My 9 years old son refuses to read.....what should I do.?

Question

OKAY HE IS IN THE 2ND GRADE AND HE REFUSES TO READ FOR THE TEACHER HE IS ABLE TO READ BUT HE DOESNT NOT WANT TO.............I CANT UNDERSTAND WHAT I CAN DO TO MAKE READING FUN I PURCHASE BOOKS THAT HE LIKES..AND STILL NOTHING....... I GOT HIS REPORT CARD ABOUT 5 DAYS AGO AND HE DID NOT IMPROVE ON ANYTHING BUT ART... AT THIS POINT IM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO I TOOK AWAY THE TV UNTIL THE SUMMERTIME I TOOK IT AWAY SO I CAN   FIND OTHER THINGS TO MAKE HIM BUSY... CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME AND TELL ME WHAT I AM DOING WRONG OR MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THING THAT I CAN TRY TO SEE IF IT WORKS.....PLEASE NO RUDE COMMENTS

Answer 1

I think you need to break the problem down a little more.  As someone else said above, if he won't talk in class at all (not just not to read) that's one problem (and if so, check out www.selectivemutism.org).  If that's not it and it's just about reading:

-- Is that problem that he refuses to read, or that he can't? Can he read to you? Can he read to himself and answer questions about what he read? If he's in second grade and can't read, has he been evaluated for a learning disability? Odds are he's eligible for some special help if the problem is really that he can't read (or reads way below grade level).  Perhaps what seems like "refusal" is really dyslexia or something.

-- If he can read, is he afraid he'll be picked on? Are there issues going on with other kids in the class or is the teacher mean to him? What's going on in class that's distracting him from getting his work done? Is he goofing off with peers? If you can narrow down the problem you'll have better luck addressing it.

-- If it's just really that he doesn't like to read, start reading out loud to him.  Pick really exciting things.  Harry Potter is a good choice but there are thousands of others depending on what his interests are.  Let him see you read, as well, and have a 20-minute extension on bedtime that can be used for nothing but reading (if he doesn't want to read, fine -- but then it's bedtime).  Pick out some great books at his reading level from the library.  Sometimes stop the read-aloud at a really exciting place and get "busy" with something else ... and watch him pick it up and take over!

Answer 2

If he likes cars- buy books about cars.

If he like dinosaurs - buy books about dinosaurs.

Since he doesnt like to read for enjoyment then show him how to look things up on the computer= reading is reading. Any kind of reading you can get him to do is good. Even comic books!!

My son never much liked reading either - he reads well but doesnt enjoy it much. We showed him how to look for certain information he wanted. This way he was reading something at least.He didnt like to read but did like looking things up and was inadvertantly reading without realizing it.

You also might try a tutor for reading ( and older boy or teen would be good) as it could be that he doesnt like it cause its so hard for him to do.

Answer 3

It sounds like he has a problem reading.  If you attend public school you need to meet with your child's teacher to discuss his learning issues.  You may want to request an IEP which will allow him to take some time in learning center or with a reading specialist.

At home, I decided to rent books on tape with their companions books from the library.  This helped my son to read.  Make sure that the reading is at his level.  If he can read a page without making one mistake, the book is too easy.  If he makes five or more mistakes, then it's too hard.  Somewhere in the middle is what you are looking for.

Answer 4

Is he just shy at reading in front of other people? (The Class)

I was terrified at reading out loud when I was a school, I can read fine but the thought of being the centre of attention was soooo scary.

Get him to read to someone other than you ,see how he goes

Answer 5

When he does read aloud, is he able to read fluently, or does he stumble over words?  If he is 9 years old and in second grade, he is probably the oldest in the class.  If he stumbles over words when he reads, he may be embarrassed to read in school, because he probably feels everyone expects him to be the BEST reader in his class, since he's the oldest.

Does his school offer a reading recovery program?  The teachers in these programs are especially trained to help children who struggle in this area.  Ask his regular classroom teacher if there's a possibility he could be put in reading intervention, so that he can get the help he needs to become a stronger reader.

Answer 6

Reading blows. Seriously, most people dont like to read these days. there is nothing you can do to make it better or more fun. When I was in elementry I did the same thing. I hated to read. But you just need explain that while you dont want to force him to read at home, reading at school is still school work. As part of his grade, he needs to read. And tell him that its the easiest part of his grade. He may not have to Fake it and just read a a little bit in class to make it appear that he is reading but simply staring at the book.

For me I just spaced out alot and stared at the book, but upon being bored I started to read a little bit.

Just dont force him. Tell him its part of school and he will be punished if he doesnt read at school. but when he comes home, he doesnt have to read (unless its homework).

Answer 7

There good be many reasons why your son refuses to read.

If he is shy he might not want to read in front of class.  You say he is able to read. But he might have some trouble. Try reading with him. Talk to him i a clam voice and find out why he does not want to read. I know how to read but sometimes i had trouble reading so i would just refuses. You might want to get him tested. I had a learning disibilty and i had to get  an iep but i over came that.  I have gotton better at reading.

You are not doing anything work

To recap

1. Talk to him in a clam voice and ask him why he does not want to read.

2 Read with him

3. If he still does not want to read. He know how to read but he might have a read disability. So you might want to get him tested. He Might Be able to get an IEP

Answer 8

is it just reading he wont do? does he speak in class? i saw on tv recently about kids who have a mute syndrome. they are so afraid of being wrong and talking in class that they become uncontrollably mute at school but at home they are ok.

seek the help of teh school on this one as well. the local library should have books in graded levels in case he is having difficulty reading. he probably lacks the confidence to read out loud in case he is wrong and he doesnt want the other kids to laugh at him. maybe the teacher could just start with getting him to do words rather fhan books. maybe you could do flashcards at home.  try getting him to look at things and read them without him knowing to get the reading practice. for example get him in the kitchen cooking with you and ask him to read what ingredient you need next etc. or try taking him out and showing him movie titles and asking him to read which is his favourite one. the secret is not to force becuase ultimately he has control in this. get him into drawing and writing a sentence about his picture then ask him to tell you what he has done. get some books that he can listen to on tape or CD and also follow along in the book. ask him to truy and read those with you. read a page each of a book or a sentence each. jsut heap lots of praise on him. ask the teacher if he needs to be screened for irlen lenses or if he is dyslexic. ask him does he see patterns when he looks at the writing in a book, he may need to get coloured lens glasses to stop the pages moving or the writing swirling about. jsut a suggestion. hope something helps. try getting him to read to someone else in the family. kids will often openup to a grandparent so maybe they can get out of him why he doesnt like to read or why he cant read. all the best to you.

Answer 9

have you tried comic books? they're not exactly "school approved", but it's still something fun to read.

Answer 10

u need to remember that for most kids frustration with school work is not because of deliberate disobedience, and punishing him will only confuse him and make things worse. start with the basics- go back to letter sounds and basic words. he may be able to read but if he confuses sounds and words and is made fun of then he will not read. it may not even be his teacher who made fun of him- older siblings, friends, you.... if u make the pressure of reading the center of his life it could be worse.

u can also use his art. draw things together and make up stories about them. let him write a line or two below the picture and read it to u. slowly suggest that he can show his teacher. when he can do that later suggest he tells the story or reads it out. support your child put the criticism in the closet. use this excellent link below to help you: http://www.firstschoolyears.com

Answer 11

before you do ANYTHING else, make sure he has his eyes tested. Weak eyes make reading difficult and unpleasant - glasses will fix this

Answer 12

First can I comment on the way you have put this message. You have written it all in capitals which on the internet means that you are yelling (did you mean to do this). Nothing to do with the question just an observation.

You said he can read but won't read for the teacher. Does he have to read in front of the class (he reads to the teacher while the rest of the class does a different activity). If this is the case he may feel like the class is watching him. If he does read in a seperate area where it is just him and the teacher maybe there's a problem between him and the teacher.

Does he talk in class or school. It may be shyness. If he has problems talking to people in the school or outside of the home (or family unit) he may have some degree of selective mutism.

I don't think that taking the tv away will solve your problem as the problem is a school problem rather than a home problem

If you know he can read you must have heard him at some point, so the home environment isn't the problemso I don't think that taking the tv away will solve your problem as the problem is a school problem. Try talking to his teacher and finding out if there are any things s/he has noticed about him that may explain why he doesn't want to read to him/her.

some  suggestions I can think of are



You could also talk to his teacher about him reading to another staff member (like a teacher aide)

see if he can read in a seperate area (if he doesn't already)

Failing all that you could go in to the school as a parent helper and assist with reading time. This would mean that the other children would be reading to you and not just him and may give him some more confidence in the school environment as there is a familiar presence there, whom he is already willing to work with (this could also work with any other member of your family like grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc)

Answer 13

Do you read? Kids tend to copy their parents behaviour and habits, good and bad. It may take some time but set a family "reading time". We had half an hour a day growing up.  Read for 20 mins, and talk about the books together for the other ten. Should be a good bonding experience as well.

Answer 14

First of all, you need to understand that boys learn differently than girls do.  Their brains do not take in information in the same way so learning through reading or reading in general is not always as enjoyable a task as a girl of the same age might find it.  

You may want to go look up some books specifically about teaching boys, I would suggest maybe Raising Cain or you can even look up some information on PBS on the subject.  

Also it will be much harder to work with him to take up more of an interest in books when it might feel that you're working against him with taking away the tv.  You might just want to limit the amount of tv he watches.  even something like having him pick out some shows he wants to watch (within a set time limit) and sticking to that.

And of course, he's not thaat young but probably stilll young enough where reading to him or having him read to you might be an option you still want to explore.  I'd suggest something like expressing an interest in something when he IS reading and asking him to read some to you to see what it's about.  

Parenting isn't perfect or a science :P So figure it out as you go along and you'll do fine ^.^  But make sure to be open with the decisions you'll need to make things seem to change so fast :)