I need some suggestions on reading and spelling curriculum for my 6th grader. He can read ok he just has a hard time remembering what he read. I have NO idea how to help him. He's also having a really hard time with spelling. Any suggestions on either subject is greatly appreciated. I really dropped the ball with this one and now I'm reaping what I DIDN'T sow.. Major regrets on my part. But we'll get it taken care of. Thanks Angela
My dd struggled with reading comprehension. We had to break down her reading into smaller segments, maybe just a few paragraphs. Then we would orally talk about what went on in those paragraphs. It took a little time, but she exercised those comprehension muscles enough that she started reading for content more and more. She does a lot better with it now. For spelling, I'm having my kids do Words on the Vine. It uses Greek and Latin roots for each week's spelling list. I used this method because that is the way I often figure out how to spell a word. If I am familiar with the root word, then I can spell the word around it. My ds14 has struggled with spelling forever and for the first time he is putting together spelling rules in his mind and has improved to the point of perfect spelling tests the entire year. Hope this helps.
My ds is the exact same way: ok reading skills, zero ability to remember what he's read. We're still trying to find the perfect fit, and if we do I'll be happy to share it So far, the only thing that seems to have worked is having ds read it out loud, and then we discuss it. I'm hoping with time he'll progress to reading silently and being able to remember, but this is far better than our other attempts. We also tried reading along to books on tape (someone here had mentioned it) but that didn't work well for us, either.
We do read alouds and I ask for narration from all the kids. Ds13 is the only one who can't tell me what's going on even though I'm the one reading it. His spelling is aweful. I'm thinking of starting him with AAS since I already have it. I just don't want him to feel badly since dd7 is also using it and they would be in the same book. I don't intend on having them do it together because of that. I think it would probably work for him since it's hands on and it has short lessons. I've never heard of "Words on the Vine". I'll looking into that. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm hoping that the more narration I have them all do the better he will get at comprehension. I have started asking for narration after every paragraph instead of waiting until I am done with the story. He doesn't seem so overwhelmed. But I still hear the dreaded "I don't know" or "I can't remember".
Mommix3- I'll warn you I'm a newbie Just want you to know that.. and we are definitely still in the experimental stage. With my ds, though, it didn't work if I read it TO him. He couldn't remember details from a single sentence. Not kidding. He has to be the one to read it out loud to me, and then we discuss. As for not wanting to be put back- obviously all kids are different, but so far my ds REQUESTED being moved back into the same math book his sis was in (down a grade level). He was very relieved when I did so. And my ds is also the one complaining the loudest about his comprehension, so even if I forced him to do 1st grade work, or K, I'm sure he'd thank me all the way. I'm not saying your dc is the same- mine is only 9. Just pointing out that sometimes it's a huge relief to them when we acknowlege the difficulty and they know we are trying to help them fix it, in whatever way we can. I can't comment on the other programs, but let me know if they work for you!!
For my 6th grader, we do literature that goes along with our history/geography curricula. Ive created a form for her to fill out. Has a spot for her to summarize the chapter, a spot for her to record words to look up in the dictionary, and spot for copywork of her favorite sentence. It seems to work well in helping her retain. I also use www.bookadventure.com and she does the quizzes there after reading a book. For spelling, we used to use Sequential Spelling. This year we're using Spelling Power 4th Edition - it's a one time purchase that can be used for all grades starting grade 3 and up. You test your child every day BUT it gives you the rules AND it has built in reviews/checkups and stuff. It's been working very well for us. HTH!
My ds14 and dd11 are both using Words On the Vine since it is geared for a wide range of ages. It is more of a vocabulary study, so they are using the dictionary and thesarus daily and alternate words. They both appreciate working together on something, and in my mind it fulfills the "gap" of working in groups that we sometimes overlook. Also, I agree with Meghan about having him be the one to read it. It really isn't reading comprehension unless he is the one reading. If he is listening, it becomes more about his ability to remain focused to listening without being distracted. Reading it himself will also improve his spelling.
Don't get me wrong, he does read too just not aloud, but we do lots of read alouds that I read to the kids. Either way he can't remember a thing he's read. I have tried to get him to read to me and he gets mad about it and it ends up being a big fight. It's been a while since I tried and we have been working on attitudes so maybe I can get him to read to me now. I have spelling power and haven't pulled it out in a while because it didn't seem to be working when we first started schooling. I'll pull it out again and see if it works any better this time. Kbabe1968, We do liturature with our history/geography too. I'd LOVE to see those forms you use. Sounds like something we might could use. I'm going to look back at bookadventure and see if I can figure the site out. It's been a while since I've been there and I completely forgot about it. Last time I was on there I couldn't find the quizzes. Thank you guys SO much for helping me! I really appreciate it. Angela
Not necessarily. My two oldest kids, who were taught to read by a phonics method, were voracious readers since first grade. Both were atrocious spellers, even though I tried several spelling programs. Ds#1 didn't become a good speller until seventh grade and ds#2 didn't become a good speller until fourth grade, when I used Spell to Write and Read/WISE Guide for Spelling with them (They worked together for a long time, until ds#2 wasn't developmentally ready to keep up with his brother who was three years older). Learning when to use the various phonograms was the key to their spelling turnaround. In less than one school year, ds#1 went from not being able to spell much of anything to being able to spell just about anything, and he hasn't done a spelling curriculum since that year. Spelling Power and the other programs I tried didn't work because they didn't teach when to use a particular phonogram as opposed to others that have the same sound. I use All About Spelling with my younger two, because it's almost identical in what it teaches but it's much easier to use. Dc#3 couldn't remember anything being read to her. It took years of narration practice for her to be able to narrate so much as a page in a kids' novel. We started with two-sentence segments, because that's all she could do at the time. We moved up to three and then four sentences. Then we went to short fables. She still can't narrate nearly as well as her older brothers could from a very young age, but her brain's just different. I suggest you practice narration, both with things you read to your child and things he reads to himself. Start with very short segments if necessary. Sometimes with my kids I would talk about something we read, but I would intentionally change things (usually making it silly). They would correct me immediately, so I knew they were listening and comprehending.
Krista, I am having similar issues with my ds (13.5) and would love to see your worksheet! Please!!!!!!!!! I think the quiz site is awesome too! Thank you so much for sharing with us! Michelle
If he refuses and gets angry when asked to read aloud, and he can't remember anything he reads silently, maybe he really can't read as well as you think he can. Give him something "young" like second grade, and have him read that aloud. If he does it well, hand him something third grade, then fourth, then fifth, and finally something sixth. (Maybe not all on the same day, but one or two one day, the next two another day...) You might need to copy a page out of each, so that he doesn't see the whole book and become offended that "Mom thinks I can't read!). If he can't do it, bombs out early, then you have your answer. Then you can work on a reading improvement program. Good luck!
