Do you believe that if a kid doesn't learn to read by seven that they probably never will?

Question

Evidently, my child's resource room teacher does. My friend tells me her daughter didn't learn 'til she was nine and the literacy counsel helps lots of older people to read all the time. So what's up with this 'reasearch'?

Answer 1

Anyone can learn to read at any age. One thing I question is if he's just freezing up when asked to read aloud. My son is nearly 6 and can read some, he just doesn't perform on demand. He's a child, not a trained monkey. We discovered he could read some when we overheard him reading to his little brother. He does it when he thinks no one is paying attention. Try giving him some books that are a little below his age level, that are real simple, and leave him alone. Sneak a listen when he's busy with the books & see if he reads aloud to himself. That way you'll know if you need to seek professional assistance to make sure he doesn't have a learning disorder, or if he just has performance anxiety.

Answer 2

That is completely untrue. People can learn to read at any age, and expecting all children to read by the age of five is unrealistic. Some kids can read before they're three, and some kids can't read fluently until they're well into elementary school; it's a normal variation in ability.

Here's something to chew on. In Finland, children aren't expected to learn how to read until they are seven. And yet, Finland's educational system is consistenly ranked as the best in the world; thus, they have the best-educated people. So, I say there's no problem at all with a seven-year-old not knowing how to read. Children will learn to read when they are ready, and pushing the issue too early will probably just make them frustrated and discouraged.

So, you can tell that teacher to go suck a railroad spike--her ideas are erroneous. That is, if you actually want to push the issue with her.

Answer 3

The truth is that according to recent studies most kids are not able to learn to read until the age of 7. I know many kids, including my husband, that didn't read until age 10 and they are able to surpass the other children by age 13.

Just be patient w/ her, she'll learn in her own time.

Answer 4

DO NOT BELIEVE THIS BONEHEAD!!!!! This just kills me. Just because your child doesn't do things at the same time other kids do does not make them "slow" or "stupid". Oh, this c**p makes me angry!!! Talk to your school administrator or someone in charge. DO NOT let this idiot affect your child's self esteem!!! Kids learn at their own pace. I've seen many more ignorant adults than children. Fight for your kid!! God bless.

Answer 5

Do you believe that if a kid doesn't learn to read by seven that they probably never will?

That's not true.  There are people who have  learned to read and write when they are 50.

Answer 6

It just gets harder..but you will still learn

Answer 7

absolutly not!  people at 80 can learn to read.  there are some learning disabilities that can slow the process, and it may be good to have your child tested so they can train their brain to deal with information in a new way.  Then that teacher needs to be brought up to the principal.

Answer 8

it gets much harder the older you get, and 7-9 is often touted as the 'cut off' age where your brain loses a lot of plasticity and ability to soak up information quickly. written language is very different from spoken language, and literacy is in some senses a thing that you have to 'get' - it's very hard (not impossible - definitely possible) to get into as you are older.

Also, psycho-socially, if a kid realizes that she can't read and therefore do all of the academic stuff that her peers do, she may internalize an inability to read and succeed at school as part of her identity.



But what do you mean by 'read'? Not at all? A little?

The teacher shouldn't have a pessimistic attitude but essentially the older your kid is, especially from around 7, the harder and harder it will be on them to catch up.

Use this teacher to get extra resources for your child! Try to score some one-on-one specialist or ecw time.

Answer 9

yeah and thanks for your answer it worked perfectally

Answer 10

My son will be 8 in July and knows how to read a little. He learns more all the time, so no, I don't believe that.

Answer 11

ok i believe that kids or adults can learn to read at any age, especially if they are older they have more of a chance to contain all of it more, thats why they have Hooked On Phonics, for the kids who are older and cant read well.

Answer 12

If a child has not learned to read by the third grade, they are going to need special help.  I'm sure lots of people learn to read at age eight or more.

Answer 13

You don't say so, but sounds like your child has a learning disability. I don't believe any child should give up learning- of COURSE there is more to learn.

Sounds like that resource teacher is just plain lazy.

Answer 14

yeah. Sounds like the resource teacher either just doesn't know or doesn't care. It's never too late for anybody to learn anything. It just takes somebody caring and patient enough to put in the effort.

I'm of the opinion that education in the west has drifted a long way from it's original goal: to teach how to learn. instead, we just train them to be told what to think.

Answer 15

That makes no sense! People learn to read at any age. Granted it's easier to learn when you're younger but like the saying goes.."you're never to old to learn".

Answer 16

No I don't believe that...it might be harder but they can deff still learn..

But it does sound like there may be a learning disability. 1 in every 4 (or 5) children has one..

U should get her tested so you know what help she needs to learn..the sooner the better..

When children have a hard time learning specially when all their friends can do it..they get discouraged and give up..and think they're stupid when all they need is a lil help..no kid should feel like that

Answer 17

I think the more important issue is why the child cant read.Thats an essential skill,I hope the child gets the help that  they need.

Answer 18

This kind of attitude from teachers drives me crazy! I have one kid who is dyslexic and really struggled with reading up to 6th grade. I have a good friend who is also dyslexic and didn't learn to read until he was 14! He is now working on his Master's degree in Chemistry. My friend tells me he credits his mother who NEVER GAVE UP ON HIM! Never give up on a child who struggles with reading. They will learn eventually, maybe with a lot of struggle and effort, but they will learn.