My student is a junior. She has severe dyslexia, reads and spells at a second grade level. She began receiving EEN services in 3rd grade (she had been attending a very small private school). From 3-8 grade she was given 2-3 hours of intense language arts intervention. In grades 9 & 10, she was put in general ed classes, with 1 hour remedial reading skills, 1 hour general math and 1 hour compensatory skills.
She is now an 11th grader and I am getting HUGE pressure to pull her out of all general ed classes and give her nothing but remedial reading, writing and math (basic life skills).
I am really against it, but everyone seems to be asking what she should be doing if she basically cannot read, or write. She plans on attending a tech school. Her parents say she will never be able to live on her own.
HELP I need advice.
Re: Severe Dyslexic-HELP
She is between a rock and a hard place, because her reading level is so low for her age. She needs to take the courses so that she can get a hs diploma. She does not have the time to spend learning to read at this point. It is soo sad that she got caught this way. She should have been helped with her language arts long ago. Some people with normal intelligence and severe dyslexia have successfully sued their school system to get tutoring services after they leave school.
I am presently attempting to teach 9th and 10th graders to read, spell, and write, while attempting to meet hs English objectives. Quite a challenge!
Anita learntoreadnow
Anita learntoreadnow
Re: Severe Dyslexic-HELP
Could you teach reading and writing skills through the gen ed curriculum? That is, teach her the vocabulary that is vital to her studies, and let her try to write sentences using those words? Also find the words within the text, and be helped to read it.
You probably also want to teach her to use technology programs to aid her reading and writing…
Anita learntoreadnow
Re: Severe Dyslexic-HELP
That is pretty much what I am trying to do. Her reading, writing, spelling, and compensatory skills (heavy on assistive technolgy)are either related directly to a general ed class or targeted IEP life skill objective.
I must be just stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Severe Dyslexic-HELP
I also have a high school student who reads at a second grade level. He is currently taking developmental reading and remedial reading. There is no diagnosis of dyslexia but I think that is the problem. Now what do we do? It’s a shame for these students that they don’t get the help they need way before high school. I don’t know what to do with my student either!!
Re: Severe Dyslexic-HELP
I don’t know what types of remedial reading your school does, but I am currently teaching a corrective reading class using the SRA program. It is scripted, repetitive, and extremely boring, but it has improved the students’ reading which makes it worth it. It is something that should have been done in elementary school, but we are using it through the 8th grade. I don’t know if this is something that could be used with high school students…it would probably depend on the maturity level. It would also depend on whether or not your school is willing to purchase it, but there may be some similar programs out there???
Re: Severe Dyslexic-HELP
You might be interested in reading my reply to Phineas about his ESOL learner.
Anita learntoreadnow
Re: Severe Dyslexic-HELP
Well, I have lost the battle. The grandparents are insisting that she is removed from English 11 and my class of remedial language arts and compensatory skills. She will be put in General English.
Onward to the next battle.
I agree completely! She was in a small ‘church’ school and did not arrive in our district until she was in 8th grade. She did receive some services from ‘us’ when she was referred in 3rd grade until she actually attended the district.