My eight year old is struggling with reading and I am no teacher?

Question

he won't even try, gives up, remorizes certain books, or just gets really upset and guess at what he thinks it says. I take him to the library daily, i have plenty of books in my home for him to read, I work with him and still no results..I am ready to just give up. I am no teacher and I know nothing about teaching a person to read. I have spoke with the school about his problem and they assure me he is on track in comparison of other students. I insisted he be put in a remidal reading program he supposedly graduated from. The school he attends is year round and they have an excellent academic reputation but I can't help but think he is behind. I am an avid reader and always have been since even before his age. I am a single parent completeing a bachlors while his father is non present and barely recieved a GED. I am also concerned because he is African American and if he dosen't read well now, it will affect his learning leading to a life of trouble.

Answer 1

There are several different things to consider here. First, are you sure your son is really behind or are you pressuring him so much that you're taking the fun out of reading? An independent evaluation by a tutor would give you a better idea of where is he is and where he needs to be.

If an independent evaluation shows that he is behind try a tutor. Some schools offer tutoring, and also check with your local college. They often have students who need community service hours and will work with students for little or nothing.

Second, you might want to have him tested for a learning disability or vision problems. There may be a reason he's having a hard time, and schools are required to evaluate students if a parent requests it.

Third, stop going to the library everyday. Go once a week, and make sure he's doing fun things with books, like reading the book and watching the movie, and going to book events at the library and local bookstores. He needs to connect reading with fun. Allow him to read magazine, comic books, anything he likes that is appropriate.

Have family reading nights, discuss what you're reading, show him articles that you think he might be interested in, read the same book together and talk about it, and try books on tape. Audiobooks are terrific, especially when he's reading the book along with the tape.

Don't give up on him, he's only eight. Instead, step back and get some outside help. Many kids prefer to work with someone other than their parents. Don't take it personally, let someone else teach him and go back to being Mom, which will ease the tension and take some of the pressure off, which will probably help him like reading more.

Answer 2

Great question.
Think first of this: He's 8 / 2nd grade, so his Lexile (reading level) should be between 300-600. The library may help with identifying books, and his teachers should be able to. This lexile framework chart has few suggestons http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:PkwfgOCN_sYJ:www.lexile.com/pdf/Reading%2520Growth%2520Chart%2520Stenner.pdf+sri+lexile+chart&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

and the basis is at http://www.lexile.com/EntrancePageFlash.html?1 It will help you to compare for yourself what he is able to read AND comprehend with grade level expectation.

Also, it's hard for a good talented reader to teach one that is not. Frustration can set in on both ends. Finding books to read WITH him about topics he likes (sports, dinosaurs, whatever) is also important. Ask "What type of books do you like to read? or observe his hobbies and favorite activities.

As an African-American teaching in a school with a high minority population, your fears are well founded. But patience, and maybe a little bit of incentive work for him, will be the key.

And last but not least, visit http://www.succeedtoread.com/index.html . when you read the opening statement, you'll see why you should probably start here, and visit often.

OOOPS! One more, mostly for him is http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm , just some thing to encourage letters, words, and fun while doing it... a few hundred sites floating here. Surf and find a few that he might like to play while sneaking some learnin' in!

And, talk with one of your college teachers that you trust when you both have time. Some may have suggestions and ideas...

Read to him and with him; don't show frustration; plenty of praise, encouragement, and small rewards (a little give and take).

Good luck!.

Answer 3

I suggest that YOU read TO him at night, ideally before you put him to bed. Lie with him while he is in bed and you read a story-book to him. The book should have pictures so that he can look at them and practice his visualiztion techniques while you read the story.

It should be a story that he likes. It does NOT have to be educationally significant. It is more important that it is a book that HE would like to read and that he is interested in.(You want to capture his enthusiasm and interest FIRST)

When you read with him at bedtime, he should be right next to you while you read so that he can see the words as you are reading them and you could also put your fingers or a bookmark under the words and move them along the page while you read so that he can make connections between the sound of the words and the way they look on the page.

It doesn't matter if you fall asleep while you are reading. Still do it the next night and the next...He will look forward to it as it is bonding time and he is also learning. I did this with my disleyxic daughter for several years and now she an avid reader graduating from high school. It wasn't easy as I was a single working mom who was VERY tired after work. I would fall asleep practically every night because I was so tired after a long day. But she loved the stories and eventually when she got tired of waking me up to finish them, she started reading them herself.

Answer 4

Make them put him back through that class. Sounds like he really does need it. Have him checked to see if he is maybe dyslexic. or maybe he has an attention disorder? there is something wrong for sure. Maybe a doctor can help ? they have tests for these things you know.