Ok, everyone get in here! I have a question for you, girls.

[mem82]

Say your 7 yo son has really kind of struggled with reading. He gets frustrated, tired, confused, and gets the sounds mixed up. He's making progress but it's an uphill battle.

Now, say that you look up a spelling list for 2nd grade and give him the first list and have him spell it out loud, not on paper, just to see how far behind he is. He basically aces it. (!!!) This is awesome, yet confusing as far as how to place him, reading wise.

1. So, do I assume he's been pulling my leg during reading time?

2. What would you do with a child that can sound out words without seeing them, but looking at them, freaks out?

3. Does anyone else have this problem?

4. Should I assume this means great things for his reading skills and wait for everything to even out?

5. Do you think I should change our reading time? (sitting and reading a few pages of a level reader. Usually, it's one he is interested in.)

[aldmom0408]

Im basically having the same prob with my dd who is 6. She struggles at reading but when I give her simple words to spell she will usually get them right everytime... I doubt your son is pulling your leg. Spelling and reading are 2 totally different concepts. With spelling he has the sounds already, with reading he has to remember each sound and it can be overwhelming since each letter has several different sounds. Just keep working with him, he'll get it.Practice makes perfect!!! Maybe, so that he doesn't get overwhelmed, let him read only a few pages at a time, take a break, then go back... Good-luck:)

[Jinx-Troublex3]

He may also have a vision problem where his eyes get tires or hurt or a processing issue like dyslexia where he can do it in his head but things are jumbled on a page

[mem82]

I was a little worried about dyslexia or about weak eyes, but after doing a few things with him, I think it's more of a mental thing. Like he gets stressed seeing all the letters on the page, maybe?

Quoting Jinx-Troublex3:

He may also have a vision problem where his eyes get tires or hurt or a processing issue like dyslexia where he can do it in his head but things are jumbled on a page

[mem82]

Thanks! Those are some very good points about reading vs. spelling. He gets really upset when the letters don't 'follow' the rules.

Quoting aldmom0408:

Im basically having the same prob with my dd who is 6. She struggles at reading but when I give her simple words to spell she will usually get them right everytime... I doubt your son is pulling your leg. Spelling and reading are 2 totally different concepts. With spelling he has the sounds already, with reading he has to remember each sound and it can be overwhelming since each letter has several different sounds. Just keep working with him, he'll get it.Practice makes perfect!!! Maybe, so that he doesn't get overwhelmed, let him read only a few pages at a time, take a break, then go back... Good-luck:)

[kimbral3]

I have the same problem with my ds who is 8. I get so aggravated b/c I feel like he knows it. He won't sound them out though. He will sit there until I tell him what it says. When you figure it out, please spread the word :)

[maggiandmike]

When I was in about 2nd grade, I had a terrible time reading. So, to encourage me to get more proficient at it at my own rate, my mother said I could stay up as late as I wanted, as long as I was in my bed with a book. It worked! No pressure to read aloud, and a yearning to "stay up", helped me over that hurdle. Now, it's my favorite thing to lay in bed with a book.

[mem82]

Ugh! That is just like what my son. OR he'll make every letter sound known to man EXCEPT the right one. LOL I really have to work on patience and I try to keep my face expressionless. Inside my head is an exploding volcano, though. hahaha!

Quoting kimbral3:

I have the same problem with my ds who is 8. I get so aggravated b/c I feel like he knows it. He won't sound them out though. He will sit there until I tell him what it says. When you figure it out, please spread the word :)

[mem82]

I might try that!

Quoting maggiandmike:

When I was in about 2nd grade, I had a terrible time reading. So, to encourage me to get more proficient at it at my own rate, my mother said I could stay up as late as I wanted, as long as I was in my bed with a book. It worked! No pressure to read aloud, and a yearning to "stay up", helped me over that hurdle. Now, it's my favorite thing to lay in bed with a book.

[oredeb]

i dont think hes pulling your leg either!

some ideas:

what about just teaching him the words so he can memorize them instead of sounding out, isnt that look see method?

seeing the word in his mind

or how bout going back to easier words am, is, it, dad, mom etc till he gets those real good? make him up some readers using the easiest words,

how is he in math???

what about his hearing?

my son was 8 when he really started catching on, and from then on as aldmom said 'practicie made perfect'! and i was in 5th grade till i could read, i was visual learner and i just couldnt put the sounds together

i just found this article maybe some ideas in it, i think shes selling her book but theres some good ideas  http://child-1st.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/teaching-visual-learners-to-read.html

another interesting article mem   http://ereadingpro.com/visual-learner.htm

http://homemade-school.blogspot.com/search/label/learning%20styles  scroll down to visual learner

Phonics (visual learner)
It is important for visual learners to see the whole word as a picture first, and then it is easier to remember how those letters and sounds fit together to make up that whole word-picture.
If you are teaching reading with flashcards, each card should have a word that represents something that the learner can see. It’s easier for a child to see an 'apple' than to see and remember the word 'that'. Say the word so that the child hears very clearly how the word should sound.
For phonics use picture cards
Reading rocks for the visual learner-http://www.readingreallyrocks.com/thevisuallearner.html
Use lots of color for the visual learner, they love it!

[lilmamabowers]

 i worked with second graders as a peer tutor last year and they all seemed to be struggling like this. In my opinion i think they get overwhelmed at all the words on one page and putting them together. If you ask them to just spell one word out at a time, its like a peice of cake for them. It could very well be the same problem here. I wouldnt stress about it though. I think its rather normal with kids that are starting to read and that have little experience with it.