I am a second year teacher. (keep that in mind, I am not very knowledgeable yet) I just received a student from another school who told me that he can’t read. The program at this school is that my students are fully included except for math(I teach math). How do I hellp him read? What programs can I use? I am from a poor school and they won’t let me spend too much money, but I am willing to help him learn to read. (no wonder spec. ed. teachers have a high burnout rate, I worry about my kids too much!). Please someone…..
Re: 7th grader who can't read
Have you had him read to you? What is his reading like? I’d want to know that first. Then I’d get him books at his reading level whatever it is.
If you could have him tested and/or have a reading specialist look at him, that would be good.
Re: 7th grader who can't read
I would recommend the Phono-Graphix reading program. You could purchase the book for about $ 25 at Border’s. That is what I started with when I was on a tight budget. You will also need plastic letter tiles to go with it. When money allows I would recommend Project Read. It is a research based multisensory reading program. I am using it with very good results. Also remember that some children need phonemic awarenes activies such as being able to segment and blend a c-v-c word at an oral level before they will be able to learn to decode. Good luck
Re: 7th grader who can't read
Phonographix is a program that really works (with dedicated teachers.) Find it at ReadAmerica.com (I believe). If that doesn’t work, get back to me and I’ll dig up the number. Good luck. And don’t worry — all good teachers worry about their students. MC
If you can spend one-on-one time with him regularly, then I would buy the book “Reading Reflex” for $16 and use the Phono-Graphix approach described in it. The book is written for parents who want to tutor a child in reading, and includes manipulatives and all information necessary to implement the program. The book is available from most local bookstores, or you can get it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble online.
You might also want to order the supplementary support manual for the book, which costs about $39, from the PG website, http://www.readamerica.net. The support manual includes a lot of ready-made worksheets for the approach (although you still need to be with him while he does them, to make sure that he uses correct techniques).
This approach is really good and very inexpensive. Well worth the investment of time and money. Ideally you would want to be able to spend 1/2-hour per day or more one-on-one. If you could enlist his parents’ help at home, you might be able to get by with less one-on-one time.
One advantage of this approach is that students tend to make progress quickly early on in the program, which helps attitude and motivation.
Mary