Hi,
I have finally made my decision after many hours of research and help from people like all of you. Thanks for all the information.
My son is almost 6 and is in DD Pre-K for speech and we realized after the 2nd six weeks of visiting Kindergarten that he is having learning problems. His SLP tested him for Phonological Processing disorder and he tested in the moderate range. We saw a Pedi Neurologist for apraxia and she recommended an MRI. They found that a small portion of his Left Temporal Lobe is underdeveloped. They feel that this is probably the cause of his problem. We will be seeing a Developmental Pedi as soon as we can get an appt. probably within 2 months. In the meantime I have a question for all of you.
I’ve decided to go with Reading Reflex. I have found someone who is a reading specialist and retired spec. Ed teacher that can work with him this summer. She uses Sing, Spell, Read and Write. She also incorporates Spalding in with it. He will see her 2xs a week throughout the summer and possibly after the new school year starts too. Our speech therapist is starting the Sound Reading Solutions program and recommended it this summer.
I want to start with PG as soon as I process all the information. I’m an Adaptive P.E. teacher and have some experience in spec. Ed experience (severe/profound) at the secondary level. So teaching reading is new for me. I don’t want to overload him with all these programs.
What would you recommend I do? I’ll hopefully have about 2 months of PG before he starts with SSRW this summer. Also we can use the CD to Sound Reading Solutions to use at home for a while to see if we like it. Is combining 1 or 2 programs at the same time too much and/or confusing? We do use Earobics 3xs a week at home.
Thanks again for all the support and advice.
Blessings to all,
Diane
One decoding program at a time
DITTO on the above post.
You can still read out loud to him out loud to give him exposure to good literature and vocabulary.
I would even go to the library and get books on tape. Play them to him before bed too. This has been great at my house where I have 3 kids all with different reading interests. In the summer, I even have my kids listening to books on tapes with a walkman while outside playing. I have one son who doesn’t want to waste”play time” and is too tired at night to listen to books. He is exhausted at the end of the day. The only way I got him listening was the headphones so he could look for crayfish and insects at the same time.
And remember, at this age, you can be doing some of the stuff while in the bathtub, car, around the house. My kids had those bathtub letters and I just said, hey, hand me the “p” saying the sound, and not the letter P. Here, take the “a”. OR….Let’s make the word stop. Now, back then, I hadn’t read Reading Reflex. but I would now be saying….Let’s take stop and make top. Etc…with those bath tub letters. Then I would go buy those bathtub crayons too. I’d be doing the sounds of the letters in the tub and make it fun. They even have foam. Spice it up some and your child won’t even know it is “SCHOOL WORK”. Go to the craft store. Look for those Wicki Stickies. They are long pieces of wax sticks that can form letters easily. Try words with those too.
Get some side walk chalk and do it in the driveway.
At the teacher store they have magnetic boards and letters/ numbers. Think of as many ways as you can with out the child knowing what you’re doing and I think you might get more learning in.
Playdough with those alphabet cookie cutters might be good too. Be creative.
Michelle
I like the walkman while playing idea
mine also doesnt like to “waste play time”
I just discovered audio books for myself-my dh uses them but I could never stay focused. I started using headphones and voila!!!! Im an excellent and quick reader(Im assuming ‘normal’) but still, I find the audio makes it easier for me to visualize.
I really want my son to try it, but have met such resistance-will try this way
Re: Can I use more that one reaading program at a time??
Using two or three programs that are meant to teach the *same* thing (for example, decoding) could be too much or confusing or both.
Many of us use several programs that *complement* each other — a good decoding program, a good developmental high-frequency vocabulary reading program, a good writing program; with some kids I have one English and one French program. You look for the strengths and weaknesses of any book or program, and you use a set that makes a good complete whole.
NO, he is too young, pick one, get yourself educated as to what the program does and how, you need to first yourself learn what he needs and which program will provide it
taking the “throw everything at him and hope something sticks” approach is not wise
i recommend PG, easiest, and based on his age, the easiest for you and him to understand,
this little guy is going to burn out, couple times a week, do PG, therest of the time, just read and practice
libby