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joann10
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| Posted: May 05 2008 at 9:00pm | IP Logged
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I am in a panic! Mark was 8 years old in January and doing second grade work. He is doing excellent in math, learning abstact ideas very easily.
My problem is that is he is barely reading. He is definitely showing progress but we live in NY and he has to be tested in June. I give him the CAT test through Seton- I just bought a Spectrum Test Prep workbook thinking it would show me where he needs help, but he struggled even with the easiest portions of the language arts sections of the book.
What do I do? Help! 
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Erin
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| Posted: May 05 2008 at 9:12pm | IP Logged
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Joann
My Malachi turns 9 in July and he has only just started reading. Amazingly he is quickly catching up to speed, I had heard of it but now I am experiencing it.
I haven't the pressure of testing though, what does it mean if he isn't where they think he should be?
BTW Have you had his eyes tested? I'm getting Malachi's tested next week, he has complained of eye problems, I was thinking if there is an issue I am going to feel soo guilty. 
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joann10
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| Posted: May 05 2008 at 9:39pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
| BTW Have you had his eyes tested? |
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Erin,
I was just wondering about Mark's eyes the other day. I plan on calling and making an appointment for an eye exam. He had one two years ago and everything appeared fine.
I don't really know what happens if he tests below grade level-so that is making me nervous. All my other kids tested way above grade level,so I never had any of these concerns.
When he reads he will quickly pick a word, usually totally out of context, but if I circle "special" sounds, and blends he usually gets the word correct. He just seems to need a lot of prompting from me- and that won't help him during testing.
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Red Cardigan
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| Posted: May 05 2008 at 11:00pm | IP Logged
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Joann, my kids will probably hate me for recommending this book: Professor Phonics.
But my mom used it with several children, including one younger brother who told her at the beginning of schooling that he'd "do homeschool" as long as she didn't expect him to learn any of that letters and numbers stuff! 
And he went on to get a degree in literature, so obviously something worked.
But seriously, I've used Professor Phonics for each of my girls, and while they have less than fond memories of the book and its drills, it really is the fastest, easiest way I've found to make reading "click" for some kids--especially the analytical ones.
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Bridget
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Joanne, there must be some leniency for a child that age! You are obviously teaching him consistently and following required procedures for testing. I can't imagine that testing low in reading at 8 would send out alarm bells. Especially if he is close to grade level in other areas
Since you are homeschooling, you could also call him first grade and give him that test. Holding kids back a year to begin K at 6 is quite common in schools here in MI.
I would call HSLDA to get their take on it.
If it's any comfort, my DH wasn't reading with fluency till he was 11 or 12. He graduated from high school with honors and obtained several degrees with honors.
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JennGM
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Red Cardigan wrote:
Joann, my kids will probably hate me for recommending this book: Professor Phonics.
But my mom used it with several children, including one younger brother who told her at the beginning of schooling that he'd "do homeschool" as long as she didn't expect him to learn any of that letters and numbers stuff!
And he went on to get a degree in literature, so obviously something worked.
But seriously, I've used Professor Phonics for each of my girls, and while they have less than fond memories of the book and its drills, it really is the fastest, easiest way I've found to make reading "click" for some kids--especially the analytical ones.
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Wow, that's good to know. I remember this book from my years working at OLRS, as Mrs. Smyth thought very highly of this program, especially for those that had some special needs. The author was a nun. I didn't realize the books were still around. Did you use this program for all your children or when extra help was needed?
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Isa in Michigan
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I would immediately go back to the basics of making sure that your son can tell you all the sounds of the phonograms quickly (60 sounds/minute). Do a search online for the "70 phonograms" of the English language, and you'll find out what they are. Once he can do this, you'll know that your son is fluent in recognizing the sounds from the letters.
I would then make sure that your son knows all the beginning and ending consonant blends quickly.
Finally, look up Fry's Instant Words so that you can have your son learn the first 100 most frequently used words in the English language. These 100 words make up 50% of the words we read. Strive to get your son to read these words at 80 words/minute.
If your son masters the above items, he'll be reading quite well. The key is to have your son not only know the components of reading, but be able to do them quickly. You want it to become second nature so that he doesn't even have to think about what he's doing. That's when you know that he will have mastered the components of reading.
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Mary K
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Hi,
What grade is your son in? I'm in NY also and testing is not required until 4th grade or every other year. Declare 4th grade your 1st every other year and start testing in 5th grade. Then you only have to test in 5th, 7th and all high school years.
God bless,
Mary-NY
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joann10
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| Posted: May 06 2008 at 6:41pm | IP Logged
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Mary K wrote:
| I'm in NY also and testing is not required until 4th grade or every other year. |
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Mary, Mark is in 2nd grade. I will need to find these regulations! Every third quarter my school sends a letter and wants to know what we are doing for testing and when they can expect the results.
If it is not even required until 4th grade I would copy the regulation and send that to the school district along with my 4th quarter reports. This is what I did when the school district requested an IHIP for my kindergarten. I copied the regulation stated I didn't need to supply an IHIP at this time and I didn't hear from them again regarding my k-student.
Not testing until 4th grade makes alot more sense to me, because kids this young are at so many different levels.
Thank-you everyone for all of your encouragement.
I will also be looking into Professor Phonics and reviewing his knowledge of phonetic sounds as Isa suggested.
Thanks for all of your help! 
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Red Cardigan
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Jenn, I worked for Mrs. Smyth too! Small world! 
My mom used it because she was using OLRS materials--back then there weren't many options for Catholic homeschoolers, and my mom liked the OLRS materials better than Seton's program at the time.
I used Mom's old book with my girls! It's pretty worn, by now, but I was also glad to find out the book is still available. I did use it as the starting point for all of their reading and then moved on to first grade readers, Dick and Jane books, and some of the other easy readers that are out there.
Even though one of my daughters, my oldest, struggled more with reading than the others did the Professor Phonics book was really key to getting all of them past the "guess and go on" habit they would develop, of trying to guess at the words based on the pictures or on the context of the story. I still think it's one of the best methods out there for demystifying reading and helping children believe that they will be able to grasp this seemingly magic ability adults have.
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Angel
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Joanne,
Testing is *not* required in NY until 4th grade. HSLDA:New York homeschooling laws
My oldest ds didn't really read until 8.5. He did have vision issues, but they only turned up with a developmental optometrist.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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joann10
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Oh Angela, thank you!! This is just what I needed! I think that I will send this to the school soon.
I know that Mark is progressing, and my husband also agrees with me (he is always trying to reassure me that I am doing a good job with Mark) It is just taking longer with Mark than the 6 kids that came before him. I am in new territory here.
Thanks for your help, everyone!
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Erin
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Joann
So pleased the wonderful ladies here were able to tell you that testing is not needed
I just wanted to offer you support and encouragement as I know what it is like to have a late reader. My ds8.10 is my fourth child and his siblings were all reading well before now. Admittedly the boys were not reading till around 7 and were not readers by choice till 9 but they certainly could read.
At the beginning of this year Malachi was still reading 1st grade basal readers with much prompting. Then sometime in February he started reading 'Brother Bartholomew and the Apple Grove' and then leapt to a Magic Tree House book and is now reading Mrs Pepperpot with fluency. He wanted to read The Hobbit and managed but it was laborious.
Your biggest problem with a later reader is finding books that they can read but manages to keep their interest. Basic readers really turn a child off at this age(in my experience anyhow.)
What is so astounding is seeing just how quickly they jump once they master the basics, it is very different to watching a younger reader. I have a 6 year old girl also learning to read and whilst they were at the same stage at the beginning of the year ds has jumped ahead far quicker and yet she is my fastest to pick up reading.
All the best.
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NYCitymomx3
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Joanne,
He really doesn't have to test until 5th grade. 4th could be your "alternate year" where you could just write up a narrative. This way he only takes 2 tests before high school instead of 3.
And don't worry so much about his reading. The less pressure he has about it, the more he'll enjoy it when he does learn.
Ang
http://homeschoolinginnewyorkcity.blogspot.com
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JodieLyn
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Just echoing what Erin and some others have said.. a slow start in reading doesn't mean that you'll be going through a painfully slow process through his schooling.
My daughter, end of the year in 3rd grade had only started to grasp the concept.. end of the year in 4th grade and she tested with a reading level of mid-year 4th grade. In one year she went from unable to read to within months of where she was "supposed" to be.. and she didn't stop there.. she's an avid reader and I'm sure has gained beyong just being "grade level".. she's end of 5th grade this year and will have to test again 
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Mary K
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Hi Joann,
If you send a copy of the regulations to your school district, I would recommend highlighting the information regarding testing.
God bless,
Mary-NY
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: I don't know what to do?
