DS is having trouble learning the letter sounds

[Quiver0f10]

My Ds is 6 and is a Ker. He is having trouble learning the letter sounds. We are using PP, plus reviewing the letter sounds using the flash cards from SWR. We have gone through page 34 of PP twice now and he still can't recall most of the sounds on his own. I don't know if I should continue on or not or just keep reviewing? or...?

 

I have another son who is dyslexic and I am trying not to panic.

 

Thanks.

Edited November 3, 2010 by Quiver0f10

[Mesa]

Maybe let him play http://www.starfall.com My littles just love that website, and it's free!

[ladydusk]

Have you tried the Leap Frog Letter Factory video?

[BigMamaBird]

I was going to recommend Starfall.com or Letter Factory, but I see some others beat me to it!:D They are both terrific resources.

[love2read]

Years ago my niece learned sounds using the Letter People. When one of mine had the same problem, I borrowed the 45s (yes, that long ago) and coloring pages from a friend. She was 7 at that point and by using the songs along with tracing the letters it did click. The videos seem to be on youtube now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS8GTWOSA60

they have newer songs too, but we liked the old ones. M is the letter to start with. This same child had trouble with reversals, so I followed the method of using a clock face to teach the writing of letters that are usually reversed. So, C starts at 2 o'clock, d starts at 2:00, b at 10:00. It helped her. She's a young adult now and a lover of literature.

[Quiver0f10]

Thank you all.

[mytwomonkeys]

i'd definitely use the letter factory. my kids learned all of their letter sounds that way.:)

[Aludlam]

Another HUGE vote for Letter Factory!

[MerryAtHope]

How many do you work on at a time? We use AAS, and they have you work on only 4 at a time, and they don't introduce two vowels at once, or two letters that are common for reversals (like b & d etc...). You could work on fewer letters at a time, I probably wouldn't work on more at one time. I've known K-ers to need half a year to a year to learn the sounds, so I wouldn't fret.

 

Also, try using some tactile methods. Heather (Siloam) has a great idea with Sand Letter Cards. And here are some tactile methods you can use for learning letters or for practicing spelling. For letters you can also make the letter with their body or out of play dough and say the sounds together.

 

Some kids just need lots and lots of review, be patient, he'll get them :). Merry :-)

[mommy123]

Have you tried the Leap Frog Letter Factory video?

 

All my kids so far have loved this video series and it has helped them learn their letter sounds. I too recommend it!

[helena]

How about using Montessori's sandpaper letters?

http://www.mommymoment.ca/2010/03/sandpaper-letters-and-objects-and-your.html

They're tactile, fun, and once he learns a few sounds, the work starts to spread into a long exciting line of letters (plenty of movement).

This blog shows how to incorporate objects, I remember loving this work too!

[katilac]

I wouldn't panic, but I'd definitely consider an eval. Not all 6 yr olds are ready to truly read, but difficulty with simple letter sounds at this age would concern me. If there is an issue of some kind, it's so much better to know early on! I would have his hearing checked, pronto, and then take it from there.

[Quiver0f10]

Thanks for the ideas. I am going to try the sandpaper letters.

[merry gardens]

My Ds is 6 and is a Ker. He is having trouble learning the letter sounds. We are using PP, plus reviewing the letter sounds using the flash cards from SWR. We have gone through page 34 of PP twice now and he still can't recall most of the sounds on his own. I don't know if I should continue on or not or just keep reviewing? or...?

 

I have another son who is dyslexic and I am trying not to panic.

 

Thanks.

Others have already given you some great ideas others, like sandpaper letters! (I love those.) I also suggest checking to make sure he hears the difference between similar sounds. Some vowels (like the short e and short i) and consonants (like p and b, f and th, m and n) especially have similar sounds that can be difficult for some children to hear. Some consonant sounds are made very fast. The Letter Factory dvds and many teachers add the "uh" sound onto those quick letters sounds. The extra "uh" sound confuses some children, so be careful with that if he's having problems. Those letter sounds that are made as quick "explosions" can be hard for some children to form and/or hear distinctly.

 

You might check him on the Bartons student screening. It screens if a person distinguishes some of the similar sounds from one another. He doesn't need to know the letters that go to the sounds to take that screen. http://www.bartonreading.com/students_long.html If he confuses many sounds, there are special programs to help children with that. Children who have problems distinguishing various letter sounds may be particularly prone to dyslexia, and it tends to run in families. It's not cause to panic, but it is something to watch for since you have one child already with dyslexia.

[Crimson Wife]

You might check him on the Bartons student screening. It screens if a person distinguishes some of the similar sounds from one another. He doesn't need to know the letters that go to the sounds to take that screen. http://www.bartonreading.com/students_long.html If he confuses many sounds, there are special programs to help children with that. Children who have problems distinguishing various letter sounds may be particularly prone to dyslexia, and it tends to run in families. It's not cause to panic, but it is something to watch for since you have one child already with dyslexia.

 

:iagree:

Auditory processing issues are a common reason for dyslexia.

[Quiver0f10]

Thanks again! One thing I need to add is that he doesn't say the wrong sounds, he just says he doesn't know the sound and waits for me to tell him. He seems to not be able to remember each sound.

Edited November 4, 2010 by Quiver0f10