OT: 7yr old DS needs a tutor --Huntington? Sylvan?

[greg-n-jen]

My user id is normally jen-n-greg, but the boards weren't letting me log in so I had to create a new log in But anyway, I need some advice: My 7 year old son came home today all upset. He is very embarassed but he is struggling in 2nd grade with reading and writing and it is only the 1st week of school. He struggled last year also, and got some help through the school, but apparently not enough. He was even tested for a learning disability and they said he was fine. I signed him for some 1 on 1 tutoring this summer through the schools. It was just 1 hour a week for 7 weeks.

Well, today he came home with a work sheet and he got a lot of it wrong. He says he was too embarassed to tell the teacher he couldnt read a lot of it. I feel so bad for him, and of course I can not let this go on. I am thinking of calling Sylvan or Huntington. Does anyone have anyone have any experience with them? Or any other suggestions? Thanks for any input

 

[pantherlj]

My user id is normally jen-n-greg, but the boards weren't letting me log in so I had to create a new log in But anyway, I need some advice: My 7 year old son came home today all upset. He is very embarassed but he is struggling in 2nd grade with reading and writing and it is only the 1st week of school. He struggled last year also, and got some help through the school, but apparently not enough. He was even tested for a learning disability and they said he was fine. I signed him for some 1 on 1 tutoring this summer through the schools. It was just 1 hour a week for 7 weeks.

Well, today he came home with a work sheet and he got a lot of it wrong. He says he was too embarassed to tell the teacher he couldnt read a lot of it. I feel so bad for him, and of course I can not let this go on. I am thinking of calling Sylvan or Huntington. Does anyone have anyone have any experience with them? Or any other suggestions? Thanks for any input

No personal experience but I have heard great things about Kumon.

Good luck. It is so tough to watch your kids struggle

 

[scrappinmom]

Does your school district have a tutor list? When my oldest was a struggling reader I called the principal and she gave me a whole list of current and previous teachers who tutored for extra money. We called and choose one that we thought would fit...it worked out great! We met at the library after school 2 days a week for 1 hr. The cost was a blessing. We had taken her to Sylvan and knew we couldn't afford the hundreds of dollars they wanted (at that time). We paid the teacher $25 an hour. So for $50 a week our dd got 1 on 1 instruction with a teacher who specialized in reading.

Good luck - it's never easy to watch our kids struggle. If it's any help...that same dd is not a top honor roll 8th grader

 

[CTdiznymom]

This is going back quite a few years, but my dd had trouble in the 3rd gr., and it was suggested she have extra reading help during school. We didn't think it was enough so we signed her up with Huntington. If I remember correctly she did it one full summer and then twice a week for about 6 months. I think it helped her. I know she enjoyed going, and that made reading more enjoyable for her. Like I said it was quite awhile ago, she's now a college graduate with a teaching degree! I do remember the teacher playing reading "games" with her, and for some strange reason she got every other question wrong! When I asked her why, she told me she felt bad and she thought she would let the tester win a few! Kids! lol

 

[janey99]

We did Huntington with my son from January through June of his third grade year for the same reason - difficulty reading, spelling, writing. It was extremely helpful for him. Through their testing we realized that when he changed schools between kg and first, he missed a lot of the basic reading phonetics skills that his old school would have done in first but his new school had done in kg. We also realized he was flying over about 60% of what he was reading and guessing understanding from the rest!

His program started right at the beginning with word sounds and phonics, and by June he was reading at a 4.5 year level. His spelling was very improved just due to his greater reading comprehension, and they also did writing skills with him (how to formulate answers, detect topic sentences, supporting sentences, and more advanced paragraph structure as well). He went 4.5 hours a week. We were very happy with his progress. His confidence increased so much and since it was private tutoring, he didn't feel dumb or babyish that he had to go back to essentially late kg skills and learn them. They are very supportive and kind and he really liked his tutors.

One note - they will try to sell you on an integrated program of math and reading - we resisted because DS was above grade level in math, and then further resisted their pressure for him to do extra math as "enrichment." Make sure you only sign on for what your DS needs!

Feel free to PM me if you want to know more.

Good luck,

Jane

 

[greg-n-jen]

thanks for the advice I will look into Huntington and see if the school has any advice also. I feel so bad for him, hopefully getting him some help will make him feel better about school and himself. Right now he calls himself a dummy

 

[dimimi]

I'd ask the school to test your child for reading intervention. If he qualifies, great, if not, ask the reading teaching to privately tutor your child. It will be helpful for him to use a good program, like the Wilson or something like that. These are programs designed to help the struggling reader. I teach learning disabled kids who struggle with reading and this is what we found that works.

I used to work at a learning center and wasn't impressed. The kids did worksheet type work and weren't taught one on one to their needs.

Also, remember that he is only 7, kids mature at different levels. Our son struggled and had reading intervention during 1st and 2nd grades. In third grade he moved from a proficient score...he needed a 400 to pass and he had a 403.....to a accelerated score (he skipped right over advanced) in only 6 months. Reading finally clicked midway through 3rd grade!

Good luck and your son should be happy to have such a caring mom who is jumping on his problem before it gets out of hand!

 

[StephMK]

Does the school have any extra help available? Ours has specialists that work w/kids that need some extra 1-1 instruction. If not, I know someone that has a tutoring company - all of her employees are former teachers now WAHM that tutor. You might be able to find a similar situation or ask around to see if any HS or college students tutor as well. Good luck & to you both.

 

[gottaluvdis]

Does the school have any extra help available? Ours has specialists that work w/kids that need some extra 1-1 instruction. If not, I know someone that has a tutoring company - all of her employees are former teachers now WAHM that tutor. You might be able to find a similar situation or ask around to see if any HS or college students tutor as well. Good luck & to you both.

Don't all schools have Title 1 to help kids specifically with reading? I know our school has this and know several people whose children are in this program. I even know the Title 1 coordinator for our elementary schools as her DD and mine are in the same grade. At least Title 1 is at no cost to you, but if it's not available, then I would go the route of a local teacher who does tutoring.

 

[Sammybeau's Mom]

Another idea...

My friend who homeschooled her two sons, tutors my youngest son after school. Her boys are grown and away at college. She knew of books and ways used mostly by homeschoolers that really helps my son.

 

[pbnjrockette]

I'd ask the school to test your child for reading intervention. If he qualifies, great, if not, ask the reading teaching to privately tutor your child. It will be helpful for him to use a good program, like the Wilson or something like that. These are programs designed to help the struggling reader. I teach learning disabled kids who struggle with reading and this is what we found that works.

I used to work at a learning center and wasn't impressed. The kids did worksheet type work and weren't taught one on one to their needs.

Kudos to you mom for trying to get him help early.

I am a Certified Reading Specialist and my first recommendation would be to go thru your local school district. There may be in-school programs that they can provide to help him. If you get a tutor, ask the school for a list of teachers---preferably one with experience with his age group and with reading problems.

I DO NOT recommend Sylvan or Huntington. I've had students attend the tutoring centers and they are not indivudualized enough for many students.

If there is a college in your area, see if they have a reading clinic. If his problems are severe, he should be tested and diagnosed so he can be tutored with his specific strategies and needs.

Good Luck!!

 

[PammyPoppins]

My daughter goes to Linda Mood Bell learning Process. They are not in all states but here is a link to their web-site. They can be costly but it is a great program and they have helped my daughter alot.

http://www.lindamoodbell.com/
PammyPoppins

 

[jstbcuz]

My DD attended Sylvan for over 2 years. We went 4 hours a week during the school year and 8 hours during the summer. She was at a 2nd grade level when she started (even tho she was in 7th grade)...........It helped her immensely. I can not say enough good things about the program. However, I have to say that I think the teachers and the way they accept the kids has something to do with it too. She hated it when we finally had to stop going.....(becasue she was at the right level)

PM me if you have questions.

 

[zumbergc]

I looked at working at sylvin, or one of the like tutoring centers. For the math tutors, you were to work w/ at least 3 kids, maybe 4. You never got just 1 or 2 kids.

So, if your wanting one on one, thats not the place for you.

Ask the teacher, or other parents around, if they know of any tutors, retired teachers who work w/ kids in your childs age bracket.

Good luck, great job for getting involved.

We moved a couple times, and math was a problem for a little bit, because the greater than and less than signs, hadn't been covered at my old school, we moved mid year. After I figured out what the signs meant I was fine, but I was fustrated, because the new school had already covered the material, but the old school hadn't. If you have a switching school thing going on, that could contribute.

 

[chb]

My daughter(just started 3rd grade) has had a horrible time with learning to read. She is so smart otherwise, I have been at my wit's end. We just got her diagnosed as dyslexic. 1 in 5 children have dyslexia! Your school might not catch it on a generalized learning disability test. If your son is dyslexic, normal tutoring programs won't work. (I have heard great things about the lindamoodbell program though!)

Please check out these signs and symptoms and see if they might apply to your son.
http://www.brightsolutions.us/

(Symptoms of dyslexia is the third tab along the top.)

 

[GJM]

We moved from NJ to SC in March - my DS 7, was having trouble with reading in NJ and would see the reading specialist a couple of times a week. When we moved the school in SC was much further ahead and their expectations of lst. graders was a lot higher then NJ. They use levels at the SC school they told me he was at a level 6 and needed to be at least a 12 to get ahead.

I felt so bad for my DS that he was going to go to summer school and be held back. He was tutored while from April to June by one of the school teachers. We decided after talking to some people that summer school wouldn't help because he wouldn't get the one on one.

My neighbor across the street is a teacher and was looking to tutor for the summer. My DS went 3 times a week for an hour. He got tested at the end of August and was at a level 14 - so he got to go into 2nd. grade. We paid $35 per hour.

He does read slow, because he sounds out the words. At the begining of tutoring he didn't even try and sound out words. His 2nd. grade teacher is wonderful and I told her to please let me know where he may need help. He is still going for tutoring, just not as much.

 

[powellrj]

If you have any colleges that are local, call the student employment office because they usually have students that tutor and its one on one and the price is very reasonable.

Your best place to start would be with the classroom teacher. I know when my oldest was having problems, she suggested a local college that had a reading program for the students that gave one on one help for the entire year twice a week.

 

[donnabc]

Sylvan is expensive ($40 per hour here). We did it last school year to try and pull my stepson's Algebra grade to passing. No, it didn't work. But that was largely not Sylvan's "fault." There was only a few weeks left of school when he came to live with us (I know it's a long and sad story and beleive me a very necessary change as in asap) anyway, to be fair to Sylvan, his average was less than 20! Anyway, they did one on one with him and were really good. His Algebra teacher said given his average when he came it was mathematically impossible to pull it up to passing. I would use them again this year if we need to. Keep in mind there is an application fee each year.
For a child as young as yours, I would see if any of the teachers want to earn a few extra bucks afterschool to tutor him. It would save you a bundle. Good luck.

 

[fkj2]

thanks for the advice I will look into Huntington and see if the school has any advice also. I feel so bad for him, hopefully getting him some help will make him feel better about school and himself. Right now he calls himself a dummy

I'm not implying your son is dyslexic, but I googled "famous people who were dyslexic." Among them were notables such as Thomas Edison and Walt Disney. I quote from one of the sites:

Walt Disney - Fired from the Kansas City new paper for not being creative, he was also labeled as slow as a child.

I think most of us would agree that Walt Disney did just fine for himself. I hope your son can find a way not to be so hard on himself. Everyone has skills and abilities. The trick is finding those most suitable to each one of us and playing to them. Best wishes.

 

[HelloChum]

You may want to check out SchwabLearning.org It is an organization started by Charles Schwab...his child is dyslexic and he later learned that he was as well.

It is an incredible website...and there is an active parents forum. You may want to check out the section of their website on Identifying Difficulties....Early Signs & Symptoms. I will try to post the link...not sure if it will work. Another great website is LDONLINE

If it is dyslexia... the earlier it is caught, the better...and the less far behind he will be in reading compared to his peers. It is a life long issue. Wilson Reading is popular in our area. Our school district has been great as far as testing, intervention and providing services. Though friends in neighboring towns aren't as lucky...teachers are dismissing their child's problems with reading as immaturity, etc. and not testing for problems...friends have had their children tested privately...neuropysch testing at some of the Children's Hospitals. They say the testing can run about $3K...but it provides very detailed educational assessments and was they best way for them to advocate for their children and get them the spec. ed. services they needed or tutoring they needed.

Sally Shaywitz has a great book : "Overcoming Dyslexia"

http://www.schwablearning.org/resources.aspx?g=1&s=2

http://www.ldonline.org/

Good luck,
HelloChum