Are there any books out there which can teach us parents multi-sensory techniques for our struggling kids? I need help for a 9 year old and a 12 year old. They haven’t been officially tested, but we met with a tutor. I’m not sure we can handle the tutor’s fees, and that is only for one of the kids…. I’ve homeschooled for 9 years with the phonics method, but it wasn’t enough for these two apparently. What can I do on my own?
Thanks for any help. I read that a book “Reading Reflex” was mentioned several times here. What kind of book is that and would that be good for me?
Jnette
Multisensory teaching of Basic Language Skills by Judith Bir
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557663491/qid=1001945418/sr=2-1/107-1796795-5374137
Multisensory teaching of basic language skills by Judith Birsh — I’ve heard good things about it. This goes into more of the multisensory strategies used by Orton-GIllingham teachers that aren’t included in Reading Reflex (but I’d try that first — could be all you need and it’s cheaper ;)).
Great and wonderful teacher that I am (grin), I honestly question whether I could have learned multisensory teaching from a book, because I tend to be *very* verbal. IT took seeing others and trying it, and basically getting trained in it and getting advice from people watching me do it. And I still tend to slip back into wordiness :) So I’d *highly* recommend contacting your local IDA and/or LDA branches to see what workshops are available and checking the “LD Calendar” on this site. And go to those conferences for sessions on strategies and to browse the vendors tables for all kinds of stuff that’s incrediblyhard to find otherwise.
The book’s authors are Carmen & Geoffrey McGuiness, and the book is widely available in bookstores for $16, or from Amazon or Barnes & Noble online. The book explains the research and philosophy underlying the approach, and also gives explicit directions to parents who want to tutor a child using the Phono-Graphix methodology. Many children respond to this approach, and it’s well worth trying before investing in tutoring services.
You might also want to find certified PG tutors in your area. A standard course of PG is only 12 to 18 sessions (unless problems are extremely severe), which is much less than other tutoring approaches. You can find PG tutors by calling the company or emailing. The PG website is http://www.readamerica.net
Mary