Math Question and Emerging Reader Question

[Tracee]

I have a question as to what I should expect from an 8 year getting ready to go into level 2B. We have about a week left of 2A. I love Singapore, because we've never had to drill addition or subtraction math facts. My 8 year old just seem to pick them up naturally using Singapore. Now, we are doing multiplication and division, and I'm wondering if I'm going to have to do something more for him to get it. I wouldn't be too concerned except that he is severely dyslexic, and I know that multiplication facts are notoriously hard for dyslexics to remember. Today, he used the manipulatives for every problem. Is this going to be a problem as we continue on? Should I makes sure he's solid in his facts before we move on, or will he get it with repeated exposure?

I think we are about 2 months away from the Emerging Readers set. Although we will still be working on specialized reading instruction, I think he will be ready to read at that grade level. He will know all the sounds of the English language and their corresponding phonograms. His reading will still probably be slow and labored. What should I expect while he is reading aloud? Should he be able to read with ease, or is it expected that I will be there to help him with any words or sounds that he struggles with. I'm finding that with him reading aloud and me helping him analyze the words while we are reading seems to help him.

Thanks,
Tracy Wagner

[mrsrandolph]

If he is still having to REALLY sound out words, I would hold off on emerging readers in favor of more phonics instruction.

In my "former life" I was a reading specialist in the public schools. I have used EVERY and I do mean EVERY reading program out there on my guys at home. I absolutely LOVE "All About Reading" from the makers of "All About Spelling". You could check out their website if you are interested in looking into a different phonics program other than what you currently use.

I certainly don't know all there is to know, but I am happy to answer any questions you may have about specific word decoding issues.

[Tracee]

Thanks Shannon! I have looked at All About Reading. I've actually spoken to them a couple of times about their program, because I've seriously considered it. We are just a little ahead of where All About Reading is at the moment. They don't have all their levels out yet, and they won't be out until next school year and the year after that. We will be past level 2 in about 2 months which is their highest program out to date, but we are using AAS . AAR is an Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading, and we came from from a very intense and expensive Orton-Gillingham program, which we both dreaded. Since we started using a Phono-Graphix approach, my ds took off. He probably made a year's worth of progress in a few months. It's been incredible for us.

I'm assuming the ERs are more for comprehension. Do you have any suggestions as to which readers I could use to build fluency?

Thanks,
Tracy

[glperky]

Tracy,

Do you mind PMing me what Phono-Graphix approach you are using? Thanks!

[lmercon]

Tracee,
I'm also very interested in the phonics program that you are using.

As far as emerging readers go, if he is able to read most of the words on the page, I would allow him to continue even if you have to help him here and there. One element of dyslexia can be difficulty with expressive speech. My severe dyslexic ds complains of this often. He says he "knows" the word, but something else comes out when he tries to articulate it aloud. Your ds may have an issue such as this as well.

As far as the mult. facts, you are absolutely correct. My ds had a really tough time learning the facts and retaining them. The best thing that worked for him was Times Tales. It literally took one session to go through it. It's cute and really worked for him. Now I just give him copies of times table facts that I copied from a book I have. You can find them on the internet as well. I find if we don't review them often, he gets rusty. Not knowing the times tables really hindered him when the math got more difficult, and this was for a mathy kid.
hth,
Laura

[Tracee]

Laura this is the exact problem with my son. He knows the word or even the sound, but sometimes it just won't come out. When he was tested at 6 1/2, his retrieval fluency was that of a 3 1/2 year old. It was pretty low, but this is his biggest problem. When he was younger, he use to stutter because of this exact problem. On the other hand, he has great visual-spatial skills which is why we love Singapore. I have the Times Tales video, so I guess we will start using that soon.


I'll PM you about the Phono-Graphix method.


Tracy

[mrsrandolph]

Tracy,

As far a fluency goes, have you seen any samples of the fluency pages for AAR? Could he do those? How easily?

I have a reading fluency program I could send you in PDF called Reading A-Z. If you're interested, just send me your email address to cwejmom@gmail.com

[glperky]

I'll PM you about the Phono-Graphix method.


Tracy

Thank you for the PM. I PMed you back.

[mom23]

When my ds started the emerging readers he was not reading fluently and smoothly by any stretch of the imagination. I had to help him sound out words frequently and found those first few books to be pretty slow and laborious. However, we've just finished up the set and he reads beautifully! I think that fluency is built in the ER's as well as comprehension. Use your judgement-I've not ever had to teach someone with dyslexia, so if you feel you're needing more phonics, by all means do it; but I don't think you'd have to even if he's still needing help on words and is reading slowly.