Posts

Teach Your Child To Read

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Parents want the best for their children and it is frustrating when they struggle to learn to read. Summer is a time when many parents work with their child(ren) to enrich or strengthen their reading or math. For children struggling to read (decoding, fluency, or comprehension), the summer is a valuable time to try some different approaches to reading.
One book I recommend to parents is Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Englemann (ISBN# 0-671-63198-5). This book provides a step-by step guide of lessons that parents can use with their child for 15-20 minutes per day. The book is written in understandable parent friendly language so it is straightforward to use.  In fact, the instructions for each lesson are complete and tell parents exactly what to say and do. When compared to other commercial programs, this one was rated as doing the best job in teaching reading.  The authors state the book is appropriate for preschool children and for children who have been in school but who have not learned to read. If you teach your child using this direct instruction program, there is a very high probability they will learn to read.
 
Another book that can help parents reinforce their child’s reading development is Games for Reading: Playful Ways To Help Your Child Read. This book is written by a former reading teacher and contains games for learning words, sounds, understanding, and has a chapter on reading every day. I have used many of the book’s games with my 5-year-old son and we both enjoy them. 

Parents should find both of these books helpful.

Dyslexia Affects Kids

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We evaluate children for dyslexia, dysgraphia, math learning disabilities, processing disorders, ADHD/ ADD, emotional concerns and more.  We use neuropsychological tests to help you identify what’s causing your child to struggle and the best steps to take to help.  Saturday testing with an associate is available at no extra charge!

Children with dyslexia can read some but they may not read great or enjoy reading.  Warning signs of dyslexia in elementary students include: slow choppy reading, difficulty remembering the sounds of words, difficulty sounding out words, and poor spelling in everyday writing.  When reading you may tell your child a word only to have your child not recognize the same word on the next line.

Warning signs of dyslexia in older students include: difficulty remembering what was read, slow reading, difficulty telling important information from unimportant details, and spells poorly.  These warning signs do not go away and often get worse with age.  Children as young as age 5 ½ can be evaluated for dyslexia.

Once you know your child has dyslexia you can start providing the best type of teaching.  Children with dyslexia need a reading curriculum based on multisensory teaching principles of Orton and Gillingham.  Simple “extra practice and more repetition” will not sufficiently help your child.  You may see short term gains but no long term solution.

Unfortunately, most public school teachers are not certified in an Orton-Gillingham based reading program. Some will use Orton-Gillingham based materials but may not use them with fidelity.  If your child has dyslexia or severe reading difficulty your child should use the Barton Reading and Spelling System or the Wilson Reading System.  Tell your child’s teacher this and visit the website www.BartonReading.com for information.  You can also call me for more information.

Dr. Forgan is a licensed school psychologist and can evaluate your child for ADHD, dyslexia, and other associated learning problems.

Don’t Wait For Your Child To Fail

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As a parent, are you thinking, “I hope things go better for my child in school this year?”  Do you anticipate a negative daily call from the school about your child’s behavior or effort?  Your child’s issues from last year may not have surfaced yet but could be bubbling.  My advise to you is don’t take a wait and see approach.  Time is too valuable and the school year will be over before we know it.  Historically, school districts move slow when supporting kids that struggle. 

Be proactive.  If you know your child may have learning or behavioral issues at school, contact me.  The results of my evaluation will identify strengths and weaknesses.  It is accepted by all schools.  This documentation will speed up the help your child receives in school.  Without written documentation, your child’s school won’t make any accommodations.  These are things like not counting off for messy handwriting, a reduced list of spelling words, use of a word processor, copies of notes, not missing recess, and extra time on tests and assignments.  In order to receive extra time on the SAT or ACT, your child must currently have this accommodation in place at school. 

A proactive investment in your child’s future will save you from wasting your money on hit and miss search for answers.  Your child’s school will give extra help and support if you have the proper documentation.  Answers await you.  Don’t wait for your child to fail before getting help.  Your child will thank you.

Is Your Child’s Education in a Recession?

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If your child has repeated a grade, is at risk for failing this year, struggles to read, or gets in trouble in school, invest in your child’s future by having a strength based psychoeducational evaluation.  Many parents think about investing in their child by funding a Roth IRA or the Florida prepaid college program but may not always invest in their child’s educational success.  A strength based psychoeducational evaluation is a process that determines exactly how your child learns best and determines if they have any learning disabilities or other childhood disorders.  We then create a plan for your child’s educational success that can be used in any public or private school. 

My evaluations are highly comprehensive and I gather information from the parents, teacher, child, and from my interactions.  By having multiple viewpoints, I am able to see the whole picture of your child’s current status across many settings.  My evaluation will allow you to know exactly how your child learns best, how they process information, insight into their innate abilities, the status of their self-esteem, and much more!  When I am finished working with your child and gathering information, I meet with you and we create an action plan with recommendations and steps you can take to enhance your child’s educational success.  As a former teacher, I know which teaching methods and support will best help your child.

The report I write can be used in any public or private school setting so your child can receive accommodations, if needed.  If your child qualifies for extra time as an accommodation, my report is also used to get extra time on the SAT or ACT.  Your investment in a strength based psychoeducational evaluation for your child will continue to pay off for years to come!  You will know exactly what steps to take to make sure he or she finds success and happiness in school.

Dr. Forgan is a licensed school psychologist who can evaluate your child for dyslexia, learning disabilities, and gifted program placement.  Call Dr. Forgan at 625-4125 to discuss your child.