Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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julia s.
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Posted: March 22 2005 at 4:23pm | IP Logged Quote julia s.

I'm not sure where to post this because I'm not sure what I need. My son is 7 he'll be 8 in June and he still struggles so much with reading. He also hates to write, draw,... anything to do with paper and pen. He is finally getting the individual letter sounds, but the word families evade him no matter how much we go over it. Also the phonics groups: ea, ee, ao, ect... are also not sticking. (I've tried them all). If you had to do something simple (I don't want to spend a lot of money on another reading program) something basic, what would you do? I just feel I'm missing something that is the connection for him. I don't think there are any problems (visual or otherwise) And if you have no suggestions either a pep talk or prayers would do too.

I really thought he'd be further along than this. We've read since he was a baby and it is frustrating to go through his reading and sound upbeat as he chokes out every sound. I know all kids take their time to get there -- and all else weighed equally it's ok, but I just feel I'm letting him down in this area.
Any thoughts?


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cathhomeschool
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Posted: March 23 2005 at 6:20am | IP Logged Quote cathhomeschool

Unfortunately, I have no suggestions. I don't have much experience in this area, as we only have 2 who are old enough to read. But I will keep you both in my prayers! You are such a blessing to him -- staying positive and trying to find a way to help him!

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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Faith
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Posted: March 23 2005 at 12:23pm | IP Logged Quote Faith

Hi Julia,

My three oldest kids were all late bloomers with reading. All have been diagnosed with LDs. BUT, frankly having them diagnosed didn't change the way they learned to read. I sent my oldest to A Phonographix (Reading Reflex) tutor and she jumped two grade levels in 6 weeks (she was 8 yo at the time). Reading Reflex did not work with my second child. What finally worked for him was Mary Pecci's At Last a Reading Method for Every Child. I love this program and I highly recommend it. You can find out more about it at www.readingtutoronline.com (or maybe it is onlinereadingtutor, I can never remember). He started this program right after New years and two weeks before his 9th birthday in June he suddenly started reading. It took him about a year to get up to grade level. My third son didn't start to read until the summer after his 9th birthday. I used Little Angel Readers and Pathway Readers using the At Last methodolgy. Eight months later he is reading voraciously and has caught up to grade level. He is reading his way through the Wayside books and the Prydain Chronicles simultaneously! He actually gets up early so he can have time to read. I am loving it!

So take heart! It just might be that he isn't there yet. Keep plugging away patiently, don't lose your cool, make it as fun as possible and don't let him know you are worried.

I would advise getting his vision checked by a vision therapist. Two of my kids have been diagnosed with vision problems. My oldest who likes to read but is very slow and picky about what she reads, really has more severe problems which could have been corrected by now if I had had her in vision therapy earlier.

Hope this helps.
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julia s.
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Posted: March 23 2005 at 5:07pm | IP Logged Quote julia s.

Faith wrote:
I would advise getting his vision checked by a vision therapist. Two of my kids have been diagnosed with vision problems. My oldest who likes to read but is very slow and picky about what she reads, really has more severe problems which could have been corrected by now if I had had her in vision therapy earlier.

Faith,
Is a vision therapist different from an opthamologist?
I'll look into the Pecci website. I think heard about this from someone else too. Maybe I just needed to hear it louder. Thanks for your encouragement. I know in my heart it will click, he's just someone who hears his own drummer and in that I should be thankful and stop expecting him to suddenly be like everyone else. And I'm sure he thinks he's doing fine -- just mom's stressing out .


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julia s.
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Posted: March 23 2005 at 5:12pm | IP Logged Quote julia s.

Janette,
My reply got lost in my trying to be fancy and put Faith's quote after my response to you. But what I said was thank you for your prayers. I need them from people on this board because when it comes to not feeling competent about teaching Michael I find it hard to confide in people I know without getting the "well why don't you put him back in school speach." Like that would solve the problems .
Thanks again for your thoughtfulness.


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Faith
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Posted: March 23 2005 at 6:48pm | IP Logged Quote Faith

Hi Julia,

A vision therapist is an optomotrist who has specialized in this particular field. He or she can test your child's eyes for tracking, focussing, and other issues.

It is so hard when you have a late bloomer. I experienced so much dispair and guilt and even anger at my kids for not being like other kids who made it look so effortless! And I absolutely hated it when moms would talk (or brag) about how their kid learned to read when he/she was three, etc. I took everything personally! It is hard, there is no question about it. Now I have a 6 yo who is right on target for his age group. And I have 3.5 yo who can actually read three letter simple words like cat and ham. I think God rewarded me for all my anguish and also made me realize it is totally up to the individual child's internal clock. And I also deeply realize that it doesn't matter AT ALL when they learn to read, just that they do and when they do they are proud of themselves and read because they enjoy it.
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julia s.
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Posted: March 25 2005 at 6:37am | IP Logged Quote julia s.

I know it is good Friday and I normally wouldn't be on the computer right now, but I didn't want to start into this weekend without saying thank you for all your support. I hope you have a wonderful Easter with your family.

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Posted: March 28 2005 at 8:02am | IP Logged Quote cathhomeschool

julia s. wrote:
when it comes to not feeling competent about teaching Michael I find it hard to confide in people I know without getting the "well why don't you put him back in school speach."


It is a shame that the people closest to us are often not as supportive as they could be. We'll keep praying for enlightenment about what to do and for peace in your heart. I'm so glad that we can turn here for support!

And thanks for your thoughtful note -- We had a wonderful Easter and look forward to continuing the Easter Season!

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rebeccaf10
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Posted: March 28 2005 at 1:49pm | IP Logged Quote rebeccaf10

My son Nathaniel turned 9 in Febuary and my son Caleb will be turning 7 in April. Both of them are slow readers and I get frustrated because others around them younger and older are reading and they are not. I keep telling myself they will do it. Just keep working with them. So you see you are not the only one here on the forum. We will support each other.


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julia s.
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Posted: March 28 2005 at 10:58pm | IP Logged Quote julia s.

rebeccaf10 wrote:
My son Nathaniel turned 9 in Febuary and my son Caleb will be turning 7 in April. Both of them are slow readers and I get frustrated because others around them younger and older are reading and they are not. I keep telling myself they will do it. Just keep working with them. So you see you are not the only one here on the forum. We will support each other.


Thanks. I know he's not the first child in history to take this long, but it would be nice to be able to commiserate with someone else.
It's late and my mind is turning to mush to I'm going to have to stop at that. Thanks.


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