My Child Struggles to Read

In every classroom across the nation, and the world, there are students who struggle with reading. These students sit every day in class and are lost. They see other students catching on to reading quickly, while they struggle day after day not knowing why they can't read like their classmates. So what is the problem? Why can't they read like the other children? They simply don't learn in the traditional way that students who don't have reading problems do. They are often very bright and have many gifts and talents; however, reading is a mystery for them. It just doesn't come easy for them like it does for the other children. Most students who struggle with reading have what is called dyslexia.

So what is dyslexia? According to Dyslexia International,

Dyslexia is neurologically based and often hereditary. 

It causes difficulties in reading, writing, spelling and organization. 

Dyslexia makes fluent reading difficult, 

which affects not only academic success but also 

self-esteem and social-emotional development.

Is my child just being lazy?

Now, you might say, "My child can read, but just isn't fluent. He/she just needs to try harder, practice more." Sometimes it is true that students can read to a point, but are not fluent readers. By fourth grade, however, these students begin to be more and more frustrated as the amount of text they have to read increases. Many times you will see a drop in your child's grades. It is at this point that many parents seek outside help.

What can help my child to read better?

The problem is not that your child is not trying hard enough, or is not practicing enough but, rather that the way in which your child learns is not the way he is being taught. A proven method for helping students with dyslexia is to use an Orton-Gillingham approach. This method is researched based and has helped many, many students learn to read over the years.

What can a parent do today?

If your child has a reading problem the best thing you can do as a parent is to get a tutor who uses a reading program based on the Orton-Gillingham approach. You can go to a tutor who uses Barton Reading & Spelling, Wilson, Project Read or any other program that is Orton-Gillingham based. The earlier the intervention with an Orton-Gillingham approach the better. Call a tutor today. If you would like to contact me you can call me at 973.750.4311.