EduGuide asked two reading experts to offer advice to Kristin and Eric Chamberlain and their third-grader, Erica, who has struggled with reading. Read Erica's story, the strategies she and her family have already tried and the expert tips that have helped her to soar.
The Summary
- Child Erica, age 9, future veterinarian.
- Parents Kristin and Eric, trying to do the right thing.
- Issue Erica has a high IQ, but reading problems hold her back.
Strategies Recommended- Read lots of different easy books and magazines daily at home together.
- Ask open-ended questions about what you read.
- Be honest and optimistic – Erica will have to work harder, but she can succeed.
- Cheer her on at every step. She’s made great progress.
- Make connections when you read.
- Practice up to 20 sight words at a time
The Story: Then
Erica’s mom, Kristin, still remembers the moment at the first grade parent-teacher conference. She asked how Erica was doing. She wasn’t ready for the answer. “Actually,” said the teacher, “Erica is struggling with reading."
What did struggling mean? At the time, Kristin was working as an educational assistant in her daughter’s school and felt she had a handle on things. Suddenly, she didn’t. Together, she and her husband and the teacher decided to monitor Erica’s progress. They hoped Erica would catch up with a little extra support.
In second grade, Erica started falling behind in math, too. Her teacher was concerned enough to recommend a professional assessment of her language skills. Results revealed that Erica’s IQ was very high, but her reading skills lagged a half-grade behind her peers. She needed a formalized plan for extra support, but the school district didn’t have a specialized program to offer.
Kristin recalls feeling torn: “We were at home there.” But in 2006, before Erica entered third grade, they moved their family to a neighboring school district that offered the Soar to Success program for struggling readers. Erica was eligible to participate because she had been formally tested and identified through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting.
The Story: Now
Now in third grade, Erica goes to the “reading room” for specialized reading support.
“At first, she didn’t like going because she was the only one,” says her mom.
Nobody likes to be singled out as being different, especially when you’re the new kid.
For 45 minutes every day, Erica gets individualized reading and spelling support from a specially trained teacher. Her classroom teacher even tutors Erica every Tuesday after school. According to Kristin, all of this one-on-one support has made a big difference.
Erica still hasn’t caught up to her peers. Finally, however, she is feeling good about school.
“She likes to make up her own stories. She’s working on being more organized and she works on spelling every night. She comes home and gets her homework started right away — she’s succeeding.”
Next
Erica starts fourth grade this fall and has already told her mom that she shouldn’t have to go back to the “reading room” because she’s doing so much better. Kristin isn’t too sure about that. Erica’s language processing issues can’t have disappeared in one school year.
Looking to the future, Kristin wonders what Erica will become. Right now, she wants to be a veterinarian. Kristin hopes that all of Erica’s dreams come true but wants to protect her from disappointment.
She worries that Erica is setting her sights too high. “Erica’s reading may soar, and she may become a doctor. … I just don’t know.”
Strategies Tried
- Monitoring progress with teacher
- Testing Erica’s language skills
- Creating an Individualized Plan (IEP)
- Moving to a school with a stronger reading program
- Daily one-on-one reading and spelling exercises
- Weekly after-school tutoring
- Getting more organized on homework
Questions
- Can Erica catch up to her peers?
- Will Erica's language processing issues limit her dreams?
- What else can Erica and her parents do?
EduGuide tapped two experts to help Erica and her family move forward.
Advice from Emily Astor, elementary teacher and expert in early literacy, Maryville, Tennessee
Erica, what you need to do is to read, read, read. Read tons of books, magazines — anything that is easy, at your level and fun. Reading skills are like muscles that get stronger with training. The more you practice, the stronger you’ll be.
Advice for mom and dad: Erica needs to feel really successful. The only way she can do that is by successfully reading, every day. When you read with her, ask her open ended questions that engage her critical thinking skills. If Erica can have a conversation with you about the book, not just regurgitate the characters and plot, you know that she’s really reading.
As for the worry about Erica’s future, I have a story. I once taught a student who is very bright but who has a severe learning disability. He works hard in school and with his tutors, but he is never going to outgrow his problem and he will never be able to spell correctly without support. He will, however, succeed in life for two reasons.
First, he’s developing strategies to cope with his limitations by working with skilled teachers. Second, he has a mother who tells him that he can do whatever he wants to do in life — if he wants it badly enough. She is straight up with him and says he’ll have to work five times harder than other people and she is there cheering him on at every small success.
Where learning is concerned, I’m for honesty and extreme optimism.
Emily Astor is an experienced teacher who has helped many young students develop reading comprehension strategies. She enjoys reading and sharing stories with her two sons.
Advice from Lynn Abbey, Language and Literacy Consultant, Grand Erie District School Board, Simcoe, Ontario
Erica, the first thing you should do is celebrate your success! In addition to the strategies you’ve learned so far, I’d encourage making connections in your reading. After you’ve read a text, try to find connections to other things you’ve read. Compare characters to see if they have the same behavior or reasons for doing things. Do the stories remind you of a personal experience? Imagine how you would feel if you were in the same situation.
I’d also recommend some homework with words. At every grade level, there are certain frequently-used words. If you learn these words before you meet them in a book, your reading will be more fluid. You can find one thousand sight words for practice online. But be careful! Only work on twenty words at a time; when those are reliably memorized, go on to the next batch!
Lynn Abbey is a twenty-year teacher who has worked with both students and teachers in the area of Literacy. Lynn will be spending this summer with her six-year old daughter, practicing sight words and reading!
Strategies Recommended
- Read lots of different easy books and magazines daily at home together.
- Ask open-ended questions about what you read.
- Be honest and optimistic – Erica will have to work harder, but she can succeed.
- Cheer her on at every step. She’s made great progress.
- Make connections when you read.
- Practice up to 20 sight words at a time
Editor's note: In fourth grade, Erica made the honor roll. Way to go Erica!
Michelle Schira Hagerman is a veteran language teacher and mom from Albion, Michigan.