When you ask about the cause of your child’s reading problem, don’t be surprised if the answers point to your child, rather than the way she was taught. In reality, I believe most reading problems stem from how a child is taught.
Here is a representative sample of what more than 500 mid-Michigan parents were told when they asked why their children were having trouble reading. (Many were given more than one reason.)
Your Child Has:
- a processing problem
- a perceptual problem
- a developmental lag
- dyslexia symptoms
- underachiever syndrome
- ADD symptoms
Or Your Child Is:
- Lazy
- Unmotivated
- Learning disabled
- Unable to handle phonics
- In need of medication
- Immature
Some were told flatly that their child “will always have a reading problem and will have to learn to compensate somehow.” This was usually followed by “Not everyone can learn to read. Not everyone can go to college.” Others were offered the consolation that their child was a “late bloomer” who might “catch on eventually.” Parents were urged to “be patient.”
These are all excuses. They blame the victim. Excuses don’t teach children how to read. Correct instruction does. Reading tutoring is far more effective than excuses.
Annette Weinshank, Ph.D., owns and directs The Reading Clinic in East Lansing, Michigan. The clinic has been in operation since 1989.