Teaching High School age to read...

Where did you learn about reading reflex? Did you get any resoponse to you note about teaching high school kids to read?

Well, there are certainly more knowledgeable people here to answer in more detail, but RR (PG) for this high school student is a good thing to try. I would pre-test him the same way you tested your child. It will give you good information about what skills he already has. As far as maturity, just try to watch for babyish pictures - copy the page with the pictures covered up. Actually, I’m leafing through my book and the pictures are mostly fun drawings, so unless he seems very sensitive I think they are OK.

How about eyeglasses, too. Could be a need as well.

Dear Diane,

My name is Lorraine Peoples, author of the book, “You Can Teach Someone to Read”.

You have already identified a major problem and one that should be taken care of ASAP. If his eyes won’t work right for him, he won’t be able to read. In truth, he may already know some of the skills, but can’t see correctly to apply them. Perhaps a service organization such as Lions would sponsor him. Try it. He needs a developmental or behavioral optometrist to evaluate him.

I hope this helps you. You will be able to help.

I totally agree that he needs to be seen by a dev optometrist.

In some states medicaid does cover this. Medicaid usually covers more than private insurance companies. If he doesn’t qualify for medicaid some states do have medical plans that cover uninsured minors. Many poor families are unaware of this fact and don’t take advantage of these programs.

Diane, what state are you in?

I agree with using phongraphix even if you can’t get him to an optometrist. I also agree with Leah, he may need glasses. An optometrist will be able to sort that out as well.

I am in S.W. Louisiana. I’m looking for a Dev. Opt for my 6 yr.old and hoping to maybe bring this fellow with me. I’ll be meeting with his teacher tomorrow to get more info on his background. Is there anything specific I should ask about?

Hi Diane, I’m a PG therapist and trainer. Will be happy to help you by phone (have done so with several people here), as there’s too much to cover here. Am in the middle of remediating a 19 yr. old who came to me at pre-1st grade read. level.. he’s done beautifully with the kit. (basically same as RR bk., but more extensive and organized.)

We’ve done 2x’s a week for several mos. now (my usual is 12 hrs.), but he doesn’t read at home; only with me, so it’s taking longer. Now, we are down to one time a week and he calls me for a 10 min. session by phone,(we both have the same book)3 other times a week…is progressing very nicely. He didn’t care how “baby-ish” it was, as he just wanted to learn THE CODE. When I told him there was one (after testing and seeing that ALL his probs. could be quickly solved with PG)he was very excited and later, angry that no one had taught him before!

Enough for now; nearly bedtime for me. If you want to be in touch, as I said, I’ll help you get started, but you’ll have to invest in a phone call. e me at my address and I’ll give you my number.

Sincerely,
Leslie in S. CA

Shay is an expert on remediating high-schoolers; look at her old posts and try to get in touch with her.

Definitely phone/email/look up on the web the Lions’ club — and make sure you get someone knowledgeable, don’t give up if the first person doesn’t know anything! The Lions do a lot of work with vision and glasses.
Yes, also check with your state government/welfare office about programs covering glasses.

Vision therapy or not, glasses if needed are the first thing.

Reading Reflex is probably a very good start. If and when you need to go beyond that, please email me.

I would want to know what his parents are like to work with.
You may have to be careful about intervening.

I think the information about the insurance the parents have will come from them. The developmental optometrist will probably be able to tell you if medicaid or the insurance they have usually covers therapy.

I just also want to say that I think you are a very special person to be doing this.

The American Optometric Association has a program that provides vision care for the poor.
They are in St Louis but they have 7000 optometrists through out the country who volunteer for this service.
Their phone number is 1 800 766 4466

Or you could just find the optometrist first and ask if he is in this program or will honor it.

Hi Diane,
I specialize in teaching high school students how to read and learn in a very short amount of time. Yes, I use PG or Reading Reflex, same thing and yes, I start from the beginning if the testing tells me to do so . I use the testing in the book if I were you. Please read my other posts so that I don’t have to repeat myself because many of the people on this board have heard me before. Please email me directly and I will post you all of the programs that I use if it is necessary for reading, creative writing and visualization of language and numbers. I have quite a long list. Shay