momto10blessings Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 I just talked to my cousin and she and her husband have decided to bring their children home to school them. They live in a terrible school district and their children's needs are not being met. Their oldest (almost 9 yr old who just started 3rd grade) can not read and they want to get him caught up ASAP. Is there any advice I can give them- where to start? My kids have all learned to read around 6 or 7 so I have no idea what to tell them. They do not have money for tutors or anything else. She said he can read 3 letter words, knows the letter sounds, and can read some 4 letter words but anything else he just freezes up. Reading a sentence is impossible. What programs would be best? She's open to online or books. I'm going to call her in a few days with some ideas and I'll send her here too, although I'm not sure if the forum would appeal to her. First thing that popped into my mind was LOE (I've been wanting to try it!) but I'm not sure if it would be ok for a beginning reader. TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma2three Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 There's a book I read a few years ago called "Teaching Your Child to Read Through Children's Books." It's based on the Reading Recovery method, which is used for students who are far below grade level. I read an older edition free on ERIC. I remember it being pretty interesting. I didn't really think it was usable for a younger child like mine, but that it sounded great with an older child. http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/recordDetails.jsp?searchtype=basic&pageSize=10&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=thogmartin&eric_displayStartCount=1&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b800ba039&accno=ED437625&_nfls=false Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Whatever they use, for a 9 y.o. not reading at all, if they don't see progress fairly quickly, I would be considering the possibility of learning or vision issues. I would start with curricula designed for dyslexics in case that should turn out to be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Phonics Pathways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 FWIW, she said that at least half of the 3rd graders at this school can not read. Very sad. They know he has attention issues, but since so many other kids are not reading they are thinking it may be the school system. They've known it's been a problem for a couple years, but just now decided enough is enough- she's quitting her job and they are downsizing and moving so they will be able to make this work. They were thinking of sending them to private school, but she'd be spending almost all the money she makes just to send her kids there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acablue Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Phonics Pathways. :iagree: Phonics Pathways and Reading Pathways. Super easy to use, and not babyish at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 :iagree: Phonics Pathways and Reading Pathways. Super easy to use, and not babyish at all. Both at the same time or one after the other? I have a copy of PP I could send her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Yes, this is my suggestion as well! Sometimes older children who are lagging behind are not able to succeed with a strongly phonetic method OR a strongly whole language method and I think this book is a good combo of the two. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acablue Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Both at the same time or one after the other? I have a copy of PP I could send her. I'm starting with PP, then adding in RP partway through. I've read that some people finish PP first, then move on to RP. He may not need RP, but I have it for my son because I think it'll help his confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldskool Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 I tutored a 3rd grade child who could not read. We used OPGTR and he loved it! I think because it looked like a "big book" and not babyish like some beginning readers can be. This third grader was very good at faking reading by looking at pictures which is why he probably got to 3rd grade without being able to read. I know that pictures can be helpful, but I saw how they can be a crutch and cover-up for a child too. OPGTR was perfect because he didn't have a way of getting out of reading the words. He just had to work at it and practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Spalding, because it addresses all areas of literacy--reading, spelling, penmanship, simple writing--in one fell swoop. Her ds is probably lacking in all of those areas. If she doesn't feel up to Spalding (and if you think she could do LOE, then for sure she could do Spalding), then she could consider the Victory Drill Book, or Alpha Phonics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 Thanks everyone. I will pass the suggestions over to her. She's really nervous about homeschooling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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