How can I help my second grader do better at school?

Question

My little guy is struggling in school, he has a hard time doing his work and gets distracted a lot. He won't sound out words, he says it is too hard, yet, he does very well in math! I know he's smart, but I can't seem to get him to concentrate on his work at school or at home, any suggestions?( He gets really upset and is hard to deal with when it comes to reading...he says he can't do it before he even tries! His handwriting is horrible, but if you sit with him he'll write quite well. I'm at my wits end, I just never had trouble in school, it's hard for me to relate!)

Answer 1

Start off with giving him rewards for his reading marks. Make reading fun...make him read while acting the reading out in a skit, or something. Show him pictures of poor people in Africa and say "It's really hard to get money, when you can't read." Ok, it is streaching the truth, but give it a try. Do a letter of the day. Each day make him learn a new letter, teach him the sound it make, and how to print it. In 26 days everything will be O.K. And MAKE him do it. Wager with him like this, "I'll give you a cookie if you try." Sometimes yougin's don't know what there saying, be patient. Sighn him up for Kumon. Once he can read, slowly but surely, get EyeQ -- it's not hard and it made my reading go up 100 words per minuter in around 2 weeks. Read funny joke- books to him, then slowly say "Oh! No! I need to cook. You can keep reading this if you want." If he says no glance at the book and say "WHOA!!! HA HA HA HA HA" (roll on the floor) "ARE YOU SURE?? THATS THE BEST JOKE I EVER HEARD!!!"

Answer 2

Problems with sounding out words, can't concentrate, trouble with reading, bad handwriting.

All this could be learning disabilities. Schools will help with this, but ONLY if the child qualifies for special education services. If the child is not in this, the school is not legally obligated to help with any problems.

All schools have what is called their 'intervention team' in which they help the child, but in most cases this is a 'stall tactic' they use to get the parents off track from asking for legal help. The schools intervention team is not a 'legal' process, so if it doesn't work, you can't do a thing about it.

Anyway, if you would like for the school to help thru special ed, the first thing to do is write a letter addressed to the district sped director--

Dear (district sped director) Date letter at top!!

I am requesting a full, educational evaluation testing in all areas of suspected disabilities, as specified by IDEA law. My child is (name) in (grade) in (teachers) class.

Here are the problems my child is having--
(list all things you know, anything teachers have said, anything doctors have said. This can be concentration, behavior, learning, etc.)

Please consider this letter my formal consent for evaluations to be administered. I understand that IDEA law states the district has 60 days from the date of my formal consent to have all evaluations completed.

Please send me a list of all evaluations that will be performed on my child. Please send me a copy of all test results and a copy of the test report at least 5 days before eligibility meeting.

Thank you..

(and keep a copy for yourself!)
If they do not respond or refuse, then you can file a formal state complaint with the state dept. of education.

Also, go here www.schwablearning.org and sign up for free on their parent message board. THis is the BEST place for help with learning problems! And the message board is the absolute best.

Answer 3

Sounds like he may need extra help in reading and phonics. Since he is doing well in math, he is obviously bright. Any child needs a strong grasp on phonics before he/she can read/spell well. His teacher can have him tested in reading/spelling and see where his skill level is at, and for learning disabilities as well. He's having trouble doing his work because he isn't understanding it. If he does not have a strong foundation of phonics (what sound each letter makes,) than surely he will have difficulty with reading. Ask his teacher. Every school has extra programs that he can enroll in, and every teacher should be able to help all students.

Answer 4

Boys often have more trouble in early school than do girls. Boys seem to need to move more than girls, and at school they are expected to sit still for long periods of time. Here are some tips for helping boys deal with this:

1. Cut back on sugars in diet (especially sugary cerials just before going to school).
2. Make sure that he gets enough Omega 3 fatty acids.
3. Enrol him in a high activity sport (some examples are soccer, hockey, gymnastics).
4. Limit television use (no more than 30-60 mins per day).
5. Avoid video games. These often hyper stimulate young people.
6. Avoid foods with yellow and orange food colouring (like orange pop and cheesies), this sometimes makes kids more hyper.

For your concerns about reading, I am a dyslexic who has a degree in science, and another in education, and I can say that I was not reading in the second grade. Try reading to him, especially books that he couldn't read to himself (a couple of years beyond his reading level), because this can show him that reading can be fun, and also that reading is something that you enjoy.

A good starter series is 'The Secrets of Droon'. It would be beyond his reading level, but about right for his age in terms of the story. You could try reading him some of those.

Answer 5

Try Reading Reflex and start things over with reading and writing from the beginning. Let him build up confidence before getting him to try grade-level materials.

Try also Games for Reading by Peggy Kaye to have fun ways.

Praise, praise, praise when he does read something. "You read it! Good for you!" He may have had even a single comment at school by another person that made him feel incapable and is afraid to try.

Btw, grade 2ers are notorious, in my experience, for poor handwriting. It takes continued focused practice on the side of all the regular work to get it to be a habit. If they're not working on handwriting at school, do try to do even just 5 minutes a day of it with him, something as simple as him writing the alphabet, copying favourite words, etc.

Answer 6

I go through this same thing with my 7 year old. I would get so frustrated with him because I didn't ever habe trouble in school either. I had him see his school psychologist and he has anxiety. I have learned to be patient with him, make assignments fun and exciting like make games for him to study. It takes extra time, but in the long run I think it will be worth it. I don't want him to hate school. Sometimes if you can't help him, try to get someone like a tutor or a teenager that loves kids to work with him. The key is to be patient and try to make his learning experiance as fun as possible. Good luck , I will pray for you girl and pray for us too!

Answer 7

I say spend time reading to him and together. You might also want to sign him up for a reading program at your local librairy, the main thing is don't give up on him. Instead of having tv time choose a time where you can read together. Talk to his teacher and see what she suggests, and let him choose some books that will interest him. There are also Oxford Learning Centres and similar establishments that offer programs as well and guarantee results, good luck to you both.

Answer 8

Well start with going to a book store and letting him pick out a book that he likes, and thats in his age range then sit with him with no distractions and practice reading that book and you should get him a learning game like leap frog or something like that then make a list of the alphabet and let him sound the letters out because if he noes how they sound it will be easy for him to put all the letters together to make a word it takes practice and he will get better in time.

Answer 9

I went through the same thing with my daughter. She bolted from her 2ND grade class twice and slugged the Assistant Principal. You never stated when your child's birthday was.
My child was born in July. Made her very young during her
elementary years. We finally took her to counseling and she
was diagnosed with ODD with ADHD tendencies. ODD is
Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Means she wanted to be in control.
Meds won't touch this. ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder. Meds will help with this. We opted not to do meds.
When she was in Fourth grade she was failing Reading. That's when I went to the school office and demanded all of her
standardized test scores. Do this one. My sweetheart was
two grades behind. I did the hardest thing I have ever done. I
put my child back through 4th grade and enrolled her in another school. The school I work at. I put her in with the strictest teacher
we had and my child came up 1 1/2 grades. Take your dear one to counseling soon and get all of her standardized test scores
from her school. They have to give it to you...it's a law.
Be patient and never give up. Good luck.

Answer 10

Try this :

Anyone Can Improve Their Handwriting ( CD ROM Movie)
By Jason Alster MSc
Handwriting is a tool for transfer of knowledge and must comply with acquired rules in order to understand what we read. The CD ROM deals with handwriting problems, rules, tips, and exercises. From students who have lower grades and self esteem to physicians who by law have to improve their writing- this CD can help. Based on 10 years experience helping ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia - Jason knows what works to improve your handwriting. Simple techniques, demonstrations - a new way of helping people of all ages improve their handwriting and be proud of their own " work of art"

Product Details

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025173/

CD-ROM:
Publisher: Rainbow Cloud (July 20, 2006)
ISBN: 9659025173

Also :Creative Painting For The Young Artist a book teaching the artistic mode of seeing necessary for dysgraphics to learn to paint and draw, painting block, and students who want to be creative with art. An excellent compliment to Anyone Can Improve Their Handwriting.

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9659025122/

"BEING IN CONTROL:Natural Techniques For Increasing Your Potential And Creativity For Success In School."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025114/
"Being In Control : Natural Solutions For ADHD Dyslexia and Test Anxiety'.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025130/