seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,427
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Feb 18, 2017 6:03:39 GMT
As a junior high level math teacher, if you feel that you need to retain, PLEASE do it NOW and do not wait another year. IME, after 1st grade, retention is not very beneficial.
Do you have any Captain Underpants books? They're by Dav Pilkey. My kindergarten DD LOVES them. They're partial comic book style and part chapter books. I think they're a 1st/2nd grade level maybe? Could by something he's interested in, There are also the Stink books from the person who writes the Judy Moody books.
For lower levels try Pete the Cat and Splat the Cat. Those are big favorites here,
|
|
|
Post by mymindseyedpea on Feb 18, 2017 6:29:55 GMT
Is he having trouble sounding out the letters in a word together? Like is he reading each word from left to right before he knows what word it is? I'm not a teacher, but I feel that once reading words as a whole is mastered, then your reading level can go up.
So if he isn't reading words as a whole yet I would focus on that first and have him practice reading words instead of sentences.
Break it down. That's what I did with dd. First we learned what each sound/s the letters made. Then we would put 2 together and see if that would make a different sound, then 3 and so forth. We would just play around with those fridge letter magnets and experiment with them. And I would tell her the sounds the vowels make would be like singing and the sounds the consonants make would sound like a drum set.
So, wherever he is at in learning to read, my advice would be to break it down.
|
|
|
Post by silverlining on Feb 18, 2017 6:35:10 GMT
I know kids who "couldn't read" but could read a particular thing, like Pokemon cards, or baseball cards. My dd wasn't reading books yet, but pointed out to us that the menu said that the kids meal came with a free ice cream sundae:) So don't worry if it's not books right now. If there's a topic that's interesting to him, try to find a magazine or book about it that he's excited about, even if you need to read it to him. Some kids really love the books with CDs that they can listen to and follow along.
|
|
|
Post by julieinsweden on Feb 18, 2017 7:34:16 GMT
Here in Sweden the emphasis is on learning to read at home. They have to read for at least 15 minutes a day with a parent. Each week they get send home a book that you are to read and reread and reread again. I was very skeptical about the reading the same thing over and over. But now I see the value. The words that he read a whole bunch of times last week have sunk in and he is now reading by sight. Only having to phonetically sound out the new words in the new book this week.
How much time do you invest in teaching him to read?
|
|
|
Post by lindywholoveskids on Feb 18, 2017 8:34:21 GMT
lots of children are not developmentally ready to read till age 8. It will click in. if not, then bring in help. Make it fun!
|
|
|
Post by beachbum on Feb 18, 2017 14:07:00 GMT
Retired teacher here, I taught 1st grade for a couple of years, then 2nd for the rest of my career. In 1st I called this time of year the wonder time - it's when things finally started to click with most of the class, it was like you could see the lightbulbs turning on. If he hasn't 'clicked' yet with reading how is he with math? Is he on grade level in other areas and only behind in reading, or is he struggling in all areas? Does he pay attention in class, or is he off task? Those are questions you need to ask his teacher, along with asking her for ideas for what to do at home. She may have some insight as to what his problem is (trouble tracking or phonics or other issues) and have strategies to use at home that you may not have thought of. Is there something he's really interested in - dinosaurs, robots, bugs - get a couple of easy readers about that and read them, over and over. Most people slide their finger under the words as they read, I found that if you actually point to the word as you say it the kids tie spoken word and written word together better. I think the top 10 ways to become a better reader are: read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read.
|
|
paigepea
Drama Llama
Enter your message here...
Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
|
Post by paigepea on Feb 18, 2017 14:37:38 GMT
I haven't read the replies.
Is there anyway you can find a retired teacher or new teacher (advertise at the university) to tutor. Or ask the K teacher if they know of someone.
In my teaching experience, sylvan is ok.
I know you want to give da a good start but early or late reading skills in K are no indication of future success in school. And slower reading skills wouldn't be a reason to hold da back.
|
|
paigepea
Drama Llama
Enter your message here...
Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
|
Post by paigepea on Feb 18, 2017 14:47:12 GMT
I want to add that as a teacher I've never seen wonderful benefits with holding children back. Ive seen it done as an effort to help the child achieve higher with the new peer group and I haven't seen that happen.
As a parent, I haven't seen it to be worthwhile amongst my girls' peers. One girl held back in little dd's year is too bored, too mature and too tall to fit in with my dd's peer group. They are having trouble challenging her enough. And a few kids in my older dd's peer group are having trouble fitting in. They feel neither here nor there with the peer group - don't fit in with the grade above and don't fit in with dd's grade. The boy in particular matured before the boys in the peer group and ended up leaving the school. With a late birthday they held him back. Academically it didn't make a difference and socially (while he was immature in K so it seemed like a good idea) he was more mature than the other boys by 12 years old and didn't fit in with the 11 year olds.
Holding back is not common in our country but I feel like in the states it is more common. If many kids are held back at your school then maybe it's ok to do so because the peer group will be of similar age. Here, we can't do it just because we have an idea that it might be worthwhile.
|
|
|
Post by anonrefugee on Feb 18, 2017 15:18:04 GMT
I'm glad we delayed our DS for his teen years. He was ready at kindergarten, but almost everyone I talked to said the difference would start to matter as a tween.
A private tutor by a reading specialist could be a better approach than Slyvan. They could help you determine if he just doesn't enjoy it, is not a "good" reader, or if there's a possibility of a learning difference, like dyslexia. Signs of dyslexia can appear as young as kindergarten level instead of old adage about waiting until second or third grade.
If he has something like dyslexia, then repeating the same teaching method with yield the same result, and causes more frustration in most kids.
Good luck! Your son is lucky he has a mother who's willing to give him extra attention and tutors to help him improve.
|
|
|
Post by hennybutton on Feb 18, 2017 17:05:08 GMT
I'm a first grade teacher. What's his reading level? You're right. Giving him an extra year may help. It depends on his particular struggles. How does he do in Writing, Spelling and Math? So much is expected from these little ones today! I wonder if too much is expected. When I was a kid, we started learning to read in first grade. It was the same when my 33 year old DD was in school. By the time my 21 year old DS started school, the curriculum for kindergarten was the same as what used to be first grade. My son was an August 31 baby, so I started him a year late. I figured if yhe had first grade expectations for kindergarten, my son could be first grade age.
|
|
|
Post by threegirls on Feb 18, 2017 17:39:11 GMT
I don't have experience with Sylvan but my middle DD went to an Orton-Gillingham tutor. There are free tutoring centers. Here is a link for more information: link . We went with a private tutor because the wait list at our center was 18 months and we didn't want to wait that long. She started going to tutoring at the end of 1st grade. She went once a week for an hour during the school year and twice a week (two hours a week) during the summer. She also went to a reading camp at one our local universities. The camp is put on by graduate students. I also worked with her. She worked her butt off that summer and through second grade. She passed the third grade reading test and is now in fourth grade. Math is now her nemesis! Orton-Gillingham is not an overnight fix. It is aimed at Dyslexics but every child can benefit from it. I just want to note that the Scottish-Rite Orton-Gillingham centers require that a child be professionally tested.
|
|
|
Post by circusjohnson on Feb 18, 2017 17:56:01 GMT
The best thing you can do with him is to read together. I would cut out the tutoring prograns and simple read with him every night. Let him pick what he wants to read. And READ READ READ Right now it's a chore to him. If they have someone helping him at school then he's getiong the help with the mechanics of it. He is starting to see reading as not fun and so he fights you on it. I would simply make sure that you are reading with him every night for 20 min. Some nights have him read to you and some nights you read to him. Or even do a bit of both. Read books to him that are intrestiing but higher level than he can do on his own. I am an Elementary School Librarian I would be happy to send you some book ides if you would like. My principle is always telling the kids the more you read the better you read. It is absolute truth!
|
|
|
Post by Really Red on Feb 18, 2017 18:24:25 GMT
hold back..hold back...HOLD BACK especially boys. I wish I held my daughter back two weeks from the cutoff. No. Do what is right for your child. Period. If I had held back my son, school would have been way worse for him. In his school, the majority of problems are caused by BOYS who were held back. That doesn't make me say don't hold back your boys, because I know that's not the problem. The problem is boys are wired differently than girls and we should treat them differently. FOR THE MOST PART, boys just can't sit still all day long. Mine could, but most boys can't and shouldn't. Heck probably girls shouldn't either, but they don't cause the kinds of problems boys do. We just need different measurements of when is right to start school.
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 18, 2017 19:44:44 GMT
I'm the mom of a first grader too and I volunteer with literacy in her classroom. The kids are all over the place in terms of their reading and writing levels. Some kids are working well above grade level and other kids need a lot more help, so I think at this age there is naturally a pretty big range of what's acceptable. If the kid is doing fine in the other subjects and is doing okay socially with his peers in class, I would hesitate to hold him back.
I would look for books on topics he's interested in, as well as reading apps if you have a tablet he can use. One thing that seemed to really hold my DD's interest early on was the reading apps because they're basically picture books that read the stories aloud while highlighting the words on the page as the story moves along. Her school uses RAZ Kids subscriptions for all the kids and they can also access their account online from home, but we also used Disney Story Central because our kid liked stories with Disney characters in them. She could "read" her books while we were making dinner, etc.
We read pretty much every single night for at least 15-30 minutes, sometimes she reads and other times I do. Early on, I would read most of the words on the page but would stop and point out the sight words I knew she knew and would have her follow along and read the words she recognized. Now she is reading true chapter books to me and I only help out with the occasional unfamiliar word after I have her break it down and sound it out. She really liked the Fly Guy books by Tedd Arnold.
Does your school coordinate orders from Scholastic Book Club? We let our DD choose a handful of books she is interested in every couple months and she is a lot more excited about reading the books she herself has picked out.
|
|
|
Post by karinms on Feb 18, 2017 20:16:29 GMT
The best thing you can do for him is find something he wants to read! What is he into? Sports? Trucks? Animals? Find books or magazines related to his interest. My son was the same at that age and the one thing that motivated him was Nintendo Power magazines. I used to read parts of his big brother's magazines to him and the day I told him he was old enough to read them himself was a huge turning point. In under a week he was reading anything he could get his hands on.
|
|
|
Post by mrssmith on Feb 18, 2017 20:48:38 GMT
Having taught kindergarten for 11 years, I would have advised you to never start him being so young. You can see the problems already. I seldom worked with teachers who started their son if he had a summer birthday. It doesnt get much better as being one of the youngest boys in class is really hard on the child. Give him the gift of time. If you are going to retain him, do it this year. Interesting. My DD has the same bday as the OP's DS (Aug 2). Our cutoff is Sept 1. I sent her and she has been fine. Now in 3rd grade.
|
|
|
Post by anonrefugee on Feb 18, 2017 21:07:49 GMT
Having taught kindergarten for 11 years, I would have advised you to never start him being so young. You can see the problems already. I seldom worked with teachers who started their son if he had a summer birthday. It doesnt get much better as being one of the youngest boys in class is really hard on the child. Give him the gift of time. If you are going to retain him, do it this year. Interesting. My DD has the same bday as the OP's DS (Aug 2). Our cutoff is Sept 1. I sent her and she has been fine. Now in 3rd grade. It's not often suggested for girls, more of a boy issue due to maturing slower.
|
|
|
Post by mrssmith on Feb 18, 2017 21:21:43 GMT
Interesting. My DD has the same bday as the OP's DS (Aug 2). Our cutoff is Sept 1. I sent her and she has been fine. Now in 3rd grade. It's not often suggested for girls, more of a boy issue due to maturing slower. I think I would have been more concerned about DS if that had been him, but our district is super strict about this. I don't think they allow many exceptions, if any. Anyway, OP - my DD's 1st grade teacher was also a reading specialist. She also highly recommended reading together as someone above mentioned. My son likes books, but is more likely to read words on items (like directions on a box or signs outside) vs. in a book. Hope you find a good solution for you and your DS!
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Feb 18, 2017 21:26:22 GMT
I'm a first grade teacher. What's his reading level? You're right. Giving him an extra year may help. It depends on his particular struggles. How does he do in Writing, Spelling and Math? So much is expected from these little ones today! I wonder if too much is expected. When I was a kid, we started learning to read in first grade. It was the same when my 33 year old DD was in school. By the time my 21 year old DS started school, the curriculum for kindergarten was the same as what used to be first grade. My son was an August 31 baby, so I started him a year late. I figured if yhe had first grade expectations for kindergarten, my son could be first grade age. My kids learned to read by Christmas of kindergarten. The teacher had to have the kids reading early so that the upper grades could teach the skills that they had to have accomplished by the time the kids were taking state/national tests. The threat of being taken over by the state was very real for some schools and kids have been pushed because of this.
|
|
|
Post by katiejane on Feb 18, 2017 21:37:03 GMT
It's tricky. Both of mine have been behind in reading in 1st grade (age 5 here) and have had extra support with their schools. But by the end of the 2nd grade (aged 6) Ithey had caught up and had reading ages above their actual age. Talk to the teacher and find out what she recommends or what additional help support she suggests.
|
|
kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,517
Location: The city that doesn't sleep
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
|
Post by kate on Feb 18, 2017 21:59:33 GMT
I have a boy whose birthday is 2 weeks before the cutoff. He, too, struggled with reading in first grade. Fortunately, the school put him in a reading enrichment group (probably similar to what your DS is in), and it clicked for him. By the end of third grade, he had flown through all the reading levels.
Orton-Gillingham is widely used at my school (many teachers are trained in it); I don't know any kids who have done Sylvan. I'm not a reading teacher, though.
Don't beat yourself up about not retaining him. It's great for some kids, and really not so great for others. I asked both his preschool teachers and his Kindergarten teachers if we should consider holding my son back - I know his birthday is very late, and I wanted to redshirt him early if it needed to be done. They unanimously said that his academic struggles were not going to be served by retaining him, and that he was on par with his classmates in most areas.
If you trust the teachers, just ask them what they think. Sometimes an evaluation for dyslexia or other learning challenges can get a kid started more quickly on an effective remedy.
|
|
|
Post by hop2 on Feb 19, 2017 0:12:26 GMT
I know kids who "couldn't read" but could read a particular thing, like Pokemon cards, or baseball cards. My dd wasn't reading books yet, but pointed out to us that the menu said that the kids meal came with a free ice cream sundae:) . . Of course reading THAT sentence had value to her!
|
|
mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
Jun 27, 2014 19:58:15 GMT
|
Post by mlana on Feb 19, 2017 0:16:50 GMT
My DS went to public school for his elementary years and was homeschooled after 5th grade; my DD was homeschooled until 9th grade and then did high school online or in a brick and mortar school. Both kids read early but learned to read in different ways. DS could read before kindergarten, but had no real interest in reading. DD read even earlier than DS, but was super frustrated that she couldn't read on the same level.
To encourage DS to read, I would read the same books as he and then we would discuss them. While we were discussing the books, I could gently correct his mispronunciations or ask him questions that sharpened his reading comprehension. By the time he was old enough to write detailed book reports, he had no problems taking the book apart on a higher level than just 'Joe was a boy who had a dog.'
DD despised doing simple reading exercises. See Spot books were pure torture to her. She wanted to read real stories or not at all. Our library had these wonderful kits that included a cd of a book and a copy of the same version of the book as was on the cd. DD would spend hours listening and following along with the narrator. Like her brother, she wanted to discuss what she had read when she finished.
I think the common factor in the way that both of my kids learned to enjoy reading was that they were reading something they enjoyed and were going to get to talk about. I remember sitting on the bed with both of them at night and we could talk about first one's book and then the other's. My son would read his sister's books so he could be a part of her discussion and, before she could read on his level, he would read his books to her. We listened to a TON of audio books as a family and I used to get so aggravated with the two of them because they would read the book we were listening to and then yell out spoilers. I actually had to forbid them from reading something we were going to listen to together.
If your son doesn't have a reading disability, I think the best way to help him read is to find things he'll enjoy reading and then you read them too. When you're both done, ask him about the exciting parts. I remember reading Animorphs (yuck!) and asking my son what he thought of the way the author discussed the air currents that one of the characters loved to ride. I was amazed at how much of the information DS remembered and I was thrilled that he went on to research both the bird the character had become and the specifics of bird flight. If you seem to enjoy the books and act excited about something that happened in the books, you may find he gets into it, too.
My son really enjoyed: Animorphs Red Wall Goosebumps Magic Treehouse (just the first few) Bruce Coville's Magic Shop series
My DD enjoyed: Everything Tamara Pierce has ever written, but her Circle of Magic series would be the most age appropriate for him Spider wick Chronicles (not sure on age) Charlie Bone series My Teacher is a ...series Charlie and the Chocolate factory E D Baker's Frog Princess books Rick Riordan's books
As a family, we really enjoyed listening to the Harry Potter books and the Dragon books by Anne McCaffrey.
Marcy
|
|
|
Post by Legacy Girl on Feb 19, 2017 4:54:07 GMT
Please ask your school district to evaluate your child for dyslexia and other learning differences before you invest money into a program like Sylvan. I'm the mom to a dyslexic daughter who was diagnosed in third grade. One in every five children is dyslexic, and dyslexia is far more complex and far-reaching than simply the reversal of letters. Some early indicators of dyslexia that may be helpful are included in this link: Signs and Symptoms Once my daughter was diagnosed, we invested in Orton-Gillingham and the difference has been amazing. One final thought. While reading to your child is never the wrong thing to do, it may not be the exclusive answer to a child's challenges. In our case, we read to our daughter every day from the day she came home from the hospital. My husband did. I did. My parents did. The librarians at story time did. And my daughter has always LOVED books. But we could have read to her until we all keeled over and it would not have changed the fact that she is dyslexic and requires special intervention for her learning differences. So, yes. Keep reading with your child. But don't hesitate to request evaluation and if you do get a diagnosis of dyslexia, please don't settle for anything less than a phonics-based approach like Orton-Gillingham. It will make all the difference in the world, not only in a child's ability to read, but also in his or her ability to learn in other areas, and in his/her self-confidence and often his/her personality and behavior.
|
|
|
Post by brina on Feb 19, 2017 12:26:00 GMT
My number one piece of advice is don't stress over it. Read to him as often as you can and don't make a big deal about it or add any pressure.
My son was in the lower reading level in first and second grade. Somewhere in the middle of second something clicked - it all started to make sense. By 4th grade he was at the top of his class in reading.
Not all kids are ready to read fluently in Kindergarten or first grade. The pressure to do so is causing many problems and making a lot of parents doubt rational decisions. Staring K at 5 is fine. In some states the cut-off isn't until December 1.
|
|