This is a question for elementary teachers...

[Mom2Em]

My DD just started 2nd grade and is going to be tested for remedial reading...
a. I think if she was having trouble we should have been contacted but that is another topic...
b. what can we do to help her with reading and reading comprehension...

I don't want to offend anyone, but DD would be so upset to be pulled from her class to go to a special reading class... I want to help her but I need ideas.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Megan's Mom]

The best thing you can do to increase comprehension and other reading skills is practice, practice practice. But it can be things like the comics, magazines and billboards and road signs. It doesn't have to be all from books. Now I know in our district the students are not pulled for the Title I reading the teachers/aides come to the classrooms and they can work will any of the kids it just puts another body in the class to work with the students. I would ask if that is the type program that your school has before you totally rule it out. I know we had parents that said that their child wouldn't want to be pulled but the kids loved it because they did fun things like reading games and had a lot of one on one time. Ask a lot of questions of who ever it is that is wanting to do the testing.
Good luck.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I agree with Megan's Mom about practice.

Maybe you can make some books with your DD. Scrapbooking (with captions) important events in her life would be fun and provide an opportunity for writing, editing and reading.

Have you heard about Story Stretchers for the Primary Grades- Activities to Expand Children's Favorite Books? If you haven't check out Amazon.com to get an idea. It might help you to expand your daughter's interest and help with reading comprehension.

Edited to add- Here's two websites that has some good information:
http://www.gardenofpraise.com/lesson.htm
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Lesson_Plans/Literature_Activities/

 

[zaxmom]

What about getting a tutor for her after school hours?

 

[deirdrefitch]

The children in our school love being pulled from class to go to their "special reading class". We do not make a big deal about them going, and they look forward to this time everyday. Kids love the one on one attention they get in reading recovery.
We have a phonics program that we use as a basis for beginning readers. Find out from your school what program they utilize, and use gentle reinforcement at home. Be sure and not to push too hard though, this could turn your child off to reading. Your child will probably have homework in 2nd grade, so I would not do more than 30 minutes an evening on reading. Another thing, find out from the teacher what reading level your child is on. You and your child go to school/public library together and pick out books that are level appropriate, and interesting to your child.
Set goals for how many pages you both want to read a night.
Alternate pages with your child to keep her interest. A reward system will also help with her willingness to cooperate. If you see that your child is truly too tired one evening to read, skip that night and start again the next. The last thing is PATIENCE! No matter how much she struggles, be POSITIVE with lots of praise.
Stay in touch with all her teachers. You should be able to conference with them as often as you feel is needed. If after one semester your child is not making some type of progress, talk to teachers, counselor, doctor ref testing for types of learning difficulties such as dyslexia. I wish you and your child much luck.
Thanks for being a concerned parent. I wish all parents would take the time to ask.

 

[Piglet's Pal]

My daughter was in Title I reading last year for 1st grade. She was never upset about being pulled from class to go to her special reading. She loved the teacher and the 1 on 1 reading was the best. Today she is reading above her grade level. The program was wonderful and she progressed so well. She brought home reading (books, games and such) every night to be worked on with Mom or Dad, so be prepared to also work at home. IMHO she wouldn't be reading this well without the help of the program. I hope everything works out well for your DD.
PP

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

From a mom's perspective, if you haven't already done this, PLEASE check to see if your dd has vision problems. My DS had vision problems and it put him behind in reading. We went to vision therapy for a year, and he has made some amazing improvements. good luck!

 

[debster812]

Like Piglets Pal, my DS was in Title 1 reading last year (grade 1). The plan was that he would be there until at least January, and then he would be re-tested. Well, we got a call from his teacher in Mid-October, who said she had bumped him up a group, and tested him, and he was already at his grade level.

Sometimes, it is that extra help that gives them the extra they need to finally 'get it'. I know that's what worked for DS who is a child who will not attempt anything until he is sure he can do it.

And FWIW--The kids in Title 1 in DS's class never got pulled out, they had their group in the classroom when the other kids had reading group, then at free reading time, they had another group.

And, as my mom who is a retired teacher said to me, "Extra help is NEVER a bad thing"

 

[jjskribs]

The Title One children in my first grade classroom are serviced in the room. They have their reading group while I am doing reading groups. I always explain to my class at the beginning of the year that we have lots of teachers in the school and sometimes they might work with a different teacher for some reading or math. They LOVE working with other teachers and are totally unaware that they are in "remedial reading."

Hopefully your Title One reading teacher will be sending home a "book bag" each night for the kids to practice. These will be books that are on the kids reading level. Read... reread and reread these books! They will give your child confidence and help her practice her strategies when she is "stuck on a word". If they don't send home books ask them if they could...if not every night then a few days a week. It's critically important that your child is reading and practicing books at her level.

Ask your child's Title One teacher or classroom teacher to give you a list of strategies to use when your child is stuck. Hopefully they will do this without even asking. You want to make sure that you are on the "same page" with the Title One teacher so that your daughter will automatically learn to use these strategies when she's stuck.

Children need to use a variety of strategies when they come to an unknown word. We teach them to use picture clues... meaning... and phonetic cues. We might ask questions like, "What makes sense that begins with that letter?" But again, I would encourage you to talk to the teachers about the phrases that they use with the children.

Continue to read to your child as well. This is still important even after your child has learned to read.

Make your reading time relaxing and fun....... if your child is getting frustrated and and can't read about 90% of the words then the text is too difficult for her....... remember that reading is not just "saying words" but understanding what you've read. Good luck....... like another poster said..."extra practice is never a bad thing"

 

[Mom2Em]

Thank you all so much!! Those are some great ideas!! I am going to talk to the teacher tomorrow but I definitely think that if it would benefit my daughter than that is what she needs. DD is very shy and she doesn't like attention drawn to her which is why she is uncomfortable about leaving class. I have read some of your posts to DD to help her understand what might be involved and she is more comfortable with it.
Thanks again!

 

[poohtown]

in case you come back to check more replies, here's some extra comments;

1. the teacher should have asked your permission to have her tested first, but since it's already in the process I probably would just mention to the teacher that next time if there is a problem, you would like to know in advance.

2. I had two kids with 'reading problems'. The first one she did leave class and the other kids were really jealous. She would come back with stickers and books and they all wanted to do it too - kids that age don't seem to pick on other kids for specials (they save that for jr. high). She ended up only doing it for a year then had no problems. My other daughter, the teacher wanted her tested and I questioned it. I've never heard her have problems before. Turned out she just was shy reading outloud in front of the other kids so thought if the teacher didn't think she could read that would be the solution.

I suggest you get your daughter some books she enjoys and let her read to you or even into a tape recorder. My 1st daughter did that and thought it was really fun. Then when you have time, play it back and see if you pick up on anything. I learned my daughter was reading so fast that she was skipping sentences. We had her slow down and use a pointer to go along. Now she's one of the top readers of her class.


oh, and dd#2 who didn't want to read in front of other, tried the tape recorder too and when she realized she did not sound 'stupid', then she had no problem reading out loud and low and behold she suddenly didn't need to be tested.

 

[Cinders]

When younger DS started school his Kindergarten teacher recomended Title 1 since DS was so shy and quiet. Being in a small group of 3 children that went together to Title 1 he gained more self-confidence and became more outgoing. And he loved going to his "special" class. The teacher told us she tries to send as many of the students as she can (that year she sent 15 out of 22 kids) to Title 1. Different kids went on different days and times to spread it out.

 

[janette]

My 10yo DD is dyslexic, I want her to be pulled out for reading. What they need to understand is that it is because they learn differently and it's not a bad thing.

She has been in a pull-out class since she started public school in 1st grade, she was in a private school before that and was transferred into special ed public.

The only times she's had trouble with being pulled out is when it wasn't on schedule. Sometimes if there was a test that she might need help with she goes to the resource room and she doesn't like that but she's never complained about the regular class time.

I'd wait until you get the results of the testing to determine the best path.

 

[Mom2Em]

Thank you!
I really like the tape recording idea... I think that would be a definite benefit for DD... I truly believe shyness is the root of her reading difficulties...