I took my son out of first grade because the teachers said they didn't have enough time to devote one on one learning for my ADHD/ auditory processing deficit and possible non-verbal disorder child. I have been teaching him since Dec 03' and am very frustrated. He is learning to read now and knows most of the alphabet but he is not understanding sounds ( He is 7).
I bought the Earobics thinking this is my answer and he loved it at first, but could only do beats ( syllables) to words and cannot understand the rest of the phonics program. Does anyone know of anything else I can try to help him learn to read?
Also, if he is doing well in math but very behind in reading and writing, what grade of curriculum do I buy? And what curriculum is best for my child? I am just learning the ropes here. If you have any suggestions, I would really appreciate it.
----------------------------------------
I know you are scared but hang in there. He is young and you are not behind. Don't worry what the teachers say. I bet I could go to any public school and find a boy in first grade exactly like your son, it isn't that huge a deal, not all kids take off learning at the same rate. Often kids hit a snag, they get some concept of phonics and just stop, don't go onto the next part. And it seems to take f-o-r-e-v-e-r. You tried Earobics and you have some indications that that is his weak area. He is going to love the parts he can do easily and not love or downright hate the parts that are hard. Do just a bit for say 5 minutes a day. Even if he hates it, make some deal with him. He gets some small treat if he does his best try for 5 minutes. A computer program might be a good place for him to start. It could be something cheap you get at Costco or Sam's. I got some for my youngest when he was about that age. It just helped him because it was instant feedback that mom wasn't involved with and it was with computers which he liked making it like a game. There are also some very good ones like Lexia which are designed for kids with reading problems.
http://www.lexialearning.com/
They used to have a sample cd they would send you for free to try. I used this program with good results.
I would focus on reading and look at Handwriting without Tears for writing if you mean penmanship. If you mean grammar, I would back off a bit just now and just have him copy words that he is doing in reading. Pick up those 3 booklets by Ruth Beechick. They are a treasure for about 12 bucks and you could use those for K-3. Just get him reading and use Beechick ideas for writing for now. That should be enough. If you want a more structured program, you could look at Mary Pecci's At Last! A Reading Method for Every Child. It is very good but you will have some reading to do to set it up in the beginning.
In Christ,
Nedra 2 of 5, ADHD, Psoriatic Arthritis, Sjogren's, + migraine
Borg Mom Resistance is Futile in finding what works for my kids
Nick, 18, AS, ADHD, + CAPD
Ben, 16, AS + ADHD
Matt, 12, very AS, ADHD,+Complex Partial Seizures of the Temporo- Limbic region
God knew there would be children with Autism - and in honor of them He made
the planets in the solar system spin round and round, round and round.....