Big Question to all of you. My student is in HS, she is receiving Reading Instruction as she is Dyslexic. The Teacher is not a certified reading Instructor , but is trained in a Reading Program. She feels that the Teacher is not Teaching her anything and that she dose not understand his instructions.I feel that if the Teacher was a Reading Specialist that he would know several ways to try to teach her. Instead he marks her on her participation in class. She trys to speak up to him and he gives her a 0 for the day. He is not even Teaching her at her Reading level, but trying to use her reading as her History and English work. She want’s to stop her Reading Program and move on. She said that she dose not feel that she will become a better Reader and that she would just like people to except her for what she is . She would like to be able to try some hands on Learnign elective classes as she can not do this now because Reading has to be her elective. At what point do we let go and let our LD student live in peace? I am thinking that now at her age in HS we should focus on her self-esteem and listen to her, after all, she is the one who all her life has had to deal with diversity, and fight to survive a system of UNclusion
Re: When to stop Reading Instruction in High School if it is not
I agree very strongly with Nancy. Your daughter is old enought to effectively determine if she is learning anything. Also, my school district uses the term “reading instruction” to mean “no program in place—we give up.”
It is important that your child recieve outside help. Yes, the school should be providing it but we all know how that goes. My child recently started Orton-Gillingham (at our expense) ans we are very pleased with it so far.
Thank You
I wish with all my heart that we could afford outside Reading Instruction. This is not possible now as I am not able to work due to a Cardiac complications. I do hope that at some point my Daughter will seek Reading Instruction on her own as an Adult.
Re: When to stop Reading Instruction in High School if it is not
If you can’t affort a tutor, try contacting your public library. There are volunteers in many communities that help adults with reading. In our community, that program is based at the public library. However, a librarian at your community library should be able to point you in the right direction. Your other option is to work with your daughter yourself, and I’m sure if you post on the teaching reading board, you’ll get suggestions as to inexpensive teaching materials you can purchase. Don’t let your daughter give up now. It’s critical in today’s job market to be able to read well.
Good luck,
Kay
Re: When to stop Reading Instruction in High School if it is not
Jess,
Thanks for posting back.
The literacy programs out of the libraries are worth a try. However, please be aware of many of those good folks have no training in dyslexia and would try to “teach” your daughter in the same ineffective way her teacher has.
Posting in the teachers’ forum and trying yourself sounds like a good idea.
One last idea–in my state, trained parent advocates are available for free to help with IEPs. Teaching your child to read IS the schools responsibility. If she is not progressing you might get the school to foot the bill for outside tutoring if enough pressure is brought to bear on them. Have you tried this tack?
Re: When to stop Reading Instruction in High School if it is not
If you cannot afford outside reading instruction, then I recommend doing it yourself.
The book “Reading Reflex” provides an excellent approach and is available in many libraries (or from bookstores for $20). This would be best for someone reading at less than a 5th grade level. Even if you decide not to do the program, the book provides excellent information about the skills necessary to become a fluent reader.
Another easy program to use at home is “Rewards” from Sopris West. This program is suitable for teens reading on at least an ending third grade level. The program is totally scripted and very easy to do one-on-one. There are 20 lessons, with each lesson taking about an hour. I had Kinko’s cut the spine off the teacher’s manual and then I put all the pages into easy-load page protectors in a 3-ring binder. Instead of using the blackline masters in an overhead projector, I write on the plastic page protector with a pen. Works great.
Many parents teach children at home. One-on-one with a good program can work wonders.
Nancy
Re: When to stop Reading Instruction in High School if it is not
Many parents do teach at home, but I know it wouldn’t work with my teenager, and the daughter in question is in high school. Attempting to tell even a non LD teenager what to do can be a disaster at times for the parent, and I think keeping the parent/teenager relationship healthy is really important. Also, Jess said she had health problems, so it may not be easy to do the teaching. Something through the library might not be the best fit, but if there are no other alternatives, I think it’s better than nothing.
It’s a shame the school can’t do better. Before giving up on the school, a visit to the the girl’s counselor may be called for (not the teacher who isn’t teaching, but someone else who is aware of the learning difficulties.) Sometimes people in the school know of outside the school tutoring programs within the community. Or, ask a family friend if they can help with tutoring.
Good luck helping your daughter Jess! And also, may your health improve.
Kay
Re: When to stop Reading Instruction in High School if it is not
You might try finding a friend of the family or relative that could help. And provide them with the material. I think the Phonographix is a good place to start. *IF* the kid needs more than that there is an excellent— though a bit pricey — but cheaper than some solutions, program called The Barton Reading and Spelling program. I’m real impressed with this. All the training is on video tape.
—des
I would believe her judgment that this teacher is doing nothing for her and is wasting her time (or worse). My recommendation would be to let her drop the class and take something else. However, I would also recommend that you find a tutor to work with her outside of school, one-on-one. Many high school students could be remediated in reading if they got the right help.
If your daughter is reading on at least a 4th grade level, you might even want to purchase the “Rewards” program (http://www.sopriswest.com/rewards) and tutor her yourself at home.
If your daughter is not yet reading on a 4th grade level, then my first choice would be a Phono-Graphix tutor. You can call or email the company to find out if there are PG tutors in your area. My second choice would be an Orton-Gillingham tutor. You can contact the local chapter of IDA (International Dyslexia Association) to get a list of OG tutors in your area.
Nancy