Reading program at GW

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know anything about this reading program at GW U from ages 4 and up? It seems to be an organization in partnership w/ GW and not really part of the university. It's not a summer camp but a once per week, 5 week program for reading. I was trying to get some feedback on it before I enroll my child.

http://cps.gwu.edu/reading/index.html

Or does anyone know of any other reading programs they would recommend for elementary age kids?

[Anonymous]

I would suggest reading at home w/ your child and going to the library. It isn't a remedial reading program so why would you send your child there? If there isn't a reading problem w/ your child, spend that time reading w/ your child yourself. It will mean a whole lot more to both of you.

[Anonymous]

We looked into it. I will try to save me self a buck though and do what pp said.

[Anonymous]

some parents who have been through it said their kids were bored with it and the class size is large

[Anonymous]

I did it with my oldest and found it to be a waste.

[Anonymous]

Kids learn to read when they are developmentally ready. That might be 3 or it might be 8. The best thing a parent can do is take them to the library weekly leaving with a huge stack. Read, read & read for the fun of it -- at least once a day.

I have found that with a lot of kids who are forced to read before readiness, be that by a parent or a too rigid school environment, that these kids see reading as a chore and never read for pleasure.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Just to clarify, my child is 8yrs old. He loves to read, to the point where I have to tell him to put down his books, so he can catch the school bus, eat dinner, get to bed... We go to the library constantly and check out huge tote bag full of books just to stay one step ahead of him as he flies through chapter books. The problem is, his reading comprehension, despite all his reading, doesn't seem to be that great. Without going into his IQ test scores (there is another thread on DCUM blasting mothers for doing this so I'm not even going there), his verbal score was dramatically lower than all other sections.

I had started to make him read out loud so I can help him with hard words and in the hopes that he slows down and absorb what he's reading better, but he just hates hates reading out loud. So I stopped that because I didn't want him to start hating to read. I was interested in this reading program because it said it teaches techniques that assist in decoding long words and improves reading comprehension. But maybe I just need to sit back and assume that with the amount of reading he's doing, his reading comprehension will just improve in time on its own. Any suggestions other than just keep reading?

[Anonymous]

Is there a reading specialist at his current school? If so, start there and ask for ideas that you can do at home. Reading out loud isn't the only way to increase reading comprehension. If the school doesn't have a reading specialist, ask his current teacher for ideas too.

[Anonymous]

To pp on reading comprehension. one of the best rated reading programmes, phonographix now has a reading comprehension programme. I don't know anything about the reading comp programme, but phonographix is a big success (several schools / UK have switched to this and reading specialists) use it.

Phonographix has the book called reading reflex that you can find on-line on amazon for their reading programme. believe you could find their other book on reading comprehension if you search that. may be worth reading? also, there website i believe is. www.readamerica.net good luck

[Anonymous]

I also considered the GW reading program for my 5 year old. DC is currently reading at about a 2nd grade level. DC had a couple of one-on-one reading tutors early on. The GW reading program could only advance DC to the first grade level and suggested we continue doing what we do. Keep in mind that the sessions are 2 hours long - much too long for our 5 year-old. Our tutors were grade school teachers, and this worked out great.

[Anonymous]

PP- Why do you have a reading tutor for a 5 yr old?

[Anonymous]

One meeting a week is not enough to do real reading remediation. If your child needs help, find something that is three or four times a week.

If your child is great at decoding and word recognition but weak at comprehension, the problem could be with language or memory, not just reading, especially if the verbal IQ was relatively low. Do you see problems in either of those areas? When he was tested, did the psychologist say anything?

[Anonymous]

Despite the fact that I read a ton to DD, and work on phonics she was recently tested and her phonetical awareness is quite low and the Dr thinks she may be at risk for having a hard time learning to read.

There is a similiar program at AU and I am thinking of signing up my child. Does anyone know of a better program to help teach reading to kids with learning differences?

[Anonymous]

What about trying books on tape? That way, the "reading" is slowed so comprehension may improve.