I am a parent of a first grade boy who is having reading/spelling/writing problems in school. The teacher says he HATES doing these wod chunk/pattern activities. He sounds out even simple words (bed, the, cat) He knows these words but can not decode ethem or remember them, but he can recite the sentences they wre in, from memory. I had him tested. The tests showed he was not Ld, but had a poor visual memory and strong auditory memory. He had an eight point difference between nonverbal and verbal.NO extra help is available, just the classroom teacher. She suggested a tutor. I am a single mom and can not afford the 30 40 dollars an hour they charge. I don’t live by a college for college student help. I have a el ed degree from years ago and remember the basics about teaching reading, but I have never taught. What kind of strategies should I be focusing on? Learning words in context, in isolation, do letter patterns, break about teeh different phonemes? I feel he has some dyslexic charatcteristics, but his teacher said the school won’t dignose that.
Re: difficulty reading
I second the recommendation to get the Reading Reflex book. This is all you need to tutor your son in reading at home.
Poor visual memory and strong auditory memory can be a red flag for developmental vision delays. This was the case with my daughter. If at all possible, you should arrange for a developmental vision exam with a certified developmental optometrist. You can find them at http://www.covd.org. Medical insurance may cover some or all of this eval as if it were a regular eye exam (but it involves many more tests). When you call, be sure to ask if the optometrist is willing to design a primarily home-based program if vision therapy is indicated. This can greatly reduce the costs of vision therapy, but not all doctors are willing to work this way.
Another program you should check out is Audiblox, which tends to be very helpful for dyslexics. Website is http://www.audiblox2000.com. You need a minimum of the video and book to get started (about $50). It involves working with your child one-on-one for 1/2 hour per day to develop skills such as visual short-term memory, visual sequencing, etc.
Mary
Re: difficulty reading
If you buy “Reading Reflex” by McGuiness - the phonographix method, then you can tutor him yourself. You can find this in any large bookstore chain such as Borders. It takes a minimum of 20 minutes, twice a week and the rewards will probably be seen fairly quickly. The book is not expensive and once you get the hang of it AND spend the time preparing that is cutting out the letters and using the envelope system, it is very simple and quick!
My daughter has a severe LD and this method was how we finally broke through. However, the interesting thing is that her 6 yr. old cousin was visiting during the summer and (although he hated it) he went through the lessons with her and he actually improved in his phonemic awareness! Best Wishes, Sharon G.
Mary,
I am a reading teacher. I would recommend to you
READING REFLEX by Carmen and Geoffrey McGuinness. Their
program works well with dyslexic students. They teach
“the whole picture” which is the way dyslexics learn best.
Everything you need is in the $15 book - pages to cut out and
cut apart. Even stories are included to reinforce skills being
learned. Their website is www.readamerica.net
I also recommend to you THE GIFT OF DYSLEXIA by Ronald Davis.
His website is www.dyslexia.com Many of my students have been
helped by his methods. One method is Orientation Counseling.
Orientation Counseling is a mental activity that a person learns
so that they can bring themselves into “focus” in the classroom.
They learn how to control themselves! I have seen this method
do wonders for students! It doesn’t help everyone-especially if
the student has other problems - such as vision problems. But
I have seen it help MANY of my students. (If it helps only one,
it is worth trying!)
After I use the Davis methods, then I remediate the skills that my students may have missed with Reading Reflex. The 2 programs work well together. Many of my students have been tested for our Resource program and did not qualify. They scored high in non-verbal and low in verbal on the test. The main thing that my students need after being remediated is time! Time to complete the tasks they are given. These are bright students and we must learn to accomodate them.
Wishing you the best!
BEdes