We are 3rd quarter of 1st grade and DS still isn't reading

[Anonymous]

My son was similar. I didn’t wait and did intensive tutoring for an hour a day every day for a year in first grade. He got up to speed but it’s still hard for him in 6th grade now. He gets good grades but he has to work for them in a Parrish school. The teacher told me if I had the means to help him I should because it takes so long for him to qualify for any services. Even though that is not what I wanted to hear it spurred me to do something and I have zero regrets.

[Anonymous]

My son is also in first grade and is really just starting to read easy books. He actually cried because he said he wasn’t learning in school. That was in November. I got Hooked on Phonics and am teaching him myself. Over the last few months, I’ve mentioned this to several friends, whose kids are all older. I’ve been really amazed to find out how many of them say they taught their own child to read. School was a supplement to what they did — not the other way around. They are not all FCPS families and their kids were in K and 1 well before COVID. Not saying that I think this is a good or bad thing—just sharing.

[Anonymous]

What phonics program is his school using?

[Anonymous]

Special ed teacher here. Ask in writing for an evaluation for special education. Contact GMU and try to get him tested there, at their clinic. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am having a hard time imagining a kid who can't read being ok in 2nd grade in any subject.

Teacher isn't concerned because DS is showing progress even though well below grade level still.

I was giving it time, understanding challenges of last year but I am starting to panic a bit thinking that this school year will be over before we know it.

What would you do??

I’m a teacher at a neighboring county. I have children. If your kid is not reading before entering school that is YOUR fault. My kid speaks reads and writes 3 languages proficiently.

It’s MY fault.

I'm a teacher too. I guarantee you have colleagues who think you shouldn't be allowed to work with children. They won't tell you that to your face, but I want you to know that they are definitely thinking it and talking about it behind your back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am having a hard time imagining a kid who can't read being ok in 2nd grade in any subject.

Teacher isn't concerned because DS is showing progress even though well below grade level still.

I was giving it time, understanding challenges of last year but I am starting to panic a bit thinking that this school year will be over before we know it.

What would you do??

I’m a teacher at a neighboring county. I have children. If your kid is not reading before entering school that is YOUR fault. My kid speaks reads and writes 3 languages proficiently.

It’s MY fault.

I'm a teacher too. I guarantee you have colleagues who think you shouldn't be allowed to work with children. They won't tell you that to your face, but I want you to know that they are definitely thinking it and talking about it behind your back.

You sound mad. That post is absolutely right, the responsibility for raising a child rests with the parents. If you can't tell that public school is glorified daycare at this point, you're delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is also in first grade and is really just starting to read easy books. He actually cried because he said he wasn’t learning in school. That was in November. I got Hooked on Phonics and am teaching him myself. Over the last few months, I’ve mentioned this to several friends, whose kids are all older. I’ve been really amazed to find out how many of them say they taught their own child to read. School was a supplement to what they did — not the other way around. They are not all FCPS families and their kids were in K and 1 well before COVID. Not saying that I think this is a good or bad thing—just sharing.

Same thing here, but we realized and started earlier in the year and he's flourished with us. It just took a LOT of effort earlier. Teaching reading/writing is something that is easier done 1 on 1 or in smaller groups. His class has 28 students, so only the ones who are still learning letters are getting more than a 15 min reading session each week. According to my unreliable 6 year old, he mainly gets to do imagine learning - Excited to be level 118 now. Not sure how I feel about so much computer learning...

[Anonymous]

If your child is in first grade and not reading at this point, you need to get on it OP. As in, teach him at home yourself or if you have money, pay for a tutor.

I have been a teacher for many years, the school will not be able to give your child the support that he needs with the things that they're dealing with. If your child potentially has a reading issue, they will wait for years before anything will be done. And now with the pandemic, they will blame everything on it instead of figuring out the root cause. Unfortunately, that's just how it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not an educator so l don’t feel qualified to reply to this.

As a parent who had a kid who was slow to read though, l really wish the US would dial it back. Seems like kids are expected to learn everything a year earlier than when l was a kid. Finland starts teaching kids to read at 7 and they have the best public education outcomes in the world.

It is simply wrong to imply Finland believes children can't learn to read until age 7. That is the start age for compulsory school not when the average Finnish child reads.

Dial it back? Back to what? Exactly what should an FCPS school do with the children ages 5-7 who have learned to read?

So then came our move to FCPS. I had one who by osmosis [ie FCPS whole language] astounded all when picking up a book at age 4 and could read. I wanted some explanation as to why FCPS was so different than anywhere else we were or had contacts. I'm not an educator but we lived in another school district prior to FCPS and had enough friends with similar age kids to get solid comparisons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am having a hard time imagining a kid who can't read being ok in 2nd grade in any subject.

Teacher isn't concerned because DS is showing progress even though well below grade level still.

I was giving it time, understanding challenges of last year but I am starting to panic a bit thinking that this school year will be over before we know it.

What would you do??

I’m a teacher at a neighboring county. I have children. If your kid is not reading before entering school that is YOUR fault. My kid speaks reads and writes 3 languages proficiently.

It’s MY fault.

I'm a teacher too. I guarantee you have colleagues who think you shouldn't be allowed to work with children. They won't tell you that to your face, but I want you to know that they are definitely thinking it and talking about it behind your back.

You sound mad. That post is absolutely right, the responsibility for raising a child rests with the parents. If you can't tell that public school is glorified daycare at this point, you're delusional.

Hit a nerve?

[Anonymous]

Update us in a few months OP, good luck we are pulling for you.