My child is in the 4th grade but reads at a 2nd grade level. What can I do- can't affored expensive tutor.

Answer 1

The school district might have special programs to develop slower readers. If not them, then there might be a non-profit group that would be able to help. Get your munchkin's teachers' help and whoever is in charge of the special programs in your district. I think that would be your first step.

Answer 2

TELL your child's teacher that you want him tested now. Usually it involves a process that takes a few months. There can be a teacher's assessment, then a teachers' grade level review, then a recommendation for testing, then paperwork sent home for permission to test, then scheduling for testing, then an educational psychologist appointment and possibly more testing, then an IEP meeting, and then scheduled services IF you child qualifies. He may get services before the end of the year, but more likely, after the new year. They also have to provide you with a copy of your rights - make sure you get one and review it.

In the meantime, read to your child. Read everything - schoolwork, comics, grade level library books, textbooks, etc. Even if he has trouble reading, if he knows the lesson in advance, it will be helpful to him.

Answer 3

A tutor would read to the child and have the child read along - and then have the child do exercises by having him or her try to read you the story.

When or if the child gets frustrated - brag on how well he or she is doing and applaud the child for his or her efforts.

This will not be an over night success story, so dig in for the long haul. You can do just as good as a tutor, perhaps even better.

Answer 4

First of all, may I say that we share your pain and concern? It's heart rending when we have to see our dearest children struggle so.

If I'm not mistaken, you need to work to support the family, too, isn't it?

Now, I know you get tired at the end of a hard day and want to just sink into a hot tub and snuggle in bed; but then, the worry about your child has you sit up and gnaw at your fingernails and fret your hair. But then, you can work just a bit more. And you can make the difference.

This will help you to go back to the joy of your own life. The time when you were growing up. When you fell so many times before you learnt to walk and then run! And leap into the world!

Please go back to reading all the books - grade 2 through grade 5! Find the fun in learning all this all over again! And now, spend your spare time with your child and make it fun for for him [or her] to share the laughter and fun with you!

My own son had problems with his maths and his mother[who's a junior school dropout] would do nothing more than crib. And I used this method to bring my son around. And it worked! I've coached my nephews and nieces, too! And, today, touch wood, they're all techies!

Trust me when I say this, you can make the difference.

Answer 5

I work with kids who function below grade level. Best
advice I can give is to have your child read every
night. The more your child reads the better he/she will
become. Ask questions about the story. Model reading
by reading the book together. You read a page and
your child reads a page. If he/she stumbles over a word help
her with the word then have your child go back and read
the sentence again. Most importantly is to read, read read. Get books from second hand store, public library,
or bookstore. Start at grade level he/she is functioning at
and move up as reading improves. Try this web site:
www.abcteach.com

Answer 6

Read with your child, put sight words on index cards and spend 5 mins each day learning the sight words. ( you can get these from his teacher or online) As you are reading, ask him questions about the story or have him retell you the story. Go to the library and check out books, have him bring home books from the school's library, see if you have a friend who has a child who is in high school who would be willing to work with your child for volunteer hours. Most of all, he needs your help to become a better reader. He needs you to work with him daily and to make it something that is fun and not a chore. Your attitude will transfer to him.

Answer 7

Spend more time with your child by sitting down and reading a book with them rather than watching a TV show or whatever form of "relaxation" you typically indulge in. There is no more important job than being a parent. But being a good parent takes time, effort, and sacrifice.

Secondly, if it appears that your child has not gained a better grasp of reading after spending one hour every night, for a month, get an appointment with your county health care office and/or school and have your child tested for dyslexia.

All disciplines of medicine would probably agree that dyslexia is evidenced by persons of otherwise normal intellectual capacity who have not learned to read despite exposure to adequate instruction.

Answer 8

The school district might offer a literacy program. Check with your school.

My daughter was in the same boat - in grade 3 she couldn't read at all. We put her in a literacy program for grades 4, 5 and 6 and by the end of grade 6 she was reading at a grade 8 level.

Answer 9

You need to read with your child daily. You can start at his/her leveled books and ask questions as you read. Also have them summarize what they just read in their own words. This is a simple way. Another way would be to head to the local book store and buy some supplementary material to help with reading comprehension. You can also start to build his/her vocabualry to help with grade level reading. Also, go to the teacher and tell him/her you are concerned and ask for help and advice. You may also ask the teacher to set up a SST, which is a Student Study Team. It is a meeting where serveral teachers get together and specifically talk about strategies to help your child.

Answer 10

Just spend as much time as you can reading together, take turns reading. Give praise for doing well and never criticize the more practice the better your childs reading skills will become. Make it fun let your child read choose the books, longer interesting books are better because your child will look forward to what is coming next and want to read.

Answer 11

Work on strategies to decode words with your child. This means working on phonics and other methods. Teach your child to sound out words, look at words in context and try to guess what they are, look at the first and last letter of the word to guess what it is. Read to your child, following the words with your finger and then have your child read to you. Let your child read some easier books that he/she enjoys after working hard so that he/she doesn't lose his/her interest in reading.

Also, as some of the other people have said, talk to your child's teacher to see if there's a program available to help your child.

I wish you luck.