Skip to main content

This seems highly unlikely!

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

My son is severly dyslexic/dysgraphic. I have a question. I am 99% sure this is impossible but would like some others expertise on the matter.
My son was evaluated (at the private school) which essentially means nothing considering the test used is old and one that school is comfortable using. Yes, it was given by an “LD” teacher.

Word recognition 3rd gr.
Oral reading 3rd gr.
reading vocabulary 3rd. gr.
Spelling 4th gr.

Is it EVEN possible to spell at a higher grade but not be able to read at that level? Please respond when your done laughing. Thank You

Submitted by Sanford Shapiro on Thu, 02/01/2007 - 8:58 PM

Permalink

Hi. That’s not the usual profile but it’s possible. There’s so many factors, not the least of which is the competency of the tester and the mindset of your kid at time of testing. What was the name of the test. Also, quite often the grade level is the least important score (even tho that’s the one many grab hold of first). Ask for the percentile ranks and the standard scores for each. That’s often a better way of comparing subtests as well as comparing or test to another. Hoe do the scores compare to other times your child’s been tested?
Good luck.

Submitted by Nancy3 on Fri, 02/02/2007 - 4:16 AM

Permalink

It actually is possible for a child to be a better speller than reader, although it’s very unusual. I have a friend who became an Orton-Gillingham tutor in order to help her daughter (they homeschooled). In elementary school, her daughter could spell much better than she could read — I think because up until that point, my friend had not gotten formal training in OG and was applying the technique incorrectly. This girl is in high school now and reading well at grade level (although her speed is still slow).

One of the problems with tests is that they typically give only approximate results. A grade level difference between reading and spelling can sometimes depend on just 2 or 3 wrong answers.

Nancy

Back to Top