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Dawnie
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| Posted: Jan 03 2007 at 11:17pm | IP Logged
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Does anyone else use CHC's Devotional Stories for Little Folks for 2nd grade reading practice? After spending the first few months of the year laboring through a story from DSFLF each week, I finally realized that maybe it's too hard for my 2nd grader. Or maybe the print is too small and the lines are too close together.
My 7yod frequently skips words and reads them out of order when she reads DSFLF, but I noticed this week that when she reads from a book with larger print and more space betweent the lines, her reading is much better. Is this an issue that will clear up with time or could it indicate a vision problem that needs to be looked into?
If you use DSFLF, what age/grade child do you use it for?
Dawn
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marihalojen
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I don't use that particular book but with children and smaller print the use of a ruler/bookmark really helps some children. Just use it to "underline" only the line to be read.
It's something to try before you trash a text!
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Paula in MN
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Yes, I use it for my 2nd grader. I agree, the print is too small.
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Carole N.
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When my children were that age, I used to read it to them after lunch. We had several books that were considered after lunch reading.
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ALmom
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Dawnie:
We used the program you mentioned and yes, the print is smaller for the age than expected. I dont' think I had my children read it to themselves that year - I think we read it in 3rd grade, when the child was closer to 9. We read larger print books instead or I read aloud and didn't worry as much. It seems that printing costs have gone up so almost all workbook/worktexts do this now (DSFLF is done as a worktext even if you don't use the question answer stuff and designed to be as low cost as possible). This small print is even done in piano books - evidently the new theory is that you force the younger child's eyes to converge earlier and earlier (my suspicion is that the theory is more about cost than what is really good for the children). My optometrist and vision therapist are appalled by this and think there is a definite link between this too small print and vision problems (including near - sightedness). Our therapist insisted on younger children using huge sheets of paper for art, etc. and not being confined to 8 1/2 by 11, etc.
One thing we did was to go out to Staples and get a 8 1/2 by 11 magnifying sheet and plan to build a frame for it so that reading material can sit under the magnifier. My children are all far-sighted so that the extra small print is particularly difficult for them- even with reading glasses. I personally agree with my optometrist that pushing the small print at too young an age is not good for the children - thus the 8 1/2 by 11 magnifying sheet. I also made sure (before we had the magnifier) that, if the print is small, and we want to do the assignments/reading, we go much slower and strictly limit the amount of time spent with it so we don't spend a lot of time with the small print.
And, yes, missing little words, loosing your place, etc. can be a sign of vision problems. However, it can also be very normal at 7 and 8 and the trick of using a ruler, etc. should help. If repeated practice does not help, then you probably think more along vision. One consideration is to look at a big picture. If this is the only difficulty, then you may simply be looking at age related developmental things. If there are other difficulties that don't improve with practice, then you may want to look further into the vision. One place to get a bit of an idea of the symptoms is at the web site called pavevision.org as it has a number of little on-line pamphlets, brochures, etc. It does seem to imply that the vision problems are caused by things we as parents fail to provide or do (too much TV, etc.) and these may factor into the problem. Personally, I also think there is a hereditary component as we did not have any of the risk factors, followed Dr. Moore's recommendations of Better Late than Early, did not watch TV, spend time on the computer, etc.
Hope this helps answer your question.
Janet
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Cathmomof8
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I've been reading this aloud to my 6th, 3rd and 1st graders this year on Monday mornings, narrating, discussing and then the kids memorize the quotes and verses that week. They also do those as copywork. It's working out well.
Theresia
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Bella
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Hi Janet,
I just wanted to say,"Thankyou!" for the great tip on working with your far-sighted readers. My ds is very far-sighted, and your post was a great help!
Warmly,
Christy
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 5:57pm | IP Logged
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Way too hard for my second grader and my Ker (who is on the same reading level). I'm using it as a read-aloud.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 6:18pm | IP Logged
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Goodness, I'm glad to read this thread. We just received DSLF this week and it looks wonderful but *definitely* beyond my 2nd grader! I plan to read the stories aloud to all my boys, once a week.
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hopalenik
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Hi,
We used Little Stories for little folks last year with my then 6 year old (my first time round the block teaching). She made it through but with many tears. So this year I had her read the Seton 2nd grade readers and all the books recomended by Sonlight for 2nd grade. We will be starting Devotional stories next week. I think that it is very hard for a second grader. It has alot of multisyllabe words in it. Tara knows all her sounds and phonograms thanks to Sound Beginnings. But getting through multisyllable words took her a year longer to get. Now that she can read chapter books, she can read Devotional stories. Maybe see if the struggle is bigger words-if so try Explode the Code book 4 (it should be only $6 from Rainbow REsource Center). This book really helped to focus her skills on multisyllable words. And maybe try the Seton Readers or some other grade 2 reader for awhile.
Holly
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Meredith
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 12:10pm | IP Logged
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Both my then 2nd graders read it aloud to me or read it by themselves and we discussed &/or they narrated, but I do think the print is on the small side. I think it's an excellent read aloud for any age!!
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 7:14pm | IP Logged
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Speaking of DSLF, I just got an email from CHC - they are publishing a Devotional Stories For Little Folks Too. 
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J.Anne
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 8:37pm | IP Logged
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I am so glad I saw this thread. I thought the print was way too small as well and the lines are too close together. My daughter usually is ahead in reading, but this is going to challenge her.
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Devotional Stories for Little Folks
