|
Momsdream: I hope you have room for just a little more advice. I have worked for many years in educational publishing, specifically in publishing early readers for reading programs and in teacher materials. I have attended a lot of professional training programs in this area as well as national conferences in the reading field. I have also written many early readers and phonics-based readers for children myself, and I currently review children's books for a professional publication.
I agree with having your D tested by an educational psychologist and by an optometrist. You will be able to use the results of these tests as you are advocating for your D.
There is an important term in education: "developmentally appropriate." This means that you do not ask a three-year-old to write his name, because that is not appropriate for that stage of child development. You do not expect a first grader to read chapter books (though many do; many do not) or do two hours of homework per night. Absolutely not developmentally appropriate for most children that age. It is also not developmentally appropriate to have individual children reading out loud as a requirement in front of the whole class.
In New Zealand, a leader in reading teaching and in national literacy (something like 98%), they realize that children learn to read at different rates, from age 5 to age 9. Some kids "get it" later rather than sooner (though I do think your D has some learning disability or learning difference issues). They nourish the children through this stage and make almost everyone successful at reading.
The majority of a first grade class reading chapter books is NOT anything normal. This sounds like a private school phenomenon of high achieving kids with parents teaching them to read at home prior to first grade. Most first grade classrooms across the U.S. have a spectrum of abilities, from kids who are just working on sounding out words and putting together simple sentences to those who are reading and writing fluently.
There are several things going on in your D's class that are not in line with current "best practices" in teaching, specifically red marks and sad faces on homework papers and having a single student read out loud in front of the class. The current standard for reading instruction uses a process called "guided reading," with small groups all reading the same short reading book out loud together, so no one is singled out and all can feel successful together. That practice of single children reading out loud in front of the group has not been recommended for quite a few years, maybe 15-20. Ditto for red ink on homework papers.
Your D's self-esteem as a student and reader is at stake here, and I wouldn't wait for the results of the testing to take action. If this were my D, I would do this:
1. Request a private meeting with the teacher. Ask for no more sad faces on homework papers, and perhaps some positive comments on the papers--a whole new approach. Ask that your D is not called on to read out loud by herself as it is not appropriate for her educational needs. Explain that you are having her tested and will be sure to involve the teacher in future plans for D. Try to get teacher on your side to work as a team member to turn this around and help your D become a successful reader.
2. Find an experienced reading specialist to tutor your D. The educational psychologist or your local elementary school may be able to recommend someone. Interview several people if possible and get someone positive and cheerful to help bolster your D's confidence. (I did this with my own D for math in junior high and it is still paying benefits today in her college math courses.) If finances are an issue, perhaps schedule a limited number of sessions with the tutor's recommendations of what you can continue with at home. If finances allow get the tutor in place now so that tutoring can continue throughout the summer. Tutoring in the summer following first grade is critical for kids having difficulties so that progress is not lost before second grade.
3. Your D likes the Hooked on Phonics books because they are leveled (all the books at the exact same level of reading difficulty) and funny and she is successful at reading them. Keep on with that as it will build her confidence as a reader. I would not ask her to read your bedtime reading books to you as that has too many issues with words that she will not be able to handle.
4. Start thinking about school for next year. Do you want your D to continue at this school? If not now is the time to be looking for another school. I really question if this is the right environment for your D. She needs additional support and help and next year all those chapter-reading kids will be doing things your D is not ready for yet.
There is nothing more important to school success than successful reading. Your D deserves much more than she is receiving in this classroom, especially when you are paying private school tuition.
|