Reading help for my 1st grader!

[mickeysmyboy]

My son, who is in 1st grade, sees the reading specialist at school for help with his reading.

They use a program called Wilson Language Basics.

I'm not all that pleased with his progress and am really not sure what to do next.

I have a few problems with the program and the specialist.

My 1st problem is that back in Sept the school held an open house for all the parents of children in the reading program. We were given the opportunity, along with other parents at the same time, to sit down with the specialist and have her explain the program so we could best help our child. His specialist had a very hard time explaining the program to us. She really confused me and I know she confused the other parents. How can she teach a program she can't explain?

My next issue is that they seem to be teaching the program in kind of a jumbled manor. They'll work on one aspect for a week and then move on to a different way. I don't understand how they expect the kids to learn anything that way.

I also have a little bit of an issue with the fact that he is in a reading group 5 of his classmates. I'm sure that they don't all have a same problem with reading that my DS does but they're not being taught any differently. I do, however, understand that there is only so much the school can do and provide. But there are 2 or 3 other kids in his class that get reading help from another specialist and get pulled out of the class, DS's group is in the class during the time the other kids are reading with the regular teacher.

I would approach his reading teacher about it, but back in November we had a regularly scheduled parent/teacher conference that included her, I questioned his limited progress and she basically blamed it on the fact that he had missed a week of school. He missed the week because he had H1N1! She didn't offer any solution. She really upset DH and I but we decided to sit on it because it was still early in the year.

I'm not sure where to go from here. I've thought of hiring a private tutor or taking him to Huntington Learning Center or a place like that but I don't want that to confuse him.

My husband is friends with another one of the reading specialist in the district, who works with the 3rd graders, I've thought about talking to her to see what she thinks but I don't want word to get back to DS reading teacher. I've also thought about contacting the principal but I'm not sure I need to go that route just yet.

Does anyone have any advice? I'd really, really appreciate it! TIA!

 

[Wendy5055]

When my dd was showing signs of slow reading progress, I tried many different techniques. However, the only thing that worked and worked VERY well would be Hooked on Phonics. A friend of mine purchased a whole starter kit as a Christmas gift for her. After 3 months of using HOP, her teacher couldn't believe the difference!!! She went from a near level 5 to 13 in just 3 months. I still buy the age/grade appropriate kits and she loves to use them.

They come with CD's to follow with a workbook, little reading books, flashcards, poster with sitckers so she could chart her own progress.

My dd is now 8 and for the first time ever, she does not require being in a "special" reading group and is at level with her peers. She loves to read and now reads Nancy Drew Mystery Books.

I can't recommend HOP enough...it made a HUGE difference in my dd's reading.

 

[Ericandjenng]

My suggestion is to start with a meeting his regular teacher and get her (or his) input. If you feel like they are disinterested, schedule a meeting with the school's principal or guidance counselor.

Our son was put into an extended day program for kindergarten. He always has had great language skills but that for some reason did not translate into the letter recognition/reading skills. His program is handled by the kindergarten teachers themselves and they work in very small groups to give the kids the attention they need. We met with her a second time shortly after the program started and she gave us alot of good information that was not obvious from his report cards and such. His improvement in these areas has been very dramatic. After 3 1/2 months he recognizes all letters (upper & lower), their sounds and is reading Level 1 readers.

Good luck!

 

[Poohs#1fan]

I can understand your frustration. As a special ed teacher, I would encourage you to request a meeting with your child's teacher and reading specialist. Ask for specific things that you can be working on at home. If you are not happy with that meeting, then you should request a meeting with the principal. I encourage you to follow through with these steps before you take you DC elsewhere. At such a young age, you can easily confuse them further. Good luck!

 

[Wendy5055]

I too want to chime in again to say that while I used HOP with dd, I did work with her teacher and she was in "special" reading groups. You need to make sure your child has the support he needs from all areas.

 

[momsully]

Check out www.starfall.com. We have a good friend who is the web designer for this program and they use it in all our K classes. Also, the website is free which is always nice!

DS8 learned to read with Headsprout. www.headsprout.com. This was a great program for him.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I would ask the reading teacher to give you a summary or graph of his progress to date - she must be taking some sort of data to see if he's progressing. If he's making progress, yay, if not, then you've got something to talk about. Sounds like maybe you've already gotten some of this info...

As a comparison I would ask what his peers are able to do and where he is (sounds he knows? sight words he knows?) Ask what happens next if he does not make expected growth over a reasonable period of time. There may be another level of intervention they need to move on to. Your school psychologist should be able to answer questions like this.

I hate to see parents spend $ on outside tutors if there's something already in place in school - I'd ask about it!

Good luck

 

[Cruz91]

**Just my opinions, but...**

My 1st problem is that back in Sept the school held an open house for all the parents of children in the reading program. His specialist had a very hard time explaining the program to us. She really confused me and I know she confused the other parents. How can she teach a program she can't explain?

**Don't assume the worst. Many people (and teachers are no different) get nervous presenting concepts to a new group of people. Just because the specialist didn't come across clear to the parents doesn't mean he/she has the same nerves/issues with the children. **

My next issue is that they seem to be teaching the program in kind of a jumbled manor. They'll work on one aspect for a week and then move on to a different way. I don't understand how they expect the kids to learn anything that way.

**It isn't uncommon to teach things differently at different times. Everyone learns differently - so it is good to try different approaches. That's why Hooked on Phonics works for some folks much better than for others.**

I also have a little bit of an issue with the fact that he is in a reading group 5 of his classmates. I'm sure that they don't all have a same problem with reading that my DS does but they're not being taught any differently. I do, however, understand that there is only so much the school can do and provide. But there are 2 or 3 other kids in his class that get reading help from another specialist and get pulled out of the class, DS's group is in the class during the time the other kids are reading with the regular teacher.

**There's a difference between 'push-out' and 'pull-in' instruction. Philosophies differ. If both are being used, there's a good chance the ones being 'pulled-out' of the classroom struggle with a specific learning disability that requires a specific atmospher (think ADD). Also - don't assume these 2 or 3 kids are part of a smaller group - they may be hooking up with 2 or 3 other kids from another class to get the instruction they need.**

I would approach his reading teacher about it, but back in November we had a regularly scheduled parent/teacher conference that included her, I questioned his limited progress and she basically blamed it on the fact that he had missed a week of school. He missed the week because he had H1N1! She didn't offer any solution. She really upset DH and I but we decided to sit on it because it was still early in the year.

**Again - don't assume the worst. I'm a parent too - and I understand the 'momma / poppa-bear syndrome' where we hear things a little differently than they are intended. If the teacher said 'It didn't help that he missed a week of instruction' - that could be a fact, not necessarily an attack / indictment on you or your son.**

My husband is friends with another one of the reading specialist in the district, who works with the 3rd graders, I've thought about talking to her to see what she thinks but I don't want word to get back to DS reading teacher. I've also thought about contacting the principal but I'm not sure I need to go that route just yet.

**Never be shy about approaching the principal. Even after all I've said, the teacher may be wrong. The principal will have the data to determine that (i.e. - other parents have raised concern).

And finally, as other posters have eluded to, it's no single point of contact that will help struggling readers improve. Not the teacher, not the specialist, and not just you. All three have to work together. It's often hard to find time in the evenings to pull out a book and read - and sometimes it's tough to know exactly how to help as a parent - but that's more reason to ask the teacher/specialist for guidance on what to do at home. (Example - if he can read, does he have issues with comprehension? Fluency? Each issue may have a separate tool you can use at home to reinforce the learning...)

Good luck!!!!

 

[Wendy5055]

I also want to add...that you should meet with his teacher to get on the same page...and keep the lines of communication open about his progress.

HOP worked well as we commuted and travelled quite a bit so dd8 really used the workbook and CD in the car frequently...and enjoyed doing it! I was totally committed to helping her master reading and did whatever I could (reading to her, having her read to me, flashcards...whatever was reading related). It was frustrating at times, but rewarding when she went up levels in her reading. Last year she still required a lower reading group but it was not as dramatic as previous...this year she is right on track and at level.

I also agree that not all programs work with all children...do your research.

 

[zaneymax]

I am a reading specialist in a small school district in Michigan. I agree the posters who suggested www.starfall.com and the Head Sprout program. We use both of those programs and have had alot of success with them for our students.

I also wanted to agree with the poster about the "pull in" vs. "pull out" groups. I pull some students out of each of my 2nd grades to work with them in my classroom/office. A couple of them have such severe ADHD that working within the classroom does not provide the learning environment best to them.

I love to use games to help my students. I buy alot of them from Lakeshore. They are colorful and user friendly. The kids love them and they have made great gains this year. This would be something you could do with him at home to support what is being taught at school.

We are in a new push to use data driven teaching/learning systems within the schools. I find them boring and non-colorful, so I use some of each to teach my students.We are expected to demonstrate it to our parents without any training to ourselves - so this may be what had happened when you met with her last fall.

Also, try Reading A-Z. Their website has lots of easy readers and activities that you can print out.

Hope that helps. Please feel free to PM if you have any other questions or if I can help in anyway. Please have faith. Sometimes it takes time for a little one to put reading all together. I usually don't see huge gains until 2nd grade - then they fly through their reading levels.

Good luck!

 

[mdsouth]

I can understand your frustration. As a special ed teacher, I would encourage you to request a meeting with your child's teacher and reading specialist. Ask for specific things that you can be working on at home. If you are not happy with that meeting, then you should request a meeting with the principal. I encourage you to follow through with these steps before you take you DC elsewhere. At such a young age, you can easily confuse them further. Good luck!

This is great advice. Schedule the meeting and in the meantime, just read with your DD at home to supplement what the school is doing.

I am a middle school Language Arts teacher and have also taught literacy classes for Elementary Education majors at the college level. I also have a first grader myself. I feel I can give you a few strategies to use at home that would be beneficial for her but not hinder or confuse what the reading program at school is doing. I, personally, do not have any direct information on the program itself the school is using since I do not know it.

Pick books that she could read herself with help, don't pick books beyond her capability. The key thing to do is instead of having her struggle with reading the book to you, you should read the book to her while she watches and follows along as you read. She will gain reading skills by hearing a fluent read the words. You should also try reading one page aloud to her and then have her repeat the same page with her reading to you. This will give her confidence in her reading skills and also allow her to hear the words in a fluent manner. Eventually, you can get to the point where she attempts to read the page first on her own to you. Right now, you need to build up her confidence in reading!