I suspect my son has a learning disability. He has been sent for an evaluation/assessment and the initial assessment showed he could sound out individual sounds but was unable to do so when it came to letters put together. He confused lower case letters b,d,p,q, v and u. It also showed that although he could list over a 100 words he could not put down on paper more than 14 in a three minute period. He has a sight word vocabulary of about 10. He also is struggling in math. But my main concern is his reading. Besides hooked on phonics is there a book I can use at home to assist him. He says the other kids in class make fun of him and it’s really starting to wear down his self esteem. Any help/guidance you can give me would be great.
Try This
Take any word your son is unable to decode, and teach him to decode that word in a direct, multi-sensory mannner. By using all senses except taste and smell, he will be able to sound out the words he needs to learn. I have seen many students have success in reading. Check out THE SOUNDS OF WORDS, at http://www.1stbooks.com/. Contact me if you need more info. [email protected] anla
Re: book for LD student
Yes, I agree that Reading Reflex is a good investment. It will show you how to teach your son to segment sounds, blend then, and manipulate the sounds in words (such as “what is ‘trap’ without the ‘t’ [the sound not the letter name]). There are also certified PhonoGraphix tutors who could work with your son (PhonoGraphix, often referred to as PG on this board, is the method described in the Reading Reflex book. Their web site is www.readamerica.net.
Your son may also need an evaluation by a developmental optometrist. He may also have a vision problem that may be an obstacle not only in reading but in math too. My son needed the auditory work embodied by the PhonoGraphix reading method but he also needed to correct his vision problems to become a fluent reader (one who doesn’t skip words, skip lines, lose one’s place, etc.)
By far the most frequently recommended book for parents to use with their kids is Reading Reflex. I have not personally used it but many who frequent these boards have, and with good success. it can be ordered through Amazon and other online bookstores.