I know that we have talked alot about reading issues, but I need help. I have a 4th grader who hates to read. We are spending hours on each subject. I don't know what to do. Is there any help out there? Is Sylvan learning center a good option? It is so weird she can read hard words (independence), but three letter words (saw) are difficult for her. She is smart as a whip. You can ask her grade level and slightly above questions and she's got an answer, but getting her to read the question frustrates her. I thought this year she would get it. I am a very patient person, but this is getting over bearing. My husband and are don't know what we can do for her. I didn't know where else to turn. I've always been given good advice here. Can anyone give us some suggestions based on experience? Thanks for your help. Blessings, Melanee
My sister has used Sylvan for two of her kids and was really impressed with them. She said that the instructors there really got to know the kids and what their styles of learning are and taught her and her husband how to help the kids when they weren't going through the Sylvan program. She's reccommended them to several others. I think it's kinda pricey, though. :-(
Is she sounding out words each time or is she reading quickly (by sight) so she says a word similar to "saw" like "sad" or "sam"? My son is in 4th grade and he thinks reading takes too much time. He reads at a very high level (last time he was tested at ps he was in 2nd grade and reading at a 5th grade level). But just because he can doesn't mean he likes it. His attitude is getting better all the time, but that is because we started doing more good literary read-alouds and now he seems to want to slow down and savor what he reads. He also likes to read the comics in the paper. When he reads for pleasure it just about has to be of extreme interest (snakes, swords, Civil War, Alamo, etc.) or it has to be funny. If you find a genre that your daughter likes you might be surprised what she will read. My son still dislikes to read the directions for his assignments. It doesn't seem important to him....things have to have a pretty good reason (in his mind) for reading them or he fights it. Like I said, it is getting better . Not sure if any of this rambling helped, but hopefully it will give you some ideas about what the reason behind the dislike of reading is. Once you can identify the source of the reading issue you can map out a plan to confront it. Some kids don't like to read so they make mistakes flying through the words. Others just need to sound out every word and it gets frustrating and time consuming. Still others don't mind the reading if they deem it useful and relevant to their need--be it interest or entertainment. And, well, if that doesn't help you find what might woo her to read, there is always the flying off the handle, hooting and hollering about how they are ever gonna graduate or get a job or sign their name to a paycheck if they refuse to read now approach....but I wouldn't recommend the latter...it never worked too well for me. Oh, and welcome aboard!!!
Thank you ladies. I think I will check further into Sylvan. My dd sounds out almost every word and then says it wrong half of the time. If it starts with a s she just blurts a s word out. She has a lazy streak, but I don't think that is her problem. I think reading is such a struggle that she gives ups easy. We read aloud everyday. We are reading Abeka reading books. I feel like throwing them away and beginning again. She likes the stories in them don't get me wrong, but they are so very difficult for her. They were expensive I would just hate to not use them. Does your 4th grader have to be reminded of a person's name all through the story? I liked the idea of trying to find her something to read she enjoys. I have tried that during the summer, but it didn't help because she had schoolitis bad. THanks again, Melanee
Thanks for welcoming me Brooke! It is such a blessing to be able to talk to others going through or having gone through what your facing.
If she is struggling with reading (sounding out) and comprehension (remembering the character names, etc.) then I think I'd check with Sylvan, too. Especially if you think she might have a special reading need. We don't have Sylvan close by, but I've seen the ads and it seems they have a very knowledgable staff with resources for most learning styles and needs. I truely hope you find the missing link for her. It has to be frustrating for her to be stuggling that much and for so long. We had the same problem with math for my ds. We had to start over with Math-U-See this past spring. He had been in public school and missed comprehending the vital concepts and so he had nothing to build on. He is doing so well now that we found a program that has helped him understand what numbers really mean. I hope you are as successful with your daughter and reading. This is the time to be so thankful to homeschool! We can learn what works and implement it so that our child won't be one of those kids who falls through the cracks only because they missed one brick in the foundation. Keep us posted!
Welcome...I have heard some awsome things about Sylvan so I think it might be a great option if money is not a factor. Here is my thought though, and I may be way off...but. I have always been the same way as your daughter...long words are no problem, but the short words I have been known to get lost on- this is because i have dislecsia (how do you spell that darn word??). Again this may not be the case with your daughter, but in my case it is so. Have you ever read that paragraph on the reading study that say that our minds are wonderful things, and it has been shown that as long as the first and last letter of words are in the right places the letters inbetween can be all jumbled and we can still read it? The paragraph is written this way and you are indeed able to read it? Well, that is kindof what my mind does naturally...the only issue is that with small words it also changes around the first or last letter...So my mind moves things all over on my but with the larger words there is more room for a margin of error and I can still read the word if that makes any sense. This is something that i have overcome with lots of practice. I of course still don't see the words as others apparently see them but I definatley get by. I know that Sylvan does work with folks with learning differences in teaching tricks and techniques to become successful in reading and things. I do wish you luck and patience with this situation as I know how very frustrating it can get when trying to help someone who is so smart but is struggling with such a vital skill.
We did the initial testing with Sylvan back a few years when they guaranteed results on national tv. (our daughter was in PS in second grade) They pretty much said we can take your money and work with our daughter but would not guarantee success. I'm not saying don't try them. Different areas work differently. I would just npt recommend the one in our area. And yes they are expensive even for the initial testing. Our daughter may never be at grade level on reading but she is definitely succeeding here at home.
My husband's cousin worked for Sylvan and said it is for people who can't get jobs anywhere else and good teachers don't stay. Don't know if that is true everywhere or not. She just stayed long enough to get another teaching job. It sounds like a processing disorder to me. Ansley does the same things. When I had her tested it was a processing disorder. Does she have trouble putting her thoughts on paper but can tell then aloud in any oral report wonderfully?
Hi Melanee I have a 5th grader and I have used Sylvan for testing purposes only. First, let me assure you, this sounds perfectly normal. It's okay. She is still very young and reading is not something that every child just embraces and stays attached it. I view it, with some children, as something that needs to be *spoon fed*. If it's presented in an appealing fashion, it can produce results. For example, it is okay for you to read the question AND answer it! A lot of children need the *modeling*. When you read the question, talk outloud what you are thinking. Say *I know this, becasue this sentence right here said this*. Or * I can answer this because the sentences said this in paragraph.......* Or *I paid attention to this interesting detail while I was reading.....* Comprehension and fluency does go together sometimes. If they are laboring the reading assignment for too long, they are concentrating on decoding insteading of comprehending. When that happens, lower the reading level. There is nothing wrong at all with that. Lowering the reading level, instills mastery for her and makes reading a delight. In addition, some children are taught to read so fast they kind of look at the first letters of a word and quickly fill in the rest. Some are not taught that *each letter in a word* is important. An excellent book to help older children with some basics and to test them is called Reading Reflex. These are simple tests you can do at home to see if her problem is visual, auditory or blending.. You are more than capable of doing it!! . Trust your gut, and yes even though Sylvan can be useful, they DO NOT know your child. Some Sylvans have a good reputations, and others not. Does that help?
Thank you all for your help. My dd had alot of trouble in 1st grade with reading. I thought it was the teacher. But after I took her out and started teaching her myself I realized it was more. I had her eyes checked and she needed glasses. Reading got a little better. I was encouraged. Now, she is regressing to me. Yes, she has always been able to read large words, and have trouble on small. I called Sylvan today. They thought it is a phonics problem, but assured me they could her after they test her. I'm not sure about this approach. I feel like I'm failing her. Tina, Your right I do know my child better than Sylvan, but I've done everthing for her I know how. We are working hours and not gettting anywhere. I am very curious though, Heather, how you knew you had dyslexia? How I would go about getting her tested for a learning disability. She sounds every word out. She sounds alot like you described. Thanks again everyone. We are bathing this in prayer before we do anything. Blessing, melanee
Melanee... Another tip for reading small words but not large words can possible be because in the early years of being taught to read, small words were taught as sight words to QUICKLY slur past them and she learned to slow down for bigger words to use her skills for decoding then. ] This is a common method for teaching kid quickly in ps because they don't have time to teach them phonic skills. Also, it comes from a lack of reading easy books over, over, over, over and over again.:grin: Thats why when we first read to kids ,they ask us to read the same books again, because they start memorizing them and the words become familar. It is the same with beginning reading. LOTS, LOTS, LOTs of practice with easy books makes them wonderful readers later. This trait is common too for children that have been pushed ahead to read before they are ready. In turn, reading becomes labored and not fun. A lot of sight words need to be just remembered by sight because they don't follow phonics rule, but a WHOLE lot more of the Dolch words do follow the rules. For example, *saw* is phonetic. S + AW . *Aw is learned with ow, ou, and ew. Yes, Sylvan tells me each year how they can help my child when I have him tested, that it's their job:wink: to make you think they will solve it. I am not discouraging you, but what you to know I have faith in what God has provided. You are obviously very much on top of the problem.:smile: Please remember in schooling Melanee, change does not come quickly. It takes a matter of one or more years. When I took my oldest out of Kindergarten (and didn't even finish) his love for reading has already waned for several reasons. He was taught reading was a chore. It was done not at his peak time, but the teachers. In addition, the subjects and basal readers were boring, instead of action packed. So I used all the tips I read prior to. The best and biggest tip I teach my newbies in my classes is to read to your child. Too, listening to story tapes and lowering the level so that she is not decoding but understanding the story. Reading to your children continues right into high school, can you believe. By the process of modeling, they learn to love reading. Each child is different, some don't pick up on it independently until 12 yos of age.. My son when ask WHY we read, he said to *sound out the words*. He had lost what we had learned together what the purpose of really learning to read is. Some kids see reading, not as learning or being able to make any recipe we want, order a toy we like, or joining a group or dance class we want, but as *decoding*. Barring any learning disability, a comfortable and secure enviroment God provided is more stable to her in not making her think *anything is wrong with her*, but something was wrong in the way it was presented to her in the early grades by the ps,kwim? Has it just been this year that you have worked on it? Is this is your first year of hsing?
I was tested for all sorts of learning "disabilities" by the a private psychiatrist because I was having so many "issues in school."
Tina, That helped so much. I have been hsing my dd and two older dds going on 3yrs. My dd has been struggling with this issue since 1st grd. She was in ps when it decided to show up. Her teacher was very cruel to her. She has more confidence now, but instead of getting any better it seems to be getting harder for her. I can honestly say I have done everything I know to do. I have tried the books and subjects she loves, but still she just struggles. I have went back to the basics and taught her phonics over again. We are going to have her tested for dyslexia on Monday. If she has it, I was told that the place I'm taking her, which specializes in dyslexia, will be able to help her (guaranteed) and my insurance will cover most of the cost. (Big answer to prayer!!!) They will teach me methods to use that will help her. I agree with you on I must not let her think that *something is wrong with her*. I have explained to her that she may learn differently and someone is going to help me figure out that special way that God has designed for her. This satisfied her because I have found each way my children learn best. My oldest learns from sight and sound. My middle one by sight and repition(index cards). My youngest usually by repition, sound, and index cards; however, this isn't working for my youngest this year so i'm still looking for a better way. We are striving till Monday. We will know for sure if it is dyslexia then. I told the lady over this clinic about my dd. She says she definately has 2 symptoms of dyslexia. I am encouraged to know that they will teach me how to work with her. Thank you Heather. We thought about a psychologist, but can you believe the first word out of the receptionists mouth was medication. Without any testing, she was already talking about my child needing to be medicated. Thank ya'll. I can't tell you how much ya'll have helped. Blessing, Melanee
I hope you have better luck than we did. We know what is wrong now due to testing but the place Learning RX wanted $8000. to give her 1 hour 5 days a week help for 28 weeks. OH my out of our range. Insurance wouldn't help at all. Good luck.
OH NO NO NO! I won't even think about a psychiatrist, psychologist, or counsoler for my son without talking to them upfront first and letting them know that I am NOT looking to medicate my child unless there is a DRASTIC change in our situation and it becomes nec. (and the only ones that i then actually will give my money to are the ones that laugh at me for bringing it up so "prematurely", as I have found that those are the ones that are willing to do their jobs instead of looking for a quick fix and a long time reoccuring patient) I can certainly see why you would be hesitant if that has been your experience! Oh geez, I feel a soap box coming on so I will move on before I start after just saying that some members of the "medical community" really burn me up!
Lorna, We are going through a Dyslexia clinic. They assure me that our insurance will cover most of the cost. I know that the testing will cost $195 we pay out of our pockets and then are reimburst by our insurance company 70- 80% since we have met our deductables. Our insurance company will assign us a case worker to help us if she does have it. But since you had so much trouble maybe I should double check with my insurance company too. Thanks for the info. Heather, I know exactly what you mean. If I had of wanted a quick fix, I wouldn't have waited 3 years and tried to help her myself. I am so glad that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Thanks, Melanee
My dd was diagnosed with marked dyslexia today. Which means it is severe. Although I was so happy to know that it was nothing I was doing wrong, I can't say I feel better. Now I have more questions and concerns than I did. It is going to be a long hard road. I was wondering what curriculum others use with their children with dyslexia? We are using Abeka, and I was told that that might not be the best choice. Blessings, Melanee
Melanee.. I can just imagine how you feel. Its a relief on one hand but on the other its an * unknown journey* that has not been experienced before. I believe God gives these precious children with their learning styles, strengths and weakness to the right parent.:wink: You knew something was wrong beyond *reading problems* and now you can give her the help she so desparetly needs.:wink: Yes, Abeka is a good curriculum but it follows a lot more traditional methods of teaching. Probably with a lot of reading and experience on your part you might be able to *tweak* to make it fit. However, off the top of my head, most of the hsers that I know use AVKO. From what I know, its very urgent for them to get the help they need immediately (like kindergarten and first grade), but can still do very well even if you find out later if they get the *right team* of supporters like parents and professionals. Most children need a multi sensory approach. In otherwords utilize all of the senses to compensate for the disorder. AVKO stands for auditory, visual, kinesthetic and I can't think of the other word,:roll: but anway I know a lot of homeschoolers love them. Here is the link I have marked http://www.spelling.org/homeschooling.htm See if this gets you started .... Thanks for sharing...keep us posted as to what you find out..
Thank you Soooooooo much. I looked at the website and it is great. I didn't have enough time to go over it tonight completely, but I will definately tomorrow. Thanks again, Melanee
