How can I help my kids with reading/spelling?

Question

I have three daughters with dyslexia. They only qualify for Title 1 reading help. I don't see any improvement and want to help them do better. I need advice!

Answer 1

The most important thing you can do with your children is have them read to you/read to them. Practice!!! I cannot stress this enough for parents of children in my special ed. program. Ask your teacher if she knows how to do Direct Instruction reading. I have found that program to be extremely helpful, it teaches alot in a short time. Tutoring programs such as Sylvan are also helpful if you have the resources. If you could tell me the ages and severity of the reading deficit, I could be more helpful.

Answer 2

Definitely start with some material they can relate with. Find something they "enjoy" learning about.  It can be ANYTHING not just books. Magazines, comic books, small articles, but learning is learning.  Start with having them relate a photo with a caption and and so on....Good Luck!

Answer 3

TALK WIT DA TEACHER

Answer 4

Reading is a critical skill for everyone! From the moment your child is born, there are simple things you can do to help him or her become a good reader. You can also watch for signs that your child may have trouble learning to read so you can get him or her help early. The following pages are a step-by-step guide to what parents can do to raise a reader.

Build Your Child's Early Reading Skills at Home



Parents are a child's first teacher. Babies and toddlers learn a lot at home. Here are some simple things you can do around the house that will help your little ones develop into readers and writers.

· Talk, talk, talk!

Your child will learn about spoken words just from listening to you.

· Read to your child.

Share books you loved and try some new ones from the library. Reread favorites over and over again!

· Point out interesting words as you read.

Help your child understand that the squiggles on the page have meaning.

· Talk about books.

Retell exciting stories at the dinner table. Encourage your child to share his favorite parts.

· Connect what kids already know to what they hear or read.

This helps your children understand more about the world around them.

· Write for a purpose.

As you're writing your grocery list or a thank you note, share your work with your child. Don't be surprised if she asks to borrow the pencil!

Recognize Early Signs of Trouble



For almost forty percent of kids, learning to read is a challenge. So in addition to talking, reading, and writing with your child, families play another important role – being on the lookout for early signs of possible trouble.

Here are two of the biggest to watch out for:

1. Language or speech problems

Children who talk late, who say very few words, who have trouble pronouncing words, or who have difficulty expressing feelings verbally may have trouble learning to read.

2. Hearing impairment

Children who have difficulty hearing the individual sounds in words may have trouble understanding how those sounds connect with letters in written words.

Kids who might have trouble learning to read also may show some of these early warning signs:

· Difficulty rhyming words

· Difficulty learning the alphabet, numbers, or days of the week

· Difficulty following multi-step directions

· Difficulty telling or re-telling a story

You can avoid years of frustration for you and your child by recognizing such problems early and getting the right help. Start with your family doctor — and your local school district may be able to help, too.

Tap Into the Power of a High-Quality Preschool



Find out if a four-year-old is on track for learning how to read with a 10-minute screening tool.

Go to "Get Ready to Read" tool

A good preschool can help your child stay on track for learning how to read.

As you visit, observe, and choose a preschool, look for classrooms that do the following sorts of activities each day:

· Read books, poems, and nursery rhymes aloud

· Talk with children and encourage them to talk

· Help children learn letter names and sounds

· Play games that help children learn to recognize rhymes and similar sounds

· Explore writing with the children

· Expose children to new and interesting words within their classroom

During your child's preschool years, you'll also want to help him or her build the following strengths. They may make learning to read easier.

· A good vocabulary - Can your child express her needs and wants using words? Does your child understand you when you speak directly to her? Can she tell a story?

· Following directions - Can your child follow simple two or three step directions?

· Learning letters and sounds - Can your four-year-old name some of the letters of the alphabet? Does he enjoy reading favorite books and writing using letter-like forms?

Find Good Schools and Good Teachers



It's important to recognize what good schools look like. The quality of your child's school has a huge impact on his or her learning.

Good schools and good teachers do the following:

· Conduct ongoing assessments to determine whether students are making progress

· Change students' reading group placements during the year based on the ongoing assessment results

· Teach phonemic awareness and phonics in small groups

· Use a variety of teaching methods to keep children motivated and excited

· Use a variety of interventions to ensure that all children succeed

The teaching of reading in particular requires skilled and caring teachers who know how to deliver research-based reading instruction. Talk with your child's teacher and ask two important questions:

1. Do you provide explicit instruction to the students?

2. Is your instruction based on a recent assessment?

Then observe a reading lesson. A good lesson will focus on one or more of these elements:

· Phonemic awareness - Are the students playing games with the sounds in spoken words? For example, "Sun, sock, and sand all start with s. What is another word that begins with that sound?"

· Phonics - Do small groups of students work with letters and sounds? Do you see reading materials that contain the letters and sounds they're studying?

· Fluency - Once kids begin to read books, are they reading and rereading familiar books and poems? Does the teacher listen to the students read aloud?

· Vocabulary - Are the students talking with each other and the teacher? Does the teacher share interesting words?

· Comprehension - Does the teacher teach strategies to help kids understand what they read? Are students encouraged to ask and answer questions about what they've read?

Know When Your Child is Struggling in School



Once your child moves into first, second, and third grade, being able to read fluently and comprehend what he or she reads become critical for future success in school.

Here are some things to watch for that may suggest that your child is a struggling reader.

Does your child:

· have difficulty remembering lessons?

· hate to read aloud?

· guess at words?

· continue to need to sound out most words on a page?

· struggle as he is working to sound out the words?

· read slowly with a very choppy sound?

· complain that he or she doesn't understand what he or she's read?

If so, talk with your school about getting your child some extra help. You also may want to consult with a private reading specialist.

Get Extra Help Through Tutoring



Sometimes kids just need an extra dose of reading help. Many schools provide tutoring support that includes one-on-one reading instruction.

To make sure that your school has a high quality tutoring program, ask these questions:

· How are the tutors trained?

It's important that the tutors understand the goals and purposes of the lesson.

· What is the structure of the tutoring session?

Good tutoring programs use a lesson plan that is based in the best reading research.

· How frequently will my child receive tutoring?

Students should be tutored at least twice a week, for 45 to 60 minutes each time. Some students will need more.

· Are the students assessed regularly to determine progress?

A reading specialist should supervise the assessment program.

· What types of materials are used during the tutoring sessions?

Students should be carefully guided through books that are written at their reading level.

· Does the content of the tutoring session support my child's classroom instruction?

It should.

· Does the content address my child's specific needs?

If your child sounds out words well but struggles with vocabulary, the tutor should spend more time on word meanings than phonics.

Stand Up for Your Child



If you have concerns about your child's progress or school experience, speak up! You know your child better than anyone else. Here are some simple things you can do to be involved.

· Develop a close working relationship with your child's teachers and principal.

Stay in touch between report card periods.

· Save important test results.

Keep class work samples, homework examples, and other school communications that show how your child usually performs.

· Ask for help!

If you suspect a problem, talk with your child's teacher. If you still have concerns, talk with the principal, reading specialist, or special education teacher. You have the right to ask questions and to receive answers to the questions you ask. Also, do not hesitate to seek advice outside of the school system.

Get Extra Help Through Special Education



Even with good classroom teaching and extra help, its possible that your child may continue to struggle with reading. Special education may be the answer – and it's required by law for students who are identified as having a learning disability.

The special education process includes these steps:

· Referral

You or your child's teacher suspects a problem and requests an evaluation by the school.

· Evaluation

With input from you and your child's teacher, a team of school professionals completes a full evaluation of your child. This same team – which may include a school psychologist, a speech-language pathologist, and a reading specialist – reviews the results to determine whether your child is eligible to receive special education services.

· Eligibility

If your child is eligible, you and the school team develop your child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), as required by law. Annually, or more often, you and the school review the IEP and its impact on your child's progress.

If your child is ineligible, continue to push the school for help. If your child is not eligible but still struggles with reading, the school must figure out  

Answer 5

The only way to help is to work with them yourself.  Get their books and have them read to you out loud.  Read for 15-20 mins., then make a spelling list from what they just read and have them write out the spelling words 4-5 times then give them a little test.  Good luck.

Answer 6

Both my daughter and I are dyslexic, and we both have dyscalculia (maths).

My daughter and I found the following very helpful.

Keep a dictionary (children's) on hand to check words that we don't know or new words, and write them down in a note book to help remember them.

Print off a copy of the most common spelling mistakes, and frequently confused words (which get me all the time).

Spelling rules such as I before E except after C (I only learnt this a few years ago).

Homophones is handy too, as it is not unusual to confuse similar sounding words such weather/ whether. I would laminate them and keep a copy on the fridge, and give a copy to each daughter.

For reading try different coloured overlays, to see if it make reading easier. My daughter has Irlens lenses which we noticed made a huge difference.

Learn the letters of the alphabet using bright coloured magnetic letters, and learn their placement in the alphabet, and their sounds and practice spelling basic words.

Teacher support

Teachers to write each paragraph in different colours, so students can keep track of were they are if copying from the board. (some teachers were more than happy to do this, other not so).

For the older student, same as the above and with the following;

Class handouts to be on coloured paper, for my daughter and I its a cream or buff colour (you will have to experiment with colours).

Where possible use a computer to do assignments etc, ensuring the use of spell check to keep spelling mistakes in check.

When given an assignment start them as soon as possible, so you do a little bit each day, rather than leave it until the last minute.

I hope the information I have given will help, the last link gives you and others what a dyslexic sees when reading (I see the rivers, halo, blurry and swirl but it depends on how tired I am as to which I see).

Answer 7

Read with them daily, home help is often better than the help they receive at school.  Always have lots of different types of reading material around the house (books, comics etc).  Ask the school for a copy of the "100 most used words" and the list of blend words, then copy these out separately onto bright coloured pieces of cardboard and use these as flash cards.