Please suggest some books, I'm desperate!  My 11 year old daughter is having a heck of a time reading.  I just asked dh if he could help her with her science.  He asked her to read part of the chapter.  She got stuck on 'specific'.  DH hounded her for half an hour before she pronounced it correctly.  I wish he wouldn't do that...

But there has to be something out there that helps me help her.  I don't want to go to 'baby' books, any ideas?

This is our first year homeschooling.  I knew she wasn't a strong reader, but I really don't know none of her teachers caught this - she must read at a 2nd or 3rd grade level - my 4th grader reads much better.

Also, she needs confidence.  Please also suggest ways to test the best ways that each of my kids learn.

Thanks,

Michelle

Have you tried Magic Tree house? They are really nice stories and they deal with history subjects and some of them have research guides that goer along with them so you can get your history in, also could you try reading aloud to her and put your finger over the words so she can see them? I know  I did that when my son was really young and he learned to read that way.  Also Junie B Jones are easy reads but are so much fun to read!!! 

This is what I suggest you get for her . It is a FUN, stress free way to practice skills necessary for success in reading and spelling on a computer program. I wasn't able to get all of the info. posted here but be sure to take a look at the link.

Earobics 1

http://www.superduperinc.com/C_Pages/cc04.htm

Earobics® 1 A&A is the award-winning program for adolescents and adults struggling to improve their reading and spelling skills. 309 levels of individualized instructions automatically adjust to the students' skill level to ensure they are appropriately challenged. The new Specialist/Clinician version allows for extensive data tracking and reporting features. Professionals can customize the learning process on an individual basis. Following each game, objectives are recommended in IEP format on the Data Records information to assist professionals with goal writing. A task level counter displays students' progress throughout each game. Instructions are available in eight languages. Earobics® 1 A&A has the capability to benefit a variety of settings from schools through community colleges, adult education, and correctional programs.

Earobics® 1 A&A is available in the Specialist/Clinician Version (12 players) or the Home Version (2 players). Choose the appropriate level for your child-beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Names cannot be deleted or changed on the Home Version, although all twelve players on the Specialist/Clinician Version can be removed and new names added. Earobics®1 is designed for ages 10 through adult.

Your students will become stronger readers and spellers as they master phonological awareness skills with the following six games:

Memory Matrix - Attention, short-term memory, auditory performance with competing signals, following oral directions, auditory & phoneme discrimination Sound Check - phonological sequencing, phoneme discrimination & identification, auditory attention, short-term memory, comprehension of linguistic concepts Get Rhythm - phonological segmentation, auditory short-term memory, auditory temporal resolution, auditory attention Connectivity - phonological blending, auditory attention, short-term memory, sequential memory, auditory and phoneme discrimination Rhyme Time - rhyming, auditory attention, short-term memory, auditory performance with competing signals, comprehension of linguistic concepts Same/Different - attention & short-term memory, pattern recognition, temporal ordering, sequential memory, following oral directions

Michelle, I had my daugher use Earobics, but one for younger children.

I have another suggestion for you to use after using Earobics. I need to get back to you with info. later , when I can get back on the computer.

Reading Rescue 1-2-3 is a great book for parents who are going to be helping or teaching their children to read.  Be sure and have your DH read it as well. :-) 

Reading Rescue 1-2-3 is a great book for parents who are going to be helping or teaching their children to read.  Be sure and have your DH read it as well. :-) 

Thanks for all your suggestions.  I am looking into the Earobics (seeing where I can buy it cheaply!).  I'll check back here tomorrow, to see if you guys have some more thoughts.  I added Reading Rescue 1-2-3 to my WL, I'm number 3, so hopefully that won't be too long.

Michelle

Michelle, Earobics is well worth every penny. If you purchase it you can resell it and get back at least half or more of the retail price.

Occassionally Earobics is for sell used on a homeschool curriculum site.

Some to look for it at are www.homeschoolclassifieds.com

and www.vegsource.com/homeschool/

Here's a program I am using with my ds10.  He has trouble decoding words.  It is called REWARDS program.  I have read nothing but good reviews on it.  We are on lesson 3 and I can already see a difference in his ability to decode. 

http://store.cambiumlearning.com/ProgramPage.aspx?parentId=019005486&functionID=009000008&site=sw

It's not cheap for the TM, but you might be able to find it used some place.

Look into Orton-Gillingham reading programs.  They teach explicit rules for decoding.  Most have a set of readers written in what they call "decodable text" which means only the letter/sound combinations that the student has learned so far.

The best technique that helped my child's reading fluency was simply reading together for about 15 minutes per day.  We used books from the library and started with ones a little below her level to boost confidence.  Parent reads page 1, child reads page 2 and we continue to alternate.  It helped me identify exactly where her problems were and I was modeling for her.  It really improved her confidence as boosted her reading ability.  I continue to do this with her and now do it with my 1st grader too.  With the first grader we often repeat the same book for several days.

A good resource for the parent is Teach a Child to Read with Children's Books by Mark Thogmartin.

There can be other issues, such as auditory discrimination issues that need to be addressed, that are not going to be taken care of simply by using a program such as the Orton-Gillingham or the Spaulding method.  In fact, these methods can be very stressful and turn children off to reading, especially if they are being pushed on a child that has another issue not being addressed.

The Earobics program is a non-stress, inexpensive,fun way to address some issues that you would otherwise need to pay for a professional reading specialist to take care of.

Thanks everyone!  I ordered the Earobics program, and we are reading with her daily as well.  Looking forward to receiving the program!