Entering second grade this year... | ADHD Information

   .....and son still really cant read. He turns 7 next month and is on an IEP at school and its helped ALOT, but still he cant really read things. Simple things like cat, bat, hat etc yes, but even those dont come easily for him. They passed him on to second grade anyhow and im concerned. He's a smart kid, but he was diagnosed in late preschool and only on meds after about the second semester of kindy, and with getting dosages right and all that, it wasnt till nearly the end of kindy that we had him on the right dosage and things smoothed out, and I feel this is why he fell behind and has never truely caught up. Im worried for him. I cant afford a tutor, and im NO teacher thats for sure. Im scared that going into 2nd grade hes going to be left WAY behind and REALLY never catch up now. Has anyone else suffered with thsi as well? What did you do?  Have you tried the "Hooked on Phonics" program?  I know that sounds so cliche' but it really worked for our DD.  If you can get just the computer program I would do that because that was the only part we really used.  They look at it like they are playing computer games but it is really teaching them.  Our daughter LOVED it and was reading a lot better within weeks of getting it.macsmom, get the school to evaluate him. If he's behind in reading it's their responsibilty to find out why and give him the support he needs. You just have to know how to ask. In writing request a full neuropsych, academic and iq testing. List your concerns, as specifially as you can. If he has any kind of learning disability, you want to know about it now, so they can support him properly. Start saving all paperwok, I mean everything from tests to emails to formal reports, evaluations....etc., etc..........

He may have a comorbid, such as a learning disability. 50% of these kids have something else going on. Seems to me that he should have caught up quite some time ago. You could ask the school to evaluate him for a learning issue. 

Jessica N39709.7374768518Besides speaking with your school district, here are other suggestions.

Contact central library and see if they have info about free reading programs
for kids. They might offer them at the library or can help you find
something locally. Also, the library should have the Hooked on Phonics
program for you to take out in addition to other materials.

See what you can find online to use at home. Make flash cards with "sight
words" on them. I also have a friend that puts labels on common objects at
home to help her boys read. (Cabinet, Stove, etc.)

Hope this helps. If he has an IEP, then the school should be addressing his reading issues. Check your copy of his IEP for reading issues. If it is not address his reading issues in there you may need a new IEP that includes it.

I wanted to give you an idea about what can happen.  My dd was having trouble learning to read in 2nd grade too.  She was in a special class and they did a ton of phonics and it just didn't help.  She was never diagnosed but I think she has a auditory disconnect of some kind.  (in additiion to ADD) Anyway,  I put her in a summer program at a school that is for kids with dislexia and other learning diabilities. (I couldn't afford the regular school year) She was one of the best readers at camp.  This gave her alot of confindence that I couldn't give her.

Anyway, she still cannot pronouce any word she has never seen and heard but since she is in 7th grade and they no longer test her by reading aloud - she is in honors reading!  She still can't spell either but who cares?

 

good luck,

 

 

 

If you as a parent feel that your son needs to remain in 1st grade another year then you have that right as a parent.  There is no shame to retention if it is done correctly.  You would rather do it at this age than when a child is in 5th grade. 

If you feel that a retention won't make a difference then I would have the district look at him and determine whether he needs other services such as special education for a learning disability or 504 .  Special Educ. is difficult to do now a days due to some new laws.   Start with talking to your school's administrators or instructional facilitator if they have one.  I am an IF and have been able to help many a student and  parent in this area with some informal assessments that can add to classroom teacher data. 

Another thing to talk to the school about....if he is more than a year behind in reading then the school must address this and place him on TIER program.   TIER 1 is classroom tutorials by classroom teacher. He would be TIER 2 (usually provided by top notch teacher who has training in reading or math area in the area of reading or math depending on the need) and if progress doesn't happen or occur then he would move onto TIER 3(usually provided by the school reading teacher or instructional facilitiator who is certified in reading or math depending on the need) which is the step prior to Special Ed. referral.  The school has to provide some sort of assistance tutoring wise during the school year for students who are behind. 

If you are wanting outside tutorials then check with your local school district to see if they have a family center that provides parents assistance with cost and / or  free tutorials in the evening. 

You are doing the right thing by wanting to help your son.  He sounds young and it could just be a maturity thing.  My son is going to be 7 and is entering 1st grade due to state laws and how his birth date lands.  I truely feel that this law has been a life saver for us.  It has allowed him to grow academically and socially. 

4myson39661.4187847222

< =text/>_popupControl(); I highly recommend the Hooked on Phonics program, as I used it with my son between K and 1st (his K teacher ignored teaching reading, whereas the other K class were darn near fluent by May!!). He started 1st grade reading at a 3rd grade level. The thing is, like any program, you have to be able to focus on the parts that your child needs: it's not necessary to spend a week on letters if your child already knows them!  The BOB books are also very helpful for people who feel that the HOP program is too cliched.

Whatever program you choose, I agree that you should request an eval for other conditions, such as dyslexia. The inability to attend can compound the problems of dyslexia to almost insurmountable levels, and vice versa. Don't worry about your child not being able to catch up once you hit the nail on the head; his maturity level will also have grown by then, and he'll be able to cover more ground. Good Luck!!