Help Me

Colorado Springs has a dyslexia center which can do evaluations to help him. There website is http://thedyslexiacenter.com/default.aspx. I'm not saying it is dyslexia - but they can tell you if it is or if there are other issues going on. I haven't been their personally but my psych teacher works there.

Hi,
I have had the same issues with my son, he's in 3rd and is 9 and is starting to come out of it. {at least the reading he's still not too interested in writing nice lol} Anyway, make sure they are pulling him out for his reading program at a good time, you don't want him missing class time that will help him keep up. {extra help is good, but my experience with both my children who struggled is it can also hurt if they are missing classroom time that is crucial, or if it makes them think they aren't as smart they tend to believe it} Some kids just take longer its ok as long as they are working on it and making progress. Try ordering a children's magazine or something he can look forward to getting in the mail that he will want to read. Maybe have him write notes to his Grandmas, or someone. Just different fun things that will get him working on his hardships without it seeming so much like work. Also I thought I knew my sons interests, and tried to pick books he would like that were what you would think a young boy would be interested in, then I figured out he likes to read about real things like animals and places more than stories! I was surprised but when I geared books more that direction he became more interested :) Anyway some thoughts to throw out there. Good luck and best wishes,
S.

Hello C.,

You just need to get him back to the basics..
Hooked on Phonics is an awesome product to help too. I used this for my son and he is an amazing reader.. Alot of it is self taught and very easy to follow through. At first it will be a breeze for him but before you know it his struggles will be no more..

Hope that helps..
C.

Hi C.,

My son has issues with reading too. The school he goes to hooked us up with a website called starfall.com. It helps him with all kinds of exercises to help with reading.

My daughter who is 5 loves the hooked on phonics programs too. We found alot of them at TJMax and Ross for a lot less. Hope this helps.

L.

I would maybe seek outside of the school tutoring help. Does he have any signs of dyslexia? That can cause a lot of problems in the beginning stages of reading. I am not sure how someone could regress, I mean they learn and that should be retained. I would talk to your Pediatrician as well.

Reading is such hard work for kids that have trouble with it-they often feel like giving up. You might have already tried this, but if there is a way you can make it fun and enjoyable for him it might help. Find easy to read books that might peak his interests. Even looking through magazines with him without reading can spark some interest and help him relax. (there are a lot of kid magazines at the library) Our title 1 teacher suggests going to really easy to read books and reading them over and over-it builds confidence and helps them relax and realize they really can read. It also builds fluency skills. If he is interested have him read to his baby sister.

You need more specific information as to what the problem is. Is it fluency? Comprehension? Ask his teachers specifically where he is lacking. Your school should have some sort of an intervention team, set up a meeting to discuss the problem, and they should offer suggestions as well as any necessary testing. If there is no learning disability than get a list of books from his teacher that are at his level, and practice practice practice. Also, before he reads a book go through and find any words you might find difficult and put them on flash cards. have him practice them a few times (say aloud, put in a sentence, trace over) so that when he reads the book he will recognize those words. For writing start small, have him think of a short story to write (what he did at school) draw three pictures, label the pictures and write a simple sentence for each. Then have him go back and add sentences. If he gets stuck on spelling have him say the word in slow motion and write down the words that he hears. Also work on word families. Write down ack and have him write down as many words as he can with ack. Good luck!

i would get him tested for a learning or other disability. check with your local son special education department for testing and other suggestions

C.,
I am worried about my own son who is 6 and if he doesn't read every single day it is almost like he forgets and almost has to start over, I was told to go to the school district councelor and see what they could do as far as dyslexia testing or just testing to see where he is at. So I feel your pain and hope you find your answers, because i know this is so hard to watch and not know what to do for you little one.I have looked things up,on google that I Suspect and tried to educate myself, I don't know if your son struggles like mine but you could ask him if the words or letters dance, or move and if the white paper is a glare or sparkly so that he can't see it, check to see how he holds a pencil, some of these things are markers for some forms of dyslexia. I had trouble reading too and I was diagnosed ADD at 28 years old so it could be any number of things but if it is something like this, in my opinion these are not disabilities, they are just different ways of reading the world around them. we are the ones disabled because we don't know how to teach these amazing children. AND I would guess that your son is exeptional in other areas isn't he? SO make sure he knows that he is not broken just tell him we are not caught up to him yet.

C., I know what you are going through. My 7 year old son has had reading problems as well. There is this great website which can help you with this. Go to www.readingrockets.com. They have great advice and ways to find out exactly what problems your child has with reading. They also have great tips in helping your child enjoy reading. I hope this helps.

-D.

Hi I am a teacher and have a niece who had difficulty reading and was diagnosed with ADD. First once my niece was diagnosed and given the proper medication her reading has turned around 100%. Second I would check into having your son tested to see if their are other factors effecting his reading skills. Third I can't begin to tell you how important it is to read to him everyday. He is capable of reading at this age so make it fun. Twenty mins a day of reading makes such a difference. They have great books out there that are "You read to me and I will read to you", these are great because the words that you read are in one color and the words he reads are in another color. It is simple to follow and they come at different levels. It is important that he is interested in reading find books that "hook him", if he isn't interested in it from the start, he never will be. Frog and Toad books are awesome. You are helping his reading skills even if you read to him and point at the words as you read them and ask him questions about what you read, it all builds literacy skills! He will get it! Good luck!

C. I have a now 16 year old daughter who some years ago experienced the same problems. Try phonix that is a big help and have your son read every day! the more they read the better they get! Good Luck!
L.

42yr old mother of 2 18yr old son & 16yr old daughter
Married 22 years this june...........