Was going to start FFW.... but thinking Earobics or SRS...?

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

I had been planning to do FFW with my son for “winter break,” but I’m afraid to do this because our winter break is quite short (only two weeks) and homework this year is completely OVERWHELMING!!!!

Some nights my son will have more than 50 very difficult and time consuming long division problems along with a page of social studies, science and maybe sentences for 20 vocab words. It’s insane!!!

Even though I think my son may be a good candidate for FFW, I’m worried we could start the program and then not be able to finish due to the homework load.

I was thinking we might do Earobics instead, but then I looked at the website and the program really didn’t look that interesting or challenging (?). So, from there I was thinking we might do Sound Reading Solutions computer game instead. It looks a little more interesting. (My son is 10 so I’d order the teens program).

Yet, it’s not actually an auditory processing program so I’m moving away from my original intention. But I’m just thinking anything extra I can do over the break that would help boost general reading/processing and possibly some auditory work might be good.

What are do you all think about Sound Reading Solution and Earobics?

I realize they are quite different from FFW and work on different things, but I’m beginning to think we’re much better off waiting until summer to do FFW…and yet I really do want to do something with my son over winter break. It has been awhile since I’ve done any type of organized or “intensive” program with him.

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/02/2004 - 12:00 AM

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I’d wait and do FFW over the summer. It’s *very* strenuous and there’s no way two weeks would be enough for it.

The SRS CD is suitable if he’s reading on less than a middle 3rd grade level. It works on phonemic awareness skills (segmenting and blending) and word attack skills. Average time to complete the CD is 14 hours. If you decide on doing it in two weeks, be sure to break up the time each day. I’d aim for 20-minute sessions three times a day, although some 10yos might be able to manage two 30-minute sessions per day. Usually it is done over a longer period of time than two weeks. It might be better to not try to finish it in two weeks, and just have him work on it 10 minutes per day after school starts to finish it up. I suspect it is more effective strung out over time anyway, because of the forced review.

In my opinion, Earobics is most suitable for younger children. Most 10yos I have met would find it very boring.

Nancy

Submitted by Laura in CA on Thu, 12/02/2004 - 1:50 AM

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Hi Nancy,
Thanks for the information! I know you have a lot of experience with these programs. I wasn’t actually going to push everything in a 2-week segment. Instead I was hoping to work though December into the beginning of Jan. I had spoken with the teacher about lightening his homework load, but I’m worried it still may be too much.

Although test results vary quite a bit for my son, the most recent neuro-psych testing had the following GORT-4 scores:
Rate - grade Eq. 1.7
Accuracy - 2.0
Fluency - 2.0
Comprehension 4.2

So perhaps SRS would be a helpful addition? I think my son reads better than the scores suggest (for example he intellectually knows orthographic patterns, rules, rule breakers, but does not get them quickly). The biggest problem is automaticity so anything that might help reinforce this would be useful.

SRS looks to have some variety. Would you say it’s less boring? Do you happen to know of any good computer orthographic drill programs? I create word lists for this (current example is a word list with a mix of soft and hard “C”), but a fun computer game to drill this type of thing would be a great additon to regular reaading practice.

Submitted by marycas on Thu, 12/02/2004 - 5:31 AM

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I like the variety of SRS provided with the full program, meaning the CD and the workbbooks, texts, etc

Some of the paper stuff is pretty basic-my son complained it was too easy but I just told him “Great-now we can go through it fast!”

The reading texts are not difficult but VERY phonetic-if he is guessing, you will definitely know. It forced my son to slow down and mentally sound out which is an issue for my mr guess and go!!!!

The most useful tools were the syllable cards. There is some of this on the CD as well but the cards were pretty handy for quickies-in fact, a little review wouldnt hurt my guy this Xmas!!!

They are long vertical cardboard strips of syllable and you make nonsense words

Say you line up macro-serv-ous on the 3 cards. You just move the last card and make macro-serv-ient, macro-serv-ply, etc. There are 26 options; then you can do 26 middle variations

I believe they call them RAN cards

I think srs is a step above Earobics-if he struggled with something in SRS I would go back to Earobics but otherwise I think it’s too basic

My son was 11 when we did SRS teen version-I dont think teen means a whole lot as they included all the materials starting with basic, basic stuff

No experience with FFW

Submitted by Laura in CA on Thu, 12/02/2004 - 10:18 AM

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Hi Janis,
His language processing scores are pretty average (except for RAN):
Concepts & Directions 63%ile
Formulated Sentence 37%ile

NEPSY
Speeded Naming 9%ile
Verbal Fluency 75%ile
Semantic 26-75%ile (I don’t quite get the spread?)
Phonemic >75%ile

WCJIII Picture Vocab 43%ile

The reason I’d like to do FFW is I suspect he has a problem with temporal lobe processing and from what I’ve read FFW may sometimes help with this.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 12/07/2004 - 12:07 PM

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From what I have seen, slow RAN can interfere a lot with reading — especially fluency. The only interventions I have heard of that have a chance of improving RAN are those that incorporate gross motor activities. NeuroNet would be the top one for that, with Dore probably being second. Interactive Metronome would probably be a long shot for RAN, but I’d look at that too.

I know you’ve done a lot of therapies, so hope I’m not re-describing the wheel here. It just seems the focus is on reading therapies whereas RAN is more of a neurologica/sensory level (foundational) deficit, often having to do with retrieval.

Nancy

Submitted by Laura in CA on Tue, 12/07/2004 - 2:41 PM

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Janis,
Quick Reads is a good suggestion. I do want to eventually get to that. Even though decoding is sometimes quite good, I still need to work more on automaticity. I think his visualization has come a long quite well. For example, for years he would always write “thay” (and I must have said they has a “the” in it a million times!!!) or “wen” in papers. And now I always see erase marks on the “a” or “en” with corrections because he catches his errors the moment after he has written it. It’s kind of fasicnating to me how someone can do this consistently.

Nancy,
What you’re saying makes a lot of sense. I have to conclude there really is a neurological/sensory issue. I wish we had Neuronet here in California. I haven’t looked as closely at Dore. I did research IM, but after testing with a doctor who provides IM, he felt my son didn’t need it because he tested in the average range. I have done a lot of sensory integration and visual exercises over the years, but we may still have a lot more to do. Thanks for reminding me of this.

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