I now have the brother of a former student. Both boys are exceptionally bright. On the PIAT-R, they both scored 12.9 grade level on the general information in the 6th grade. However, neither can read above a 1.5 grade level. “Scott” does not even know some of the basic sight words. Does anyone have any information of programs available or resources that will help me to teach him to read. I know that he feels frustrated that his reading and then his writing skills are so limited, when his knowledge is so great. Help!
Re: How to teach a child with dyslexia
I don’t have time to post at length right now, and aol is driving me crazy timing me out, so just two things:
(1) Definitely get Reading Reflex and start to work with it.
(2) Email me personally and I’ll send you some things I’ve typed about tutoring plans in general. I can also help you with finding other materials in addition to/beyond RR
Re: How to teach a child with dyslexia
I’d start with Reading Reflex but some kids need more structure and intensive multisensory stuff; the folks I know that RR didn’t work for tend to be very bright but very LD kids (and I’m sure exactly what their strengths and weaknesses are has a lot to do with it since I’ve also known very bright, very LD kiddos for whom RR *did* open the doors). Orton-Gillingham programs were successful and things go even better if the same principles of structure and multisensory teaching are carried over into other areas. And for whatever program — the intensity and frequency are critical. The best program in the world for two days a week is going to have minimal benefit; likewise if it’s a great program you’re trying to juggle around while you work with four other kids or a whole class. You’re talking about retraining the brain to do some very complex processing (for some of us it’s not complex at all, for others it was complex but we’ve gotten good at it and don’t remember the learning process — for these kids it’s often not a ‘quick fix’ — though it’s important to start with solid success, sort of like a Weight Watchers program ;))
Sixth grade is a really important year for keeping him from getting derailed from the education track as those demands for reading and writing start picking up. Please don’t wait for him to be floundering before you find ways to compensate for the reading and writing problems with books on tape, getting things dictated, etc. This is not to say don’t work on the reading and writing, but right now it is holding him back and he’ll get hopelessly behind his peers if he’s forced *not* to learn the other educational and language skills. He *can* be learning how to organize ideas as he writes — but not if all his effort is going into spelling. And what you set up this year for shorter things can set him up for success in high school and college — but if he starts floundering, he’ll be just another bright kid goofing off in that class of non-readers, wondering if he’ll get a “real” diploma or not.
Re: How to teach a child with dyslexia
Look under “For Teachers” on this site. It will give a lot of great information.
Connie
which outlines the research and philosophy behind the Phono-Graphix approach (including how to do it). PG usually works very well for dyslexics and would certainly be worth a try. It’s low cost (the book is $16 in most bookstores, might be $5 currently at http://www.hamiltonbook.com) and the method tends to work quickly with dyslexics.
If you try PG and don’t see significant progress within about 8 hours of one-on-one, then the boys may have underlying problems such as CAPD or developmental vision delays that need to be addressed, or they may need a more intensive approach to reading such as the Lindamood Bell LiPS program (much more expensive).
Mary