What prog works for 12 y.o. that scored this rank on this te

Phono-Graphix works.

Rather than waste time with the school system, I would remediate privately.

My first choice would be to find a Phono-Graphix tutor. Remediation to grade level *usually* takes 12 to 18 sessions. At $50 per session, that’s not bad.

If you can’t afford a PG tutor, I would advise using the book “Reading Reflex” at home. In that case, I would also recommend getting the company’s $39 parent support manual, which makes it much easier to work through advanced code systematically.

Most libraries carry “Reading Reflex”, so you can check it out for yourself before investing any money.

I would also advise using Audiblox. Website is http://www.audiblox2000.com.

At the very least, I would advise using these two programs at home this summer. If you don’t see *significant* improvements, your son might need a program such as FastForWord (which you can try to get through the school district).

Nancy

It is the school’s job to teach your son to read (or at least give it a good try). He needs an appropriate program taught by an experienced teacher. Ask, What programs does this district use to teach children who have not learned through the ordinary methods? How well trained and experienced is the teacher using the program? What arrangements can be made to have this teacher work with my son? Listen for reading programs like PG, Orton-Gillingham, Lindamood-Bell, Wilson. If the school can’t provide appropriate reading instruction tell them you’d be happy to have THEM pay to provide the instruction by a private instructor.

I agree with Angela. If you son is scoring at those numbers, he should be eligible for an IEP and remedation. They CAN’T just say we don’t do this, we don’t have the money. Has he been in this same school district all along?

I would write the person who said this a letter …confirming our conversation of (date), you stated that Stinkin’ Hole School doesn’t have the funding to provide my son with remediation, etc. You need to talk to Socks and FAST. That is NOT acceptable.

Huh? Reading problems are addressed in Headstart? So we teach them to read at age 4 and then stop? Hard to believe they would make such a bizarre comment, but we’ve all heard our share.
1. Is he on a current IEP and what services does he receive?
2. What test and when did he score an IQ of 124? That is in the gifted range.
3. Most smart kids who can’t read have developed huge behavior problems by age 12 due to the incredible frustration they experience— is behavior a concern at school?
4. The comment about the reading specialist may be accurate. Reading specialists are usually part of regular education. What he needs is a special education teacher specifically trained in research-based methods of teaching reading, and at this point probably 1:1 instruction.
5. Socks (who posts here frequently) has a website and can offer good legal info. There’s also wrightslaw.com and a couple of other special ed. legal websites. I would start with a “letter of understanding” where you write what was told to you at the IEP meeting. Get it in writing and send it certified to the school (so you have proof that they received it).
6. In the meantime, do what you can to teach him yourself as others suggested— no matter that the law is on your side, at age 12 you can’t afford to wait.

Drew,

I do not see how this child was age 12 before being tested. He has a very significant reading disorder. I have mixed feelings. It is unlikely that the school has anyone trained to remediate him. I would not trust them if they have not recognized this significant delay in reading skills. It has to effect every subject.

I would immediately begin to look for a reading therapist. I’d try Phono-Graphix first as it tends to work fast. You could take him to the Read America clinic (home of Phono-Graphix) near Orlando this summer for a one week intensive (15 hour program) which might give him a tremendous head start. Go to the Read America site (www.readamerica.net) to seek a reading therapist in your area and look at the intensive program information.

If you have the fortitude, get an advocate and fight the system to pay for the tutoring. It may take some time and money, but the system has certainly not done justice to your child if they did not initiate a referral when he was in second or third grade. But whatever you do, start the tutoring immediately. This child needs help yesterday. Good luck.

Janis

Janis

Get him some one to one tutoring from a *knowledgeable* person right away.

All the science you need to back up your argument is in the report of the National Reading Panel to the NIH, Teaching Children to Read; available on this website through the LDOnline page. I suggest copying at least the outline and introduction of this and give copies to their school board members so they can’t plead ignorance.

Many people here speak well of PG, and that would probably be a good start. He may need more than PG for reading, and he will certainly need work on writing and other things as well. Atr his age it is important to get at this fast, and to get someone with experience and knowledge of truly effective (phonics-based, multisensory, fluency-included) programs.

I will email outlines of tutoring programs which I use successfully if you think you would find them helpful; just email a request.

Why was he tested now? What has his academic progress been like?

PG may not be enough for a child this far behind at this age. If you don’t see good results, try Lindamood-Bell Lips program, it may be more expensive, but it made the world of difference for my 12 year old.

The science is available through the LD In Depth page.