Need Bigger alternative extension for lower reading

[water2wine]

My dd with reading issues is almost 12. She has CP. Up until this point she has been getting the extension pack read aloud by me. My other kids are fully capable of reading it. The problem is I am fighting major attitude struggle and part of it is honestly she is getting spoiled by all the extra help she gets, mean while I am needing some of the time back to give to my other kids. I am seeing that she might need to take on some more of her learning responsibility herself and that might actually help her attitude. I am beginning to think part of it may be that dynamic of the other kids helping her and her always needing help that is why she is refusing help when she does really need it.. Anyway I want to make her an extension pack on her reading level that she can do independently. Can you suggest some alternative books that could work as an extension for the late second to beginning third grade reading level? I am contemplating reading just Planet Earth and a Child's story of America aloud still and letting the others take back their independent reading of the rest of the extension pack. She can't possibly read the books the other kids would in Bigger. All my other kids are capable of the extension pack. As far as her She reading level is just now reading First Flight in the Emerging readers that is unit 18-19. I am having her read it again for proficiency. She is also doing R&S level 2 Reading she is almost done with unit 4 and will have two more units to complete that. Just to give you an idea of level.

I have all the Beyond books
American Pioneers and Patriots,
Stories of the Pilgrims,
Boys and Girls of Colonial Days
(and I have the questions that go with them so those could be done as well which would be good for her)
I have the Light and Glory Series (probably too hard)
The D'Aulaire books
In God We Trust (probably too hard)
The Story of the Wright Brothers and Their Sister (I think this one is too hard maybe but maybe later)
The American People and Nation

I realize the idea is that they learn to read proficiently then you move them on to independent work but she is quite honestly needing a huge push right now and she needs some responsibility beyond what she is getting. She is almost 12 and she should be in 5th or really 6th grade. She needs it for attitude sake and to gain some maturity. Any help would be appreciated. I am more than willing to buy new books if there is something perfect.

BTW feel free to tell me I have lost my mind. I am open to that possibility. I am little warn out by trying to fix this thing with her. HOD works for us great. This is just a little different issue and I am thinking of trying to make the actual school help us fix the issue. I am thinking rationally this is the solution to helping push her in the correct direction. Perhaps. Just because she learns on a lower level in my mind I am seeing that she does still need to take charge at a similar level that she would be required by for her age and I think I have made a mistake in that area. Thanks for any help you can give!

[eazbnsmom]

Hi water2wine,

I know from your posts that you are a prayerful parent. You also know your child best. So I pray that God will give you the guidance you need for this. I (personally without no experience) think having her read her own reading level history books is a great idea, the difficulty is in find books a that level for that time period. I think Christine Miller's book "All Through the Ages" would be perfect for this. She has books listed by time period and grade level (1-3, 4-6, 7-9 & 10-12).
Here is a link to a sample of the book (looks like she updated since I last checked)

Nothing New Press - http://www.nothingnewpress.com/atta/att ... s40-41.pdf


You can pick and choose what you like or see what your library has. HTH

[water2wine]

Prayer is an excellent suggestion. I do really need to pray about it more although I do pray about her regularly for wisdom on how to teach her I think I need to focus a bit more on prayer for this particular issue. She is a sweet and loving girl and I love her so much I would do anything for her. We go in phases and that is normal but I am really feeling like I have perhaps over accommodated her due to her special needs and she has become a bit spoiled because of that. I know that sounds awful to say (and I do not mean it to be harsh) but I am beginning to see that it may be true. She is in a tantrum mode too much of the time and it is over nothing except the common theme is control. She wants it her way period even if her way will not work and she does not want help even if she needs it (it's way beyond hormones). It's a bit like having a two year old in a 12 year old body and discipline is not doing it. (I will say this is normal for her to a point and some of it is her CP but I think most of it is not). We all accommodate her which is good in a way but I think it maybe has gone too far in that direction is all. It just occurred to me today that perhaps she needs the responsibility back that better reflects her true age maybe then her emotional age will catch up. I hope...probably need to pray more though on it. So I actually do appreciate you reminding me that I do need to be prayerful about this (and I mean that sincerely it is the best advice for me). It's not a punishment. It's more of a trying to rework her brain in the right direction and give a better focus to her frustration instead of me, hahaha! So I am thinking pf giving this road a try and see if it helps.

I will check out that resource. It looks like they have some American History recommendations as well. Thank you very much for your help and wisdom!

[momto3girls]

Hi! I have a few sugggestions for you.

I've listed the authors instead of the titles since these authors have written several American history books. That way, you can search for the authors at your library to see what they have. Just from memory, I think the reading level of these books is generally 2nd-3rd grade.
Alice Dalgliesh
Jean Fritz
the d'Aulaires
James E. Knight
Clyde Bulla
Ann McGovern
Stephen Kellogg
Nathaniel Benchley (Sam the Minuteman and George the Drummer)
Ellen Levine
Betsy and Guilio Maestro

Series to look for:
If You Lived______________ (in Colonial Times, with the Iroquis)
Meet ____________________, Meet Famous Americans, A Step-Up book (I don't know if these are in print. I've bought several at Half Price Books)
Troll Easy Biography

Hope this helps!

[water2wine]

Thank you that is a wonderful list. I really appreciate that! I have some of those even and the others I know a lot are available at the library.

Thank you very much!

[eazbnsmom]

I will check out that resource. It looks like they have some American History recommendations as well. Thank you very much for your help and wisdom!

Water2wine,

Just envision Carrie's sample book list only it is 300+pages long (including index) and devoted only to history. She has a lot of American History recommendations divided under Exploration; New World Colonization; Colonial wars; Overview of American History; American Revolution; Framing the New Government; Pre-Civil War National Growth; Civil War; Reconstruction, Wild West & the Victorian Era; Industrialization & Immigration; Overview of the Twentieth Century; Pre-world War II 1900s; World War I; World War II; Modern Era (this is just the American History section, the sample was for Ancient Egypt).

We all can use reminders to pray! God Bless!

[water2wine]

We all can use reminders to pray! God Bless!

Thanks!

[Carrie]

I agree that this is a very good idea for your unique situation! The authors the ladies have given you and the suggestions have all been excellent. I would also agree with you that ALL of the D'Aulaire titles would be great choices for your daughter to read. They are filled with information and are wonderfully living.

Happy searching!

Blessings,
Carrie

[water2wine]

Thanks! I have started this and I have to say it has been a great thing. I loved reading them aloud because selfishly I wanted to learn as well. But the independence has been good for my older children and my dd who is getting her own little extension pack on her level has shown some really great changes. I came downstairs one morning and the garage was completely clean. She had woken up early to clean it on her own. And I mean it has never looked better. What is better than having cleaned it she is maintaining it on her own. I never asked her to do it. I can see now that she needed that pride factor of having something else that she could read on her own and it is showing big time in her attitude. I also catch her trying to read theirs as well and I think that is very good that it is causing her to strive toward something more as well.

So I just want to say for anyone else with a child that is delayed in reading for some reason but much older in age if it not going to over load them (and I think that is very key because that really could make it back fire) the lower level extension pack idea has really been a blessing. I do still read Planet Earth and A Child's Story of America because I really want her to get the information form both of those books plus I like how they intertwine so well with the rest and it gives me the chance to really drive the points home. I pretty much had things on my shelf that would work really well. I ordered just one more book because some of them I had read to her already which I think is still fine for her to read again on her own but for knowing that she is comprehending what she is reading sake I wanted one good book that covered a good deal of the history on her level that was fresh so I could be sure she was comprehending. I am going to probably combine some of the books in the Preparing lower level with some things I can find for the CTG level for her next year and do the same thing. It turns out to be no big deal to do this each day and I will be using a lot of things suggested by people here in answer to my question so I really appreciate those that helped. I could see having her do this through the break in the summer to keep her reading going as well. Next year I will add DITHR for her as well. She is still finishing up the Emerging Readers now and I think adding one thing at a time is a good idea for her.

Anyway huge problem with behavior and attitude turned out to have a fairly easy solution. Hopefully it will stick. I know we will have cycles as we always do but this has really helped us. And I think it is all that pride issue that was really important for her and that having to step up to the plate and do what the big kids do. I think it also helped her to realize that she was not just battling me (really she is not, it is her own anger that she got dealt the cards she did but in her head that translates to me) it was all the kids that were sick of her attitude as well. We all talked with her as a family about her attitude and that had a huge impact as well and I let the other kids all get to say honestly and kindly how it made them feel when she threw tantrums and did not do the simple things she was told. That helped quite a bit as well. It diffused that me against her thing she had in her head. Anyway I know this is babble for most people but hoping it will help someone along the way. There is a lot of hit and miss teaching kids with special needs so I think it is good for us that have special kids to share ideas. Plus helping them cope with the emotions around their needs I think can be tough so I hope others will share what they are doing that has worked as well. Hopefully something here will be of help to others as well.

[eazbnsmom]

Water2Wine,

Thanks so much for the update. I am so glad that God has quickly answered your prayers with a solution that working very well! (umm not that He would give you a solution that didn't)

[water2wine]

Water2Wine,

Thanks so much for the update. I am so glad that God has quickly answered your prayers with a solution that working very well! (umm not that He would give you a solution that didn't)

Hahaha! No He only gives me good solutions. I just sometimes do not work them well.