Hooked on Phonics APP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also lots of privates have reading specialists. Maybe ask school if he can get extra help?

I can give anyone the title of “reading specialist.” The question is whether that person has had specific coursework and training in dealing with reading problems. In VA, all public schools have to have a reading specialist that has specific training in dyslexia.

That is interesting. The “reading specialist” at our VA school was coaching parents in 3 cueing. It was appalling.

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone recommend phonics programs? We have IXL phonics we can continue. Is there a good summer review workbook or lessons I can run through with her as a parent?

Explode the Code
All About Reading
Read in 100 Lessons
Hooked on Phonics
Reading Eggs

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. He won't be the only one but maybe the only one in his class. I work in a Title One school and most of the kids going to 2nd grade will be barely reading. Is he struggling with decoding unknown words? Recognizing high-frequency words that cannot be decoded?

All I can say is, what the heck?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Math basics and phonics are truly weak points in the areas private lower schools.

This is what I’m worried about. I think the private school isn’t going to be able to meet his needs and letting this slide all year has made things worse. I feel like he was on par with peers last year but just went downhill fast this year which caused increasing levels of frustration for him. Hopefully outside testing and help this summer will make a difference. Thank you for all the helpful and thoughtful responses.

FWIW, I have one rising from public JKLM to private, another is staying public (for now) the one staying public I just found out is reading at B level mid year and F level now, (2nd expected to start JKL). I had to ask the teacher after child was screened at pediatrician for possible vision problems. I have heard our JKLM public has great supports, and I have heard from a DCPS elementary reading specialist that their school would have flagged and supported my child. The person said public school has resources and its very school dependent and relies on strong parent advocates to get resources if there is a need.

Alas, we will support from here and ask for more in the fall. But wanted to add that at public it seems depending on the teacher and the school it’s a scramble.

Get him tested even though it is early and get a tutor. Hold him back - if you wait you'll be in my situation with a rising 6th grader who could have used an extra year. Don't wait to do this...it is harder when older. plus all the private school parents seem to redshirt anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Math basics and phonics are truly weak points in the areas private lower schools.

Agree, not a focal point at the “social mission centric” places. And the last year and a half virtual/hybrid/half days, they really dropped their expectations.

Anonymous wrote:Math basics and phonics are truly weak points in the areas private lower schools.

This is what I’m worried about. I think the private school isn’t going to be able to meet his needs and letting this slide all year has made things worse. I feel like he was on par with peers last year but just went downhill fast this year which caused increasing levels of frustration for him. Hopefully outside testing and help this summer will make a difference. Thank you for all the helpful and thoughtful responses.

Math basics and phonics are truly weak points in the areas private lower schools.

Op, so sorry to hear about this. I suggest (1) get eyes checked by a _Developmental_ Optometrist who has experience with children - a regular Optometrist is not the same and Ophthalmologist is not the same. It isn't just optics, but also how well/poorly the eyes work together.

(2) Test for dyslexia.
(3) tutor reading until child us at least 1 semester ahead of his/her expected level, then monitor closely
(4) consider adding Kumon Reading as reinforcement

^^^it might be true that parental involvement helps but you should get an assessment and professional support if there are still challenges at the end of first grade. Don’t let other parents tell you to just try harder because some children need an entirely different approach that is evidence based.

Reading is one of those areas where in my experience, parental involvement and repetitive practice every single day is key. It sounds like you may need to start back at the beginning with bob books and get the sounds down and slowly expand from there. Have your child try reading for 5 minutes, then you can read to them for 20-30 minutes (from a more interesting book to them—maybe Magic Treehouse books?). Slowly increase their reading time and difficulty but always make sure you are reading to them for 20-30 minutes a night as well. Good luck! It’s like potty training. Such a pain while you are going thru it but once your child catches on, they’ll move forward quickly on their own.

Anonymous wrote:Get a reading tutor, three times a week. Do not wait for the school.

This!! My rising 2nd grader has made huge strides with a tutor in the last few months. Rich white school and they did nothing for the child.

NP here, thank you so much to the prior poster for sharing that!

Call these people today and get your child in at least twice a week. They get behind so quickly and it's so hard to catch up.
https://www.sdsquared.org