Kindergarten Another Year? Reading Problem.

Rebekah - posted on 07/29/2009

Depending on where you live, reading may be expected in Kinder. Our Kinder kids are expected to be able to decode, for example:

1.1.4 Apply understanding of phonics.

• Identify letters of the alphabet.

• Identify common consonant sounds and short vowel sounds.

• Use common consonant sounds with short vowel sounds to decode three- and four-letter words.

• Use knowledge of phonics to read unfamiliar words in isolation and in context.



Not to mention sight word recognition and comprehension....

Rebekah - posted on 07/29/2009

As a special education teacher, I can not tell you how often I have sat across the the table and heard that "he was a young Kindergartener and we thought he would catch up". I would say try retention. Also you might think about what kind of curriculum they are using. A lot of little guys need a very hands-on, multi sensory learning experience to succeed. Look for music, movements, rhymes, and art to be regularly part of the lesson to be sure that all of the possible modalities are touched on, which will trigger better memory and storage of the sounds and words.You might also try to find a full day Kinder program. Some school districts have them as an intensive intervention or as an alternative to daycare (fee involved). More exposure and peer examples could do the trick! Additionally, my last piece of advice is to rule out vision issues. A regular eye exam can only tell accuity. Try to find a specialist who specializes in educational exams that monitor tracking, etc that are more complex. http://www.alderwoodvisiontherapy.com/ is an example of a center that does just that. We have had students have excellent results with therapy. It can be spendy, as many insurance companies don't cover it yet, but is worth considering. If, after all of these options areexhausted, he does not begin developing skills, seek more intensive interventions during the school day (as required to be provided by Federal law) and if necessary request an evaluation for learning disorders at the end of his 2nd Kinder experience or beginning of 1st (more likely to qualify for services at an older age, so first is better, FYI).

Annetta - posted on 07/29/2009

I would not worry about reading in kindergarten. If you want to you can work on letter recognition and sound with him at home, also read books to him and let him see you enjoy a good read. These things will make him curious about those marks on the paper. My daughter was reading by the time she was 4, but now she is going into the seventh grade with college level reading skills.

Laura - posted on 07/29/2009

i am in the same boat .. my son turned 6 in may and i am keeping him in kindergarden next year ... they expect alot from them now they say my son is reading at a level two but needs to be at level three .. they say he might have dislexya

Kelly - posted on 07/29/2009

My 7-year-old daughter also struggled somewhat with reading in Kindergarten, and it was a situation relating to speech as several have mentioned above. There was never a question of holding her back, she just had to work harder at it than my other kids had. Just to prepare you, in first grade she struggled somewhat with writing for the same reasons. Having trouble "sounding out" words in reading, caused her to have a hard time "stretching" her words out to spell them in writing. She would leave out letters because she just didn't use those sounds properly. I just work with her a lot more than I would need to otherwise, in those areas. We read a lot, and I give her mock "spelling tests" for her to practice writing, etc. She does go to the speech therapist at school, and that seems to be helping. She went to speech therapy since she was three years old. In Kindergarten they had stopped sending her to speech because they thought she didn't need it anymore, but then these issues cropped up with reading and writing, and they put her back into the program. I would not hold him back if he has no other issues, just try to get him a little extra help.

Andrea - posted on 07/29/2009

My opinion with what I know about brain research etc, I would send him to gr.1. Boys usually are later in learning to read. In Europe lots of kids don't start school until 6 or 7 years of age and they still learn to read. He will be fine!

Lucy - posted on 07/29/2009

I teach in the UK and we have countless children who do not learn all their phonics until age 7,8,9 or even older! Here it isn't an option to hold children back, instead the school give additional support to the children who need it. Personally i wouldn't hold my child back, every child is different and they all learn different things at different times. Don't push it, it will come!

Roslyn - posted on 07/28/2009

I have created two books with CDs that could help with reading in a fun way. One is called "The Incredible Edible Alphabet" and the other is "Nanna's Carrots". You can check them out at www.auntyrozzy.com. or amazon.com for "Nanna's Carrots". "The Incredible Edible Alphabet" is coming to amazon soon. I'm living in Australia. They are aimed at 2-8 year olds and the kids love the songs and then the independence of reading the book by following the CD audio book. My nephew who has had similar problems also worked with a speech therapist that really helped. Good luck.

Robyn - posted on 07/28/2009

I kept my oldest back in kindergarten and it was the best decision I ever made. I was actually told by her first grade teacher that she wishes more parents would either wait another year or hold their children back. Sometimes its hard on a child to grasp school. Work with your son with the reading. It can be done! I worked with my kids a lot and they are better at school. Although the behavior thing is comming along a LOT more slowly lol

Angel - posted on 07/28/2009

I would suggest speaking with your son teacher about getting a speech and language evaluation. If its a mild receptive and expressive language disorder, there is no need to retain your son a whole school year because there are resources avaliable through the school system to increase communication skills in the area of deficit. :D

Sorry Education Major lol
p.s: You'll most likely be working with a Speech Pathologist

Stacey - posted on 07/28/2009

Have you thought about sending him to School, but look into getting some help from a Speech Pathologist or other Professional. My Son is seeing a Speech Pathologist for Speech delay, they are a great service.

Katarina - posted on 07/28/2009

I didn't know that they were teaching 6 year olds to read. That seems young to me. To me kindergarten is about social developement, numbers, letters, and art. My younger siblings(8 and 10) didn't start learning how to read until the second half of 1st grade and didn't take it seriously until the 2nd. I'm live in Canada, not sure where your from but our kids start kindergarten at age 5.