When he is holding a pencil or crayon, does it physically hurt him? I ask because I have a child with dysgraphia. His writing is extremely hard to read. As a child, he would complain of pain when he tried to write. He was eventually diagnosed with dysgraphia. He could tell me just about anything, but could not recognize letters or write them. It took so long to get him tested that I had taken the proverbial bull by the horns. When they finally tested him, they said his verbal skills were so high that he could not be labeled dyslexic. They no longer use that methodology to diagnose a child with dyslexia. He went from a 2.7 reading level to a 10.6 level in 2 years. As a high school sophomore, he had a 17.9 reading level...master's level. I tell you this to offer you comfort.

I had another child with a phonological and articulation disorder. They thought he would be in speech therapy for 5 years. Within a year, they changed their minds. Now, as a high school sophomore, he does not stop talking.

The best phonics program I saw was the Saxon phonics. It was used across the curriculum. I don't know how you find it. One suggestion would be to constantly use speech with him. In the car, make a game out of objects you see on the road. Use a reward system for him. Keep in mind that public school kindergarten is like first grade was years ago. If he has not met the milestones, you might make it much harder for him by insisting that he keep up with his friends. JMO. Boys, in general, develop more slowly than girls. For some little guys, it is hard to put it all together. Has  the study team agreed to re-evaluate him at the end of the summer?

I

tomatoqueen Jul. 3, 2008 at 9:30 PM

What is his learning style? Is it auditory, visual or kinestic? http://www.cafemom.com/group/699/boards/read/4026437/Different_Types_of_Learning

The link is to a Cafemom group called Happy Homeschoolers. It the post is about learning styles. I think you'd get fantastic ideas if you posted this post in that group.

I homeschool. My 4 and 5 yr old are so excited to be doing "school". My 5yr old son is all gungho and will eagerly get involved in anything I ask of him. My 4yr old daughter is a bit more stubborn and less excited about some of it.

My 4yr old daughter loves the computer stuff, being read stories, the hands on activities and such. But, if I ask her to write she doesn't want to. So, I tried a colored pencil, then a crayon. Still no luck. Then I tried colored chalk and she loved it. She also likes marker boards. My son prefers regular old pencil and paper.  He Loves workbooks (she doesn't).

To teach math I decided to hold off on the workbooks, textbook and flash cards for now. I bought funtastic frogs kits and worked with them with these and some other manipulatives. For measuring, I bought these colorful plastic toy worms that are all different sizes. There just so many hands on activities that I have been using with them. These really seem to help when it comes to math (and science too).

I wrote their numbers (1-10) on a paper and had them practice writing them for a little bit each day. My son can not sing the alphabet for some reason. He hates even listening to the song. I don't push it. Who cares right now. I am fairly confident that he will eventually learn the alphabet song. Especially since his 4yr old sister loves it, knows it and sings it all the time. I focus more on him being able to write and reconize the letters. I was able to get him to write them fine, but, I couldn't get him to reconize them. He had NO interest in flash cards. So, I gave hima A flash card to hold, got a book out and asked him to show me all the A's. He LOVED this and happily did so. While also looking at the pictures and I read the book when he was done. I did this with all the letters (on different occassions).

What really helped me was Starfall, Letter of the week and Time4learning websites. He loved doing them and learned a lot. I used the leap frog videos (like letter factory) to help as well. It really was a combination of several things and a daily schedule.

Have you tried one of those jelly like grips for the pencil to make his hand more comfortable?

Maybe a toy where he hears the letter when he pushes it and a website that says the words ...  having things where he can hear the sounds can help him with his speech and phonics.

So much of it depends on his learning style though. My son learned to read at four years old by sight and didn't use phonics at all. Though I do teach it to him (I think it is an important tool to learn). My daughter is all about the phonics and breaks the words down in her mind (like I do).

I am going to think more on this and try and think of some ideas specifically for your son and also dig up some stuff that might help him. I'll message it to after this weekend. (Have a great 4th of July).

ChristyIrishEye Jul. 3, 2008 at 10:23 PM

I used and will continue to do so a book called, learn to read in 100 easy lessons.  It is just 15 minutes a day, and the best part is there really is no teaching for you.  It is really just reading.  They tell you what to say.  This way it is consistent and helps you reinforce the correct way and also the corrections are done the same every time.  It really is a great teaching tool for those that are just getting started or are not "teachers" by nature.  A great supplement, and it's only about $20

AndreaWright Jul. 3, 2008 at 11:08 PM

so if you send him to Kindergarten before he is ready and he is held back another year, then you are in the same boat- he's not going ahead with his friends- which he will be closer to because he sees them more often. I'd say wait a year like they suggest.

I found the Learn to Read in 100 easy lessons didn't work with my boys due to their dyslexia and processing disorders. In fact due to their dyslexia we didn't do phonics until about 3rd grade.

I was asked to comehere because maybe I could give y ou some help/advice. But honestly I think a child inhis situation should be held another year before Kindergarten. Beiing one of the older kids in the class will give him many advantages ana as a kid with some  learning differences he'll need that.

 

Homeschooling only takes 2-3 hours a day. So why not skip sending him and free up some of his time to play and be a kid. I'm sorry that is the only advice I feel good to give you. I never understod sending a child to school for 6 hours and then doing 'homeschool' with them for 2 hours and spending 2 hours on homework- because that is what it will be like when he is in 1st or 2nd grade. not to mention middleschool.

 I can recommend a couple books (and only one is a 'homeschooling' book)

Better Late Than Early: A New Approach to Your Child's Education
by Raymond S. Moore

Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head
by Carla Hannaford

In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encouraging Your Child's Multiple Intelligences
by Thomas Armstrong

--Kimberly

homeschool mom to 3 boys with autism

 

Kiter Jul. 3, 2008 at 11:33 PM

Have you thought about early intervention?  It's free and he is entitled to it by law. He may even be able to do both. Go to Kindergarten and E.I. That would be up to you and his teachers. But.... according to the law he is entitled to a free and appropriate education in a least restricitve environment. They should be able to accomadate hime and his needs by law. I am not sure what county you are in but i would look it up. They work wonders.

GraciesMommy25 Jul. 5, 2008 at 10:02 PM

Hey love. Sweetie, in Jersey ( and TX) it  is not required that you send your child to kinder :) he can go right into first grade next year. I HS Logan in pre K and Kinder (He did go to school those two years but only until Oct in kinder, I pulled him out and HS him) I will HS Wyatt too because he just doesn't care about learning, no interst in colors, numbers or letters (He's my little artist/musician , and that's OK;) Anyway I will look for a cirriculum for you for teaching phonics and have more answers for you. Do you want to HS him through out kinder and send him right into first? Or second lol.Saxxon ( or Saxon I forgot the spelling)  is great for Math and Phonics ( IMO) you can find used/new on ebay ( EBAY baby!! BooYa!! ;) .

It's OK, it all comes out in the wash, I promise. He will catch up when he is older, in the grand scheme of things Kinder is no big deal, laugh, learn and love.

You're a beautiful Mom and a beautiful person,you will do what is the best for Mikey.

FishingMama Jul. 8, 2008 at 9:55 AM

OMGS!! I have hooked on Phonics, workbooks, cassettes and flash cards, Dude, I'll send it to ya.

Reader Rabbit CDRom's for kinder was great for Logan ( Wyatt isn't using it yet, like I said , he's just not interested, and that's OK;)

And there's a  Leap Frog video for Phonics ( it sings songs and has visuals like "The A says Ahhh, the A says Ahhh, every letter makes a sound , The A says Ahhh" pretty catchy.

FishingMama Jul. 8, 2008 at 10:03 AM

I would also recommend Better Late Than Early by Dr. Raymond Moore. If you want your child to associate learning with pleasure, you need to set the stage for that now.There are lots of educational games at The Timberdoodle that would help accomplish this.

Just so you know, I don't start my boys in 'formal' schooling until they are about 8 years old. We had lots of fun reading together, exploring, experimenting, coloring and crafting... and it created an excitement about and desire for discovery. You don't want kids to dread the idea of learning. What is funny is that in Ohio we have to have our kids tested every year, and even without formal schooling, they have all aced the CAT every time.

My firstborn graduated 2 years ago and is in the Army, and my secondborn is 11 and doing 7th grade work, so 'behind' is a relative term. Quite frankly, I don't see the point in forcing kids at such a young age to do formal schooling if they are not physically and mentally ready.

Just some thoughts...

 

 

 

 

 

sunnie.mom Jul. 9, 2008 at 8:09 AM

In Pa. you don't have to send your child to school until they are 8yrs old because many studies have shown a child does better for longer mount of time if you delay school till that age. In Finland they don't even send their children to school until age 8yrs old (because of these studies). The studies showed that children who are sent to school at early ages "burn out" faster and are also less likely to enjoy learning.

I wouldn't push him at this age. Just do fun stuff with him that has some sort  of educational value to it. Which basically everything does. Build blocks, play with play dough, paint, mix paint colors to make new ones, color, read lots of books, string beads, do puzzles, go for nature walks, talk about things, ask questions, answer questions...

ChristyIrishEye Jul. 10, 2008 at 2:04 PM

I had to add to these post because I have already been through your situation. Do not allow them to hold him back it is your choice not theirs at this age. I say this from being a mom to two who were both held back in kindergarten. There is a strong social influence that follows a child who is held back. You are gonna have to advocate for him and make them spend the money to find out how to best educate your child. Now I have had to pull my children out and hopefully undo what our school system has done because my oldest child is on a third grade language arts level, she will be in 6th grade next year and I would not have known this if not for having her take a home test. She was just like your son at his age.

Now all that background being said: here is what I did to help her and my son improve, mostly geared toward what I did for my son as he is just a year ahead of yours. My son loves toy cars he has a huge collection. For recognition I took the letters numbers and words, and placed them on index cards i had cut up and taped them to new cars for him. I told him after he had told me what they were every day for three days he could have the car. So he got many cars but to continue his memory of  the ones he learned he would have to bring his cars back out and if he didnt remember one a car would be takn back and used to put it back into the pile of ones he had yet to earn. This motivated him and the colors on the cars helped him to focus. We did this his entire kindergarden year and first year to learn sight words as well. It never got old for him.

Hope this helps.

stormcris Jul. 20, 2008 at 11:48 PM