jtee

We have read several of the Harry Potter books to our daughter (now 11). I think we started reading Dr Zeus when she was maybe 2 or so. She is an now avid reader, but still likes us to read books to her. It is a good way to bond with a child as well as help them learn to read. Also helps get them into bed

slarm

I am not sure if I should post here or start a new post. Hopefully this thread will still see some action.

This is my first post, and this issue is the reason I came to these forums. Unfortunately, my son is 8 and still fights like a banshee to do the slightest amount of reading. We have had his eyes checked, including eye coordination. We have had him tested for dyslexia and it does not seem to be the issue. We have had his IQ checked and it is very high.

He is quite capable of reading when forced, but it takes an hour of fighting and threatening to get 15 minutes of reading out of him. I know this is because he finds it difficult, but I don't know why he finds it so difficult. We are at our wit's end.

Also to compound the problem, his writing/spelling is horrible. If he hurrys even a little, his paragraphs are one word scrawls with no punctuation, spaces, capitalization, and terrible spelling. If he takes his time he can write a decent page, but it takes forever and completely wipes him out.

If anyone has any helpful suggestions, I am getting tired of praying for an age-based turn around.

Kaytee

I would try a fun reading program.. Something at the library maybe, liek a story time. Also look into things like Sylvin learning center, tehy do reading programs.
Don't stress his reading though, if he thinks its work he won't do it

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evilbrent

@slarm:

do YOU read?

Does your 8 year old ever witness you sit down on a saturday morning, in the loungeroom (with the tv OFF) and thoroughly enjoy your novel?

I've heard that the single most predictive factor in childhood reading was whether or not the parents read.

Also - how could you use the words "work" and "reading" in the same sentence?

It's quite common for high IQ kids to resist being made to think. That was certainly my experience.

Kaytee

I have heard that too about reading. That kids who grow up around parents that read or even just have books in the house are more likely to be readers themselves

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Cherry

For a kid who doesn't read well, why not try a Leap Pad? There are several levels of books and you can set it to read the words as you run the "pen" over it, to read just a single word, or to help you sound it out, as you need it. It worked for mine to help them learn. My son was reading before the age of 5, and my daughter hit it by 5 1/2. Another thought is trying those "books with audio" where it's the book and has either a cd or cassette with it. You can read those together. Or try you read one paragraph, your child reads the next.

My kids' school has the AR (advanced reading) program. They are required to read books and test on them. Last year, my son had a bit of a hissy fit because he was never quite pleasing his teacher in the program. He's very good at reading, but is particular with WHAT he would read. His teacher was unhappy if he went below a grade 4 reading level, but quite often, those were the books that would interest him because of the topics. Plus, I'd never quite know WHAT books were on the AR list to encourage him on what to read. So with him, I hade a deal. FOr as many minutes as he would read an AR book he'd bring home from school, he could spend that many minutes playing video games. Half an hour of good reading time, hand an hour of video games. It was the key he needed to get him to read. And now, this year? He reads just because he's enjoying his freedom more. This year's teacher isn't as picky with him.

evilbrent

I'd suggest using leap pads in moderation if at all.

We got given one, and honestly it looks to me like a device designed to not teach kids to read. If anything it reduces the tension in their mind between the visual information on the page and the conceptual struggle to bring understanding to the forefront of their thinking - it's like an entire puzzle book with the answers already written.

It's fun, sure, but it's not reading. If it can get kids more interested in books, then it's a winner in my mind, but I have doubts about leappad's long term educational benefits.

mamab

I would suggest buying a book called "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." I've used it with both of my boys, and have had great results.

Tau

We just make reading a privilege (and one that can be taken away!) instead of a task. Our kids go to bed an hour before "lights out" time, and they are allowed to read during that time. If they choose not to, they are welcome to go to sleep early.

My youngest participated in this as early as 3 years old. We read her one story, and then she got to flip through her books on her own for the rest of the hour. I swear, she practically taught herself to read!

All my kids are eager readers now, and this pleases me more than I can say. I have been a lifelong reader too, and I'm now able to share my favorite books with my kids! It's like introducing them to some of my best friends.

jtee

I think this a great approach. With our daughter she is not allowed to read before school because if she does, she looses track of time and has to rush, there for no reading before school.