Wondering (and a little frustrated) if my second grader

[StillJulie]

will EVER be ready/capable to do the Emerging Readers set...

We've been working out of a combination of Phonics Pathways, the Reading Lesson, and Turbo Reader for the last two years. I've occasionally switched (and allowed him some choice) when he gets so frustrated, hating, and in tears over it.

I also switched from Explode the Code workbooks to Primary Phonics. Just having something fresh/different helps his confidence/mood.

He will be eight in November. My five year old daughter is passing him up in phonics/reading. It might not be the right thing to have done, but I have tried to hold her back (and am spending more time reinforcing phonics skills with review workbooks). Unless he makes strides this year, though, she will definitely progress past him. It's possible that could motivate him to work harder, but I don't know. He really seems to have NO DESIRE to learn how to read. Where my daughter can whip through a phonics reader page in no time flat, it will take him fifteen minutes b/c it is so hard for him to focus on the page.


I'd appreciate prayers and advice.

[psreit]

My dd turned 8 in May and we are still doing phonics. We have, however, started the Early Reader's Bible. She does pretty well reading that, but it is slow. I have Pathway readers that I would like her to continue in, as well. She has a problem with her eyes, so she does not do a lot of reading at one time. It frustrates her. If she gets frustrated, she doesn't cry, she will just refuse to do it. You may want to get your ds's eyes checked to make sure there isn't a tracking problem. Otherwise, keep working at it. If he needs to do phonics longer, that's okay. Don't hold dd back because of it. If it is an attitude problem, that may be an incentive to get him working harder. But if he is having trouble and ends up in tears, it sounds like there may be something else going on, either a learning disability or vision problems.

[moedertje]

Will keep you and your dc in my prayers. It must be a very difficult time. May God's grace be with you!

[Tansy]

I'm assuming you have ruled out any eye tracking issues.
My dd had strabismus, one eye was not tracking with the other. The letters moved around on the page for her, and it made it very difficult for her to read. When I look back at photos of her I can now spot it. One eye will be looking at the camera and the other is just slightly not looking at the camera. We used glasses, then surgery, and now we do eye tracking exercises.

So often I was so frustrated with her and her lack of desire to learn. How often she would become frustrated and just give up. *tears* But now looking back I see she had more struggles than I ever realized yet she did learn to read I offered big prizes for every 25 lessons covered, and a stamp for a good days lesson *no tears and actually trying* after 5 stamps she got a trip to the dollar store. That was enough motivation for her.
Hope that helps,
Tansy

[raceNzanesmom]

I wouldn't hold dd back- but I also wouldn't assume ds isn't trying. My 7 y/o tries HARD, but he isn't ready for the ERs yet. Everyone learns differently. I agree with the others, have his eyes checked. Then work at his pace, everyday, with lots of encouragement.

[my3sons]

StillJulie - Teaching phonics to my third ds has actually been harder than teaching it to my first 2 sons. I think I am struggling with going back that far to teach phonics. It can be frustrating for mom and dc alike. So, know that you are not alone in feeling some frustration, and ds is not alone either.

I agree with the ladies that it's worth an eye appointment to check his eyesight and tracking. I remember I was in third grade when I had my eyes checked, and I could not believe the difference in clarity when I got my first pair of glasses. I didn't ever say that I couldn't see well, and it was just a regular school eye check-up that revealed I really needed glasses. I guess I compensated by burying my nose in a book - literally - as I had to hold it very close to see it. So, just because ds may not be showing obvious signs of eye problems, that doesn't mean he may not have any. Good to check just to be sure!

...He really seems to have NO DESIRE to learn how to read...it will take him fifteen minutes b/c it is so hard for him to focus on the page...

For boys especially, it seems that the CM short lesson method is a huge hit. It is no different with phonics. I would try to narrow it down to just using only one complete phonics program, and I'd do it for just 20-25 minutes a day, setting the timer and stopping when it rings. I'd also start some type of rewards system. If dc don't have a desire to learn how to read, they do have a desire for something - whatever that is, I'd attach it as a tangible reward to phonics. So, if ds loves playing catch with dad, I'd give him 1 min. of playing catch time for every 2 words read correctly. Or, if he loves stickers, I'd give him a sticker next to every word he gets right, right in the phonics book. Or maybe star each word he gets right, and give him an M & M for each. The words he misses, he can start with reading the next day. I'd also plan for a few bigger rewards. For example, when he is 1/3 of the way through the phonics book (I'd pick a page number), you could take him out for an ice cream cone at Dairy Queen. When he's 2/3 through, you could take let him have a few laps around a go-cart track. When he's done, you could take him out to eat at his favorite restaurant. Whatever trips his trigger, I'd plan some incremental goals, and only "let" him read 20-25 minutes each day to reach them. If he realizes that phonics is not a forever thing, that he just needs to finish this one program, that it will only take him 20-25 focused minutes a day, and that there are some really neat daily rewards he can earn - as well as some really neat bigger rewards he can earn, I think he'll be motivated. These are just a few ideas that worked great for our dc! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[totallyblessed]

My dd (just turned 9) did not like reading and was really struggling. This past spring I did a reward poster and for every easy reader (we checked out lots of books from the library) she read she got to fill in a square, there were 12 on a page, when all the squares were filled we did something special like go out for icecream, have a movie night, she got to choose what was for dinner, etc. The reward system worked very well. With regular reading she has improved and continues to. For her she just didn't pick it up fast and I needed to help motivate her to keep practicing.

[blessedmom]

Just to encourage you, my 2nd dd has taking quite a while to read too. She was never interested in reading, either me to her or her to me. Her oldest sister read so early. This process has been so hard. She is 8 1/2 now, in the 3rd grade and is finally reading with help. We started the emerging readers lated last spring. I never thought she would start. I agree to get you ds sight tested to rule out anything, but other than that just keep going. For my dd, it took a long time to click. I remember the beginning of last year and I felt like we were still struggling with CVC words. Not sure which year you are in this year, but we went through BLHFHG and started BHFHG at the end of last year. I had dd copy all of each of the poems and the memory verses, even though she could not read them. This helped her in tracking the words, I think her eyes used to get tired, and it helped her begin to sight read some words to. With the memory verses, I would have her copy them at the end of the unit, after we had memorized it, and then she would "read" it to me. I found that, because she did not want to read, making her interact with the written word by copying made her see the written word more. This really helped her. Before, because she could not read, I shyed away from making her write much or even try to read what she had written; but I think that is exactly what helped her. Keep going! It will click one day!

[Tree House Academy]

Some kids really just read faster than others. Boys, in particular, seem to take a little longer (not ALL boys, but as a general statement). My older son is in 7th grade and he reads aloud pretty nicely - when I can force him to do it. He learned to read by sight only in pubic school and phonetic pronunciation is STILL a challenge for him. My 7 year old reads like a 9th grader - he can sound out any word you give him, finish a novel in just a few hours. He truly has passed up my 7th grader in ability and this does bother my older son. However, I won't hold the younger back (and I suggest you don't hold your daughter back) because part of homeschooling is letting them learn at a pace that is right for them. They wouldn't get that chance in public school!

Explode the code is an excellent program for continuing to re-inforce phonics over the years. It is meant to go through 4th grade! We used this along with the emerging readers. Truly, the emerging readers are what helped my youngest son to take off in reading! He started with the Early Reader's Bible, loved the "Owl at Home" series, then got to Amelia Bedilia and asked if we could read something HARDER! So I skipped ahead and we started with the end of the ERs - the last 3 books. He did those with ease and that took him right into DITHR. The ERs start so easy and work up to tough which gives the kids confidence as they progress.

[Carrie]

StillJulie,

I agree with the ladies' wise counsel! If it's been a year since your little honey had his eyes tested, I would definitely begin there. Issues with vision often begin in 3rd grade.

Next, I'm wondering if your son has been all the way through a single phonics program yet? I guess I'm wondering if he has actually been exposed to all of the phonics sounds and sound combinations that he needs to know in order to be able to read? The reason I ask is that sometimes in trying to find the perfect fit in a program, we actually miss out on some needed learning. I know I did it with my own oldest son with his math. Anyway, at this point, I think I would just pick one program and finish it to the end, no matter how painful. I would set all other programs aside and just get him exposed to the sounds and sound combinations that he needs to know the "complete" phonics. I would lean toward doing only the Reading Lesson with CD and nothing else for phonics.

After you have finished the one program you choose to complete, I would then move him into the Early Reader's Bible whether he seems ready or not. Often kiddos are just craving more interesting, real book type reading material, or they see no point to the phonics instruction. Even if he is not reading fluidly or well, I would move into the Early Reader's Bible upon completion of your phonics program. If you have to half the reading assignments in the Emerging Reader Set each day at that point, do it, but moving to real books really brings on the joy of reading. It is possible for a kiddo to just stall on the phonics ladder, until the child gets some real in the trenches practice of applying what he/she has learned. This happens when he/she reads real books!

So, in my thinking, just set the timer for 20 min. a day and get through as many of the Reading Lesson pages during that time as possible. When you finish the book, head into the Emerging Reader's Set. There is a time to be "done" with phonics, but you need to first be sure your child has been exposed to all needed sound combinations.

Blessings,
Carrie

[StillJulie]

Thanks all for the feedback and advice.

His eyes were checked recently, and the optometrist had no concerns, so I think we can rule that out.

We have *not* completely finished a phonics program. We are about halfway through the Reading Lesson right now, so we'll continue to plug away at that. We will go ahead and start the Emerging Reader's set after that. Thanks for helping me solidify a plan, Carrie.