My 3rd Grader has a difficult time reading. I have tried different methods (tutors, phonics etc.)?

Question

He is a good student, he has such difficulty. Lately is he has been spending more time studying than playing. I talked to his teacher, and she stilled insists that I continue to push him. I have him seeing speech therapist. He also is in tutoring 3 times a week. He has good vision and hearing. I am looking for tips to help him learn at his pace. I see his fustration. I don't want him to begin to dilike school. How can I make learning easier for him?

He is seeing a speech therapist because he has trouble saying certain sounds clearly. Yes he has an IEP. His teacher is saying that she is trying to help, but it is difficult. She does not have a aide for the class. She has 26 students. I have been talking with on a weekly basis.

He already goes to a tutor, He spends 1 hr and 30 minutes with this tutor 3 times a week. Plus he has in school time with his speech therapist 3 times a week. We read a book of his choosing every night. That is how we end our day.

Answer 1

He needs to read what he LIKES - about any topic. At that age, whether it is cars, dragons, castles, anime - anything. Help him get books at the library - have him help do the research, find stuff on the internet, etc. If it hasn't already been done, have the teacher or educational psychologist at school test his reading level - so you can have an idea exactly where he is - then you can get him reading material at the level he is at, then he will progress more quickly. If it's at too high a level for him, he will just get frustrated. He can also be tested for "sight words", vocabulary and spelling levels that can give you lots of information.
At his age, he needs LOTS of time to play - he's got to use up those reserves of energy. Don't make his life all about school.
Gosh, 26 in a class at that age is really too much. I know we went through this when there were 29 in my son's Gr. 2 class, with no aide. Us parents did a LOT of helping at school that year.
Good luck, and let us know how things are going...

Answer 2

You may not be able to make learning easier for him but you can continue to encourage him. Why is he seeing a speech therapist? Does he have articulation or language issues? Is it through the school? If so, are the teachers following his IEP? Maybe, you need to check to see if his IEP is appropriate. You could have reduced assignments, test read orally, check for content not spelling, etc. You should keep encouraging him, not push him.

Answer 3

Find out if your school has an after school tutoring program. If not enlist a high schooler to tutor him. Sometimes as parents we just cant do it all. My oldest son has a problem with reading. I make everything we do a lesson. He reads the directions while cooking he will read the store ads for me and so on. Make it fun and creative.

Answer 4

Read with him daily. Pick a fun chapter book and every afternoon or night before bed, read it together for half an hour or so. You can take turns reading every other paragraph or you can have him do most of the reading with you reading the words that might be too big. Reading aloud helps you become a better reader and if it's something you do together that is "fun" it might catch his attention more. Good luck!

Answer 5

If you have access to a computer he can use, there are many learning games available. They enable you to "trick" the child into learning.
If you don't have a computer that you trust your third grader on, check with the local mission or put up an ad in the local grocery store, Many people would gladly give their "outdated" computer to someone who needs it, and a 10 year old wont be very picky about having the fastest thing available.

Answer 6

Turn on closed captioning when he watches TV. It is a great passive reading technique. He gets to watch his show and see what the words are. Comic books are great too - he needs to read what gives him pleasure - take him to the library and let him choose even if you think it may be hard for him if he is interested it will inspire reading. My son hated reading until he discovered Calvin and Hobbs and now he has moved on to How to Draw, Historical Mysteries and is a avid reader. Let him choose more and he will learn faster. Good Luck!

Answer 7

Hi there,
The ability to read is vital for success. It helps your child succeed in school, helps them build self-confidence, and helps to motivate your child. Being able to read will help your child learn more about the world, understand directions on signs and posters, allow them to find reading as an entertainment, and help them gather information.

Here you can find a step-by-step online program that can help your child learn to read: http://readingprogram.toptips.org

Learning to read is very different from learning to speak, and it does not happen all at once. There is a steady progression in the development of reading ability over time. The best time for children to start learning to read is at a very young age - even before they enter pre-school. Once a child is able to speak, they can begin developing basic reading skills. Very young children have a natural curiosity to learn about everything, and they are naturally intrigued by the printed texts they see, and are eager to learn about the sounds made by those letters. You will likely notice that your young child likes to look at books and thoroughly enjoys being read to. They will even pretend to behave like a reader by holding books and pretend to read them.

For more info visit http://readingprogram.toptips.org
I hope it helps

Answer 8

Have him read things that interest him. My son hated reading until I ordered several magazines that he found interesting. Now it's not too much of a battle. Try using games that you have to read the cards, like family caranium. He will start to associate reading with having fun. And games are a great way to get the whole family involved with eachother.