Needing help with placements...

[4Brightdays]

So, we have been hopping around from thing to thing and basically not getting much done. I need to tighten things up and focus and stick with something. I wish we had never left using MP in the first place. Currently at home we have a 15yo with down syndrome(so I'll ask about her on the other forum), a soon to be 10yo son and a 7yo daughter(1/28/11).

I am pretty sure they are behind where they need to be for grade level. Our 7yo is not yet reading, she has no interest in learning and I don't think what we have tried is working for her, she doesn't get blending at all, she has been doing okay with sight words. I have wondered if she has some tracking issues or some sort of reading challenges, but we haven't stuck with anything long enough to know if it is a problem or not enough trying.

We have half heartedly been using CLE for the 10yo and 7yo. The LA has so much phonics, I don't understand it well enough to explain it to our son so we end up skipping a lot. He is a very strong reader and plowing along in math. We have tried Five in a Row and I end up floundering with that and Moving Beyond the Page. Also did Sonlight for a bit and some Waldorf. ACK.

I was thinking for him this summer to keep doing math and cursive and add the Astronomy unit to keep things a little light but make up for some lost time. Then maybe jump into 5th grade in the Fall. I know I will have a hard time keeping him on task over the summer, he is on a competitive gymnastics team and all his teammates will be off school and our 20yo will be home from college as well. But, we can't take a giant break.

I was also thinking maybe some Latin this summer?

For the 7yo I have no idea, just focus on learning to read? She is the first child I have had to teach to read, both the boys learned on their own and the 15yo won't even try.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions you can offer. Thanks.

[Mom2mthj]

Re: Needing help with placements...

So, we have been hopping around from thing to thing and basically not getting much done. I need to tighten things up and focus and stick with something. I wish we had never left using MP in the first place. Currently at home we have a 15yo with down syndrome(so I'll ask about her on the other forum), a soon to be 10yo son and a 7yo daughter(1/28/11).

I am pretty sure they are behind where they need to be for grade level. Our 7yo is not yet reading, she has no interest in learning and I don't think what we have tried is working for her, she doesn't get blending at all, she has been doing okay with sight words. I have wondered if she has some tracking issues or some sort of reading challenges, but we haven't stuck with anything long enough to know if it is a problem or not enough trying.

We have half heartedly been using CLE for the 10yo and 7yo. The LA has so much phonics, I don't understand it well enough to explain it to our son so we end up skipping a lot. He is a very strong reader and plowing along in math. We have tried Five in a Row and I end up floundering with that and Moving Beyond the Page. Also did Sonlight for a bit and some Waldorf. ACK.

I was thinking for him this summer to keep doing math and cursive and add the Astronomy unit to keep things a little light but make up for some lost time. Then maybe jump into 5th grade in the Fall. I know I will have a hard time keeping him on task over the summer, he is on a competitive gymnastics team and all his teammates will be off school and our 20yo will be home from college as well. But, we can't take a giant break.

I was also thinking maybe some Latin this summer?

For the 7yo I have no idea, just focus on learning to read? She is the first child I have had to teach to read, both the boys learned on their own and the 15yo won't even try.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions you can offer. Thanks.

Have you looked at the 4 for new users package? You can swap out math for his correct level, but it gets him in at the beginning of all the subjects and by no means would it be considered "behind" for a fifth grader.

[Michelle T]

Re: Needing help with placements...

For the 7 year old the focus should really be upon getting her reading. Blending is really taught in the First Start Reading set. If she can recognize all her letters, knows their corresponding sounds and has mastered CVC (consonant vowel consonant, short vowel) words, she could start with First Start Reading (FSR) Book D. If not start with Book A and move through Books A-C at a faster pace, though not skipping any of the ear training (important to ensure she is hearing sounds correctly), tracing/writing (important for visual imprint and future spelling), or dictation (aids in mastery and helps with spelling.) I suggest three readers Fun in the Sun (all CVC, short vowel words), Scamp and Tramp (all short vowels but with advanced consonant blends) and Soft and White (practice transitioning from short vowel words to long vowel words (with magic e only.)

Blessings,
Michelle

[Jen (formerly) in Japan]

Re: Needing help with placements...

Latin in the summer... probably not. It is the type of subject which benefits from having a routine in place. If your family is up for Latin, I'd recommend you commence it when you officially begin your school year, then bake it into your students' days.

Of course, the subject of Latin might need its own post. Which level are you considering, keeping in mind that you can use any of the "introductory" levels as you see fit: Prima, Latina Christiana, First Form, and with which students?



Jen

[Stonefield]

Re: Needing help with placements...

Have you had your 7 year old's vision checked to rule that out as a problem? My youngest son just turned 8 in January. He has struggled for 3 years to learn to read. We are on his 3rd program and his K sister using MP has pretty much passed him. I was thinking maybe dyslexia, but some things just don't line up. He did fine with sight words on the flashcards, but often struggled in print unless I said it was a flashcard word. (Now I know that is because the word on the fc is printed much larger than in regular print.) I took him to the eye doctor today and found out he is very farsighted. He is straining a great deal to see across the room and the closer in the worse it gets. It will take at least a year to get his eye muscles to relax enough to be able to wear the correct prescription. I am very hopeful when the glasses come in his reading will very quickly improve. The thing is he passed the pediatrician's eye exam every year. His eye doctor said that isn't uncommon. I feel so awful that he has struggled because he can't make out the letters clearly, but I guess when you have nothing to compare it to you don't realize it is bad.

[4Brightdays]

Re: Needing help with placements...

Have you had your 7 year old's vision checked to rule that out as a problem? My youngest son just turned 8 in January. He has struggled for 3 years to learn to read. We are on his 3rd program and his K sister using MP has pretty much passed him. I was thinking maybe dyslexia, but some things just don't line up. He did fine with sight words on the flashcards, but often struggled in print unless I said it was a flashcard word. (Now I know that is because the word on the fc is printed much larger than in regular print.) I took him to the eye doctor today and found out he is very farsighted. He is straining a great deal to see across the room and the closer in the worse it gets. It will take at least a year to get his eye muscles to relax enough to be able to wear the correct prescription. I am very hopeful when the glasses come in his reading will very quickly improve. The thing is he passed the pediatrician's eye exam every year. His eye doctor said that isn't uncommon. I feel so awful that he has struggled because he can't make out the letters clearly, but I guess when you have nothing to compare it to you don't realize it is bad.

Our 7yo has worn glasses since before she was one. She is extremely farsighted. When she was a baby she would hold her head back to look at things like someone who wears reading glasses does. She has been patching for her crossing, which seems to go away when she has her glasses on. She also has bifocals. So, I am wondering if she could have some tracking issues in addition to or on top of her vision problems. But, as I said it could also be that I give up too soon and don't keep pushing her.