DD.

I've never seen one but would LOVE a copy if you share :thumbup1:

We use a 6ft long by 2 ft wide 'desk', it's under a LAGE window against the wall. I usally just 'make the rounds' with the kids and about 75% of the time they are all over the school room, including the couch and rugs. The desk is just a cut sheet of 3/4" melimine board that I painted in chalkboard paint, it sits on two drawer units (we have math manipulatives and other odds and ends in them). When we need extra space all we have to do is lean the top against the wall and move the two drawer units to the side.

We have kind of done the same thing. We're not using Barton but Reading Horizons. I had every intention of continuing through the summer but the snow melted and we got spring fever so things just got set aside. We are still reading and participating in the summer reading program at the library, so I guess summer isn't a total loss. We're going to "restart" school after 4th of July and pray that wasn't too long of a break. I think for us sometimes that down time is needed. We're going to try a six week on one off schedule this year, maybe that will help keep us motivated all year.

I haven't seen those. I take it that each color represents a math fact say blue is X2 and then it's just skip counting from there. Really cool, thanks for sharing!

My son had the same problem at that age, my first suggestion is (and I am not a professional, this is just my humble opinion) #1 he may not developmentally be ready for reading and #2 he may need a more OG/hands on approach. With my son we had to do TONS of phonemic/phonological awareness work (probably 6-9 months of just that, no “reading instructionâ€). Some of the things we did where working with sound "tiles" (small plastic disks) on the table, I would write a simple CVC (such as cat) on a white board and with each sound he had to move a tile down, so for cat he would say /k/ and move one tile, /a/ and move a second tile next to the first and then /t/ and move a third tile next to the other two, then I would model how to blend it together until he got the hang of it. I would lay out three or four colored sheets of paper and say a word, say dog, he then had to jump on one sheet of paper for each sound. I would say dog and he would say /d/ and jump to the red paper, then /o/ and jump to the green paper, then /g/ and jump to the blue paper. We used lots of games, such as “I spy something that starts with a /k/ sound†or “ends in a /s/ sound†or “makes the vowel sound /o/†and then based on the clue he would run around the room and find that object, I would continue to give him hints about what I wanted him to find if he couldn’t figure it out but only sounds or letters so he had to really think about it. Maybe you could write out on a small white board the word he actually said and compare that with the word from the book, then he can “see†the difference between what he is saying and what is written, say the word in the book is bat and he says bag, write it on the board and see if he can tell you the difference. Hopefully those ideas help, it’s tough but just remember he will get through it. :grouphug:

I have a son who just turned 10 and sounds similar to the young man you tutor (similar reading level also). We second the Fly Guy books (LOVE them), any of the Blaze books (although some he has trouble with, so we usually read them together), All About Reading books (he is currently working in level 2 Vol 1), he likes the TAG phonics books (but you may not have access to those), Usborne puts out a series of books called Very First Reading and we LOVE them (one of his faves), the series starts out having you (the parent or tutor) read the small print and they read the large print (simple CVC words, but the book still has a story line) and continues until they can read the entire book (my son can fluently read any up to #10) they have large print and nice illustrations (unlike other readers we own). He enjoys any of the Little Critter books (and those are easy to find), we have also started reading some of the Clifford books, and Amelia Bedelia (we just started those; the levels vary so you may want to check). What about Legos, does he like them? They offer a free magazine that his parents could subscribe to, to help promote him reading (even if only very small chunks). My son also likes most of the Non-Fiction easy readers at the library, but your student may think those too “babyish†(we homeschool so that’s not an issue). Maybe some Eye-Spy books, they aren’t really reading books but my son loves them and they still offer him the ability to decode words he doesn’t know. Hopefully that gives you some ideas, good luck!

Thank you!! My son doesn't isn’t a strong reader so I was hoping that we could listen to the CDs (as a family with my two youngest) and he could follow along in the book to help him retain the info.

I would like to find out what the differences between the older version and the revised edition is, specifically the readers. Can I use a revised AG and CDs with an older book?

I guess it would depend on WHY they are strugling. Is it bad/lacking phonics instruction and sight word knowledge or was the instruction fine they just didn't "get" it? If it's bad instruction then AAR may work fine because they would need the phonics instruction. One thing I would note is AAR is geared more toward younger kids (IMHO). If they just don't "get" it then you need a program that will move at a slower pace and is much more direct. I couln't stand Barton, I'm sure it's a great program, just drove me up the wall :001_rolleyes: . I have liked Reading/Phonics pathways and the books are inexpensive, it probaly will not work well for a highly dyslexic student but I have found it helps "normal" strugling readers. My favorite "dyslexic" program (OG based) has been Reading Horizons, they have two programs one for age 10-Adult and one for K-3rd (wich should work for both kids). They offer on-line and print but I recomend the print over the on-line (just seems to get better results). Hopefully that's helpfull.

Here is an AMAZING site on the "stages" kids go through in spelling/reading; http://thisreadingmama.com/literacy-development/reading-and-spelling-development/

I don't really have any sugestions but wanted to see the sugestions :001_rolleyes: . Can I ask how long that took your son to write that sample? I'm impressed with his writing, although not spelled correctly I could understand what he was saying and his handwiring is pretty good. I have a 4th grader (going into 5th this fall) and I would be SO HAPPY if his writing looked that good or was spelled so I could read it :huh: !!! I agree with the sugestions that Tokyomarie made, I will have to try some of those out. For my son the more he writes the more progress he makes in BOTH his reading and his spelling/handwriting. Good luck with the eval. I can't wait for more sugestions.

WOW!! Thank you everyone, these are amazing!

I truly feel for you! Unfortianitly I can't offer any advice, my 9 yr old (almost 10) ds does the same thing and always has :huh: , I calk it up to a personality thing but it's a concern here to. I'll be following, maybe someone will give some good advice. :grouphug:

I have a 9 (almost 10) yr old boy who was recently seen by a developmental optometrist and diagnosed with some perception problems and motor integration issues. He was also just diagnosed dyslexic (although we have suspected it for a while). He reads at a late 1st/early 2nd grade level. We have been using an OG reading program and have seen great results but have been looking for a "main" LA program. I was going to try my son in the "Red" LLATL level (which says 2nd grade skills). Has anyone tried this? Any thoughts about using the LLATL and continuing with the OG program?