1st. Grader & Reading

[Tigger&Belle]

Here's another reading thread that might give some good books. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1221985

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Did you recently buy the Dick & Jane books at BJ's? I didn't even think they had those anymore.

When my DS has a math problem and they use a childs name in it, they are such strange names. I always say what happen with Dick - Jane. Nice simple names!

It was a while ago. But I did an online search for you and see that Amazon.com has them, and so does Borders. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/World-Dick-Ja...=pd_bbs_3/102-7433979-1492940?ie=UTF8&s=books

 

[clarabelle]

For the car consider books on tape -I know it sounds like a cop out -but just hearing the words pronounced and the sentences formed is a help.
You can get some from libraries, borders, barnes and noble etc... also there is an online company called audio editions that has many kids books on tape,
And another called recorded books. They can listen to books above their level -but it still helps with reading. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Junie B, Magic treehouse are all great on tape (or CD's)
good luck!!

 

[CEDmom]

One thing that helped my sports loving son (and his older brother, who also loves sports) was the desire to read the sports section of the newspaper. My first grader gets the sports section in the morning before anyone else and discusses strategy, teams, players, my DH's fantasy teams, etc. It's really helped with his reading. He knows the line-up of pretty much all the pro basketball teams and is pretty good with the baseball and football teams, too. And those words/names are a heck of a lot harder than the words in a first grade reading books.

Take something that your son loves and go with that. It gives a purpose to reading, too.

This is good advice. My mom is a reading specialist and she says if all your child wants to read are comic books let them (assuming their not violent). The point is to get them to love to read. If your child likes cooking let them read cookbooks. It'll happen in good time.

 

[moniot]

Your son sounds just like mine. We had Title 1 reading help. They would send home books for him to read. It was the same stuff that they were working on at school. They say repetition is a key. I was told a child needs to see a word many times before it is memorized.

Another tip is to read along with your finger. I sure helped my DS.

Like it has been stated.....any reading is still reading. I left magazines and books all over the place. I also let him do some searching on the internet (supervised of course) for Pokemon stuff. He loved it. So I bought him the cards also.

I would do lots of reading to him from the fun series (like Magic Tree House) and he would have to follow along with me...using his finger or watching me use mine. I would read a page...he would read a paragraph...it helped keep the frustration level lower.

He is in 7th grade now. He reads just fine. He doesn't love reading. I still leave magazines in the bathroom and everywhere.

Best of Luck.

 

[HamTown]

I have a 1st grade boy too. He's getting better, but there was a "lightbulb" moment for him. Your son's will come soon.

I also recommend Dick and Jane. We did lots of Thomas the Tank Engine books (there are several beginning reader versions) and "You Read to Me, I'll Read to You" That's a fun series to read together. You also can't go wrong with Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat was based on a list of 50 "high frequency words" given to the author to put into a book.

I would take the school's offer for extra help. It's your tax dollars, use them!

 

[frndofpooh]

Thanks again everyone - makes me feel better. I actually do blame myself that he isn't better at it.

When I was in 2nd. grade I use to have to stay after school for reading, I LOVE to read now.

I have always read to him, and he likes to copy the words out of a book. He loves baseball so that would be great to get books on that.

Please don't blame yourself. My sister was the biggest bookworm but her kids detested reading until they were both around the fourth grade. I was also a child who did not enjoy reading but when I became a teenager I loved it! I was still a good student despite my dislike for reading and so are her kids. Kids progress at different rates and that is okay.

Keep in mind that the primary goal of first grade is getting those kids reading because when second grade rolls around many of the assignments have written directions and such that they need to be able to comprehend (at least this is what I was told at our school). It's good that the teacher is finding a way to help

I've known kids for whom reading had to be a really "practical" exercise, so they enjoyed reading signs in the grocery store, on the road etc. and focusing on this gave them confidence to read more in the classroom. Good luck!

 

[JoyG]

Here's my tried and true prescription for struggling readers....

1. Read every night for at least 15 minutes (it sounds easier than it is. Every night means even on weekends and holidays).

2. Follow this routine step by step when starting a new book:

-You read the book first out loud for enjoyment. Do not have your child try to struggle through the words by themselves the first time.

-You read the book a second time out loud and read one sentence at a time. You point to the words as you read. After each sentence you stop and have your child read the same thing you just read out loud while pointing to each word. (This is called echo reading).

- You and your child read the book together out loud at the same exact time. (this is called choral reading).

-Your child reads the book out loud by himself.

-Your child reads the book by himself BACKWARDS. Start on the back page and read each word individually until you get to the beginning. This ensures that your child has now learned each individual word by sight or can sound it out, or can figure it out from the picture. These are very important skills, so don't skip this step.


It will feel like you're memorizing the book and that is just fine. Your young reader needs to build a bank of sight words that he can fall back on. Once he has enough sight words under his belt he will not be so frustrated when reading. Following this routine also builds fluency which is another important skill. This routine works best for beginning readers like children your son's age.

Here are some titles I can suggest:

Puppy Mudge stories by Cynthia Rylant
Dick and Jane (as mentioned)
Biscuit stories (as mentioned)
Any Step into reading level 1 or prelevel 1

I have taught 1st grade and seen this rountine work wonders for students. I am currently using it on my own 6 year olds! Good luck.

 

[FreshTressa]

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Last year he liked the Bob books. They were easy, but gave him the confidence to learn some words and it was something that he could read himself.

I would take all the help that the school has to offer.
Try asking at the library for some suggestions, too.

2nd the BOB books. They are awesome for beginning readers and those easily frustrated. They are so unintimidating.

 

[bigbabyblues]

My DS likes the Step into Reading books. They have them for different levels, and a lot of them are stories about popular characters.

 

[shortbun]

Ask the teacher. Really important that what he is reading be JUST RIGHT for him to read successfully so he won't get discouraged.

 

[GJM]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I am going to try them, I like the idea of reading the book backwards.

We just finished reading a book he got from the school library and when he goes to bed we are going to read the Buzz & Woody book, I am pretty sure it is a level l book. I am going to check for the Dick & Jane books and the Step into Reading books.