What practical things helped your late reader the most?

[Oakblossoms]

I have a late reader and he has had therapy and all kinds of appointments with special eye and ear specialists. I am not looking for suggestions for those things.

 

I am looking for practical things that really helped your child. Things you do at home. Practical things like using a particular program or doing jumping jack breaks during lessons or playing with play dough or copy work.

[Lara in Colo]

I have a late reader and she just recently started to "like" reading--here is what we have done:

 

Logic of English-- fantastic reading/spelling/phonics program (we started this in June and she is writing and really working harder on reading)

 

I had her reading to others (our 75yo surrogate GM neighbor and my mother)

 

I bought her a series that was just hers and never made her read it, it was just in her room (I was shocked to find her in the middle of the first book yesterday!!)

 

reading eggs.

 

I don't know what worked, but this time last year she was struggling with BOB books and now she is trying hard to decipher level three books.

[scrappyhappymama]

Funnix has been wonderful for us. My eight year old was not interested at four, or five, or six. I started letting him use Funnix as a supplement, and he took to it right away. He finds the stories amusing and he likes being able to do it himself. I never saw myself using a computer program to let my child self-teach himself to read, but it has worked wonders for him in the last year. He's now deep into the middle of level 2 and reading Magic Tree House books on his own, willingly. This is a big change from 18 months ago, when he thought he was too dumb to read, because he compared himself to his older brother who was reading massive chapter books.

[Isabella]

Lots of me reading aloud, medium amounts of copywork, and only a low amount of pressure to read. For spelling, she thrived on Apples and Pears.

 

She started to read at age 10.

[Lara in Colo]

We also do WWE level 1.

 

Tried funnix, it did alright for a while, but she really took to reading eggs, honestly I think you just have to keep trying things until something clicks.

 

We also did Progressive phonics-- she did really well on it for a while-- it is free so no fear to try and reading eggs has a 14 day free trial.

[Sugarfoot]

Well, mine wasn't "just" late; he's my dyslexic, but exercises that crossed the midline were invaluable. Also a vertical phonics program and re-reading the same easy readers over and over until the words were familiar and he felt really successful.

[Sugarfoot]

double post...

[milovany]

Depends on the kids themselves, but I just realized tonight that getting my 4 yo to read might push my 6yo along! 6 yo has been moseying his way around it for a year or so, while 4yo whizzed through 8 lessons in Alpha Phonics tonight (first time we've done any official "lessons" -- it was at his request). Just a thought!

 

Another one, thinking back to my now-19 yo, who didn't read until he was almost 8 (and who is now an avid reader). I would rewrite chapters from his favorite chapter book at the time (Holling C. Holling's Book of Indians) in simple 1-2 syllable words and print them out with large type (like, 24 or 30 point or larger). Because he was interested in the content, he pushed on a little bit harder. This got him over the hump.

[Ellie]

Spalding. We just didn't do it faithfully until she was 9. :-)

[Oakblossoms]

Well, mine wasn't "just" late; he's my dyslexic, but exercises that crossed the midline were invaluable. Also a vertical phonics program and re-reading the same easy readers over and over until the words were familiar and he felt really successful.

 

 

Can you tell me more about exercises? I read one of the books on dyslexia that I think talked about it. But, I had to return it to the library. I think it was disconnected kids. Exercise makes a huge difference for him. We just started to going back to the gym when our van fell apart. Hopefully we will have a new vehicle and can start back up in January. I have a rocking board on his wishlist.

[Oakblossoms]

...honestly I think you just have to keep trying things until something clicks.

 

 

Yes, we have tried so many programs with all my kids. He has tried at least 10. Currently, we are using Explode the Code and OPGTTR. Which I think is hilarious because they are the last two programs I tried because i had used ETC and PP with an older child. I was sure they wouldnt work. But, we found OPGTTR at the library sale for $2 and it actually works. I was given the ETC book and he loves it.

[Cassy]

DH is severely dyslexic, DS13 moderately so, and DS8 quite severely so. Both DH and DS13 weren't really able to read much before the ages of 8 to 10 yo. Both insist that the only thing that helped them was lots of consistent practice. I also wonder if developmentally they just found it a bit easier at around that age. DH has a very brilliant academic background, but still struggles with writing. DS13 also manages to achieve excellent grades despite his dyslexia. DS8 is still struggling :sad: . I have found with DS8 that he makes the best progress if we follow a routine of him reading to me for at least 20 mins, twice a day. DH supports this; he is adamant that there is no miracle 'cure', it is simply a matter of lots of hard work.

[delaney]

I have been using Phonics Road 1 with my 6 yr old and since he is auditory he remembers all of the sounds very well. It is his lack of visual attention that is slowing his reading. He is very frustrated right now. I just keep reading lots to him, checking for comprehension through narration, and letting him play some computer games. He did like reading eggs so I may start that up again after the new year. Anything I can make into a game works well too.

[VinNY]

I See Sam Readers. They helped build fluency while we did all the other O-G remediation, VT etc. It gave my dtr confidence and me hope!

[Chris in VA]

My first didn't learn to read until he was 7 (Sept birthday, so older first grader) and did Montessori phonics. We had him do Reader Rabbit on the computer and it really helped him. He was highly motivated by a reward he'd get after he finished it--I think he did it 4 hours at a time and finished it in a few days...

 

He was still just reading Nate the Great type stories in second grade (went to ps that year). The next year, he was back in Monti school; he chose to read a lot, and they let him. They had a whole huge set of Great Illustrated Classics, and I think he read about 10-15 of them that year, and his fluency and interest in reading grew leaps and bounds. So--practice on something motivating and with good content, even if the language is easier.

[Chris in VA]

dp.

[Live2Ride]

Not pushing too hard. Find simple books that are of interest. I read all directions and shared reading together in his little readers. I read a lot myself and talked about what I was enjoying about my book. I wanted to make reading sound interesting to him. He didn't have any physical issues to prevent him from it; he just wasn't ready to read. DH was concerned, but I knew it would come. He was 8 1/2 years old when he finally started taking a small interest and started wanting to read; he hasn't stopped since!

[fairfarmhand]

My dd was like this. I did anything I could to get her to read any print I could find.

 

She loved to draw, so I started writing out instructions for her to read and make a picture. It would go like this....At the top of the page draw a sun. In the middle of the paper draw a big red barn. Next to the barn, draw a flock of five chickens. etc. She drew farms, zoos, schools, everything I could think of.

 

I also let her read my shopping list for me, recipes, anything at all.

 

Now within the last 2 years she's really taken off. I finally got her to realize that books were fun by checking out audio books at the library. I picked a series and the library didn't have the last book in the series on audio, so she chose to read it herself. She was 8 before she was reading anywhere close to fluently. I'd often let her follow along in a print book as the audio was read.

[Gentlemommy]

Dd7 did six months of vision therapy. That helped. We also did a lot of Dianne Craft and Brain Gym exercises. At the suggestion of our VT, we did sight word flash cards. I never thought I would, as I felt a strict phonics approach would work best. However, doing the flash cards helped her tremendously. She was finally able to quickly recognize a bunch of the most common words, and that made her much more confident. She could READ! I had her read to me three times every.single.day. At first, it was 3-4 minutes at a time. That was all she could handle before getting frustrated. We are up to about 15 minutes at a time now, sometimes 20. And best of all, she ASKS to read now, where at firstshe would do anything to get out of it. We've been doing that for about six months.

[amo_mea_filiis.]

Mine is 8 and not really reading. He is but he isn't, if that makes any sense. With a bribe, like a small candy per sentence, he can read words in magic tree house books and stuff like that, but it is a lot of guessing and no comprehension. He claimed he can't spell anything and rarely ever tries.

 

I know some of it is his eyes, some attention, some his lack of language. He gets very tired towards the end of books that he can read.

 

Last week we started the phonics lessons by ElizabethB (I'm pretty sure) and it's great so far! We're only on lesson 4 today but he has been able to spell every word she asks, read all the words, and even spelled something on his own (a not so nice work, but he remembered the ending ck rule!). This is from a kid who still can't spell war.

 

If you do 2 lessons each day it'll only take a month.

 

When we're done, I'm probably going to have ds do it again. He had a really hard time with the short e sound yesterday.

[FO4UR]

Dancing Bears Reading & McGuffey Readers - being super consistent with these!

 

 

Reading aloud to him way above his reading level. The language is all in his head from years of listening, so now that he can actually read deciphering the language is not an issue.

 

 

Keeping the good books on our shelf instead of using the library as much. He likes to read for himself books that I read to him long ago. I think that has really helped.

 

 

Taking part in a book club with other kids at the library.

 

 

 

Copywork, spelling, etc...all help, but mine could produce great copywork/spelling without reading a bit for a long long time.

[FO4UR]

double post

[twinmami01]

Funnix has been wonderful for us. My eight year old was not interested at four, or five, or six. I started letting him use Funnix as a supplement, and he took to it right away. He finds the stories amusing and he likes being able to do it himself. I never saw myself using a computer program to let my child self-teach himself to read, but it has worked wonders for him in the last year. He's now deep into the middle of level 2 and reading Magic Tree House books on his own, willingly. This is a big change from 18 months ago, when he thought he was too dumb to read, because he compared himself to his older brother who was reading massive chapter books.

 

Funnix worked great for us too. I wish I had found it sooner. After we completed the program we read through the Magic Tree House series. That seemed to work just right for us.

[TXMomof4]

With my reluctant reader I had to (and still have to) work really hard to find good boher her sisters haven't read over and over. My older two are voracious readers and dd3 is much more reluctant. Even though she is reading well now, the 'competition' of reading something her sisters loved will freeze her. I wish I could solve this - but I think its just part of her personality. Something I hope she outgrows soon. The plus is that we've found some good books that aren't ypur typical readers.

[Lolly]

1. Reading below the level she could read. This was hard for me for some reason. I mean, she COULD read books that were more age appropriate, but it made reading such a struggle that she hated it. Reading "baby books" allowed her to succeed with reading. It let her become fluent and develop some confidence.

 

2. Rereading books. Again, fluency and confidence. She read the same books over and over.

[Zoo Keeper]

What helped my slow reader? Short lessons DAILY. Because it was(is) a struggle, he hated doing it. I set the timer, and when it dings, he's done, even if it is the middle of a sentence. He was willing to work harder if he knew there was an established end to his suffering...

 

And because God has a sense of humor, the one program I thought I'd never use (CLE LtR) because it looked so boring and just so many workbooks, has done wonders for him. The abundant practice in a consistent format has been what he needed. My homegrown copywork and dictation (from Phonics Pathways) was not enough for him.

[Unicorn.]

First, you don't need to spend a bunch of money on a program, just use a library card. Have him read to you every day. You read all the pages on the left, and he reads all the ones on the right or vice versa. Eventually move to him reading 2 pages to your 1. Then 4 to one, until he can read all of them. Have him read books slightly below his level, to gain proficiency and confidence. Find books that he's interested in, but right now make them short. Longer books can be intimidating.

 

My dd could read well, she just hated it. She swore she would never, ever read a chapter book. I happened to have a very, very short book called The Spooky Hayride that I had gotten when ds was in pre-k. About 1 or 2 sentences per page, large type, easy words- and it just happened to be a chapter book. I had her read it, then pointed out that every other page had a number at the top, and told her she just read a chapter book. She was miffed that I "tricked her", but she thought it was funny and loved that book. From there we moved to other simple, short chapter books. She loved The Puppy Place books, and then moved to the Magic Tree House series. She still says she doesn't like to read, and it's hard to get her to try something new, but that simply her rebellion. She is re-reading the Hunger Games for the 5th or 6th time. The best thing I did was start using Lightning Lit this year, to make her read outside of her comfort zone, and to make sure she read some classics. I wish I had started LL sooner w/ her.

 

I'm glad your dh realizes that it takes time and hard work, and doesn't think there is something wrong, or that you aren't doing a good job. Hang in there and just keep reading, reading, reading!

[Kim in Appalachia]

Audio books. My dyslexic sons loves to listen to stories. When he was little we did read-a-louds, but now I lack the time. We listen to audio books in the car.

 

Another thing I believe helps is to make him read to me a little every day. He has to read something out loud. It's the consistent work that matters.

[elegantlion]

Consistent reading. We built up to 30 minutes per day of free reading, using books at his level and below. His comprehension was much higher so it was hard to find good books. We did Henry and Mudge, LIttle Bear, lots of biographies. Landmark biographies makes some for grade 2 and up. We would take turns picking books once he got to a certain level. I would push his ability and length each time.

 

We also use the REWARDS program, which was very helpful.

 

Also continue to read aloud books above their level. We've always done this. Just last week I remarked how much that internalized of good words is starting to show. He's a delayed writer as well and the years of reading to him are starting to show in his word choice.

 

Another decision we made was not to let his delay in reading keep him back in other subjects. I read history and science to him for years. We read LOF math together. He was ready and able to do the work, he simply couldn't read at that level. That, in turn, has created an oral richness to our schooling. We still do a lot of work orally. I'm working to hone his discussion skills, while continuing to build his reading responsibilities.

 

He didn't read well, like Magic Tree house, until he was about 9. He still reads slowly, but his ability is about on track. We just started The Iliad and the only issue he's having is with the Greek names, and I have the same issue.

 

Another thing we did was when we were reading aloud is when he got stuck on a word is just tell him the word. His issues are with decoding vowels, he still has issue with short words with lots of vowels. Long words he gets. For instance, studying French would be a horrible idea for him. He already didn't like to read, was frustrated, I didn't want him more frustrated (he has a certain point where he'll stop trying) about his reading ability. I also wanted the word recording properly in his memory.

[chiguirre]

Use a Kindle to set books to a LARGE typeface with lots of spacing if tracking is an issue. This made all the difference for Geezle. It turned out he could decode well, he just couldn't focus on typical sized text once he was out of levelled readers.