home reading schemes for dyslexic readers

[teamcullen]

My youngest, who is 7, took part in a scheme called Reading Recovery in school last year and his reading age improved by 16 months in 16 weeks. It also identified that he had Irlans syndrome. His teacher said that he would benefit from further lessons but the course was finnished and there other children waiting to access the scheme. Since then his progress has slowed again and I feel he really could benefit from further help.

Also my older son, who is 10, has shown no improvement in his writing in 12 months - maybe longer. His reading has improved but I think its a combination of finally remembering high frequency words and guessing. He hates reading and wont try to break words up.

Ive come across a reading scheme called EASYREAD on Google. its a web based programme which teaches reading to children who are finding it difficult to read. it takes them right back to basics and teaches reading using the visual part of the brain and it claims to be very good for the majority of dyslexic readers.

Ive sort of bit the bullet and signed both boys up for this, which, gives them a web based lesson which takes about 15 minutes a day to complete and lasts abut 9-12 months. The children get regular prizes for completing lessons which is great encouragement. So fingers crossed it will help.

Has anybody else heard of this scheme or used it themselves? If not I will keep you posted about my boys progress!

[Dingle]

My DD has Down Syndrome and I have heard that reading Recovery has been used quite effectivley in some areas.

Can I ask how much the online EasyRead costs please? Couldn't find any info on there.

[cornsillk]

I've never heard of that - can you link?

[Dingle]

Easyread

[cornsillk]

Thanks Dingle. I clicked on the trial to have a nosy at a lesson but couldn't get it past the first page. I did find the bloke's voice a bit annoying - is his voice used throughout the programme?

[Dingle]

I managed to look at the first lesson and yes, his voice was rather irritating. Might take another look at it with DD tomorrow.

[teamcullen]

It was expensive £395 for the 12 months (£300 for second child). My boys are really enjoying it at the moment and have received a prize (spy glasses) already. Yes the mans voice is annoying he sounds like halfwit from big brother. so I keep saying to them they have to listen to Halfwit which they think is funny because they dont watch BB.

They are still working at a level they can do easily so I will keep you posted on whether there are massive improvements. The testermonials sound promising though.

Reading Recovery was a god send. Anybody who gets this opertunity, grab it with both hands.

[cornsillk]

Yes I agree - reading recovery is fantastic.

[Dingle]

After fighting for inclusion for year we have given up and had her last day at mainstream today! She starts, what looks an absolutley fab SN school, in Y3 in September so I don't think I will sign up just yet!

Would be very interested in your feedback though! Thank you.

[Sandy22]

teamcullen - I am interested about reading recovery - my ds is in year 2 and still can't read the basic oxford reading tree books. He has been assessed by an ed psy who used the Lucid Rapid Dylexia Screening Test back in December which showed he has difficulties in visual-verbal and phonological and also has severe difficulties in auditory sequential memeory. The school still refuses to say whether he is dsylexic or not because he is not 7 until August and they say they can't diagnose until he is in Year 3. I found the Toe-by-Toe reading programme on the internet and managed to persuade the school to use this which they have been doing for the last year but I still don't see any real improvement. Do you think the reading recovery could help my ds.

[cornsillk]

Reading recovery is not really suitable for children with dyslexia/SpLD - they need different intervention.

[teamcullen]

There is a website about Reading Recovery, but my understanding is that the child has to have a basic understanding of reading. My son could read about two thirds of the high frequecy words for foundation stage (reception class)when he began.

However, like most good things its not availible everywhere. I was lucky a teacher in our school had been trained in this method

I know how frustrating it is though. My 10 year old has struggled all the way through school and Ive just accepted that he is comming on slowly. Come September I will be pushing for Dyslexia testing.

[teamcullen]

Good Luck with the new school Dingle. I bet your daughter will flourish.

[vjg13]

Is easyread similar to headsprout?

[teamcullen]

Just a quick note to let you know how we are getting on with the Easyread programme.

The boys have reached level 2 now and are really enjoying the lessons, and should I say prizes. They have had 3 prizes a certificate and lots of letters of encouragement.

OK so now we have been doing the course for a few weeks I can let you know a little more about how it differs from other reading schemes.

The main difference is it teaches from early on that letters often make a different sound than what we first learn.

For example; when children learn jolly phonics, the letter A makes the a,a,a sound like ants running up the arm. So when they encounter the word was, they dont understand that it sounds like woz. The Easyread programme teaches this by displaying the charactor that matches the sound over the letters that spell the word.

We are onto level 2 now and the children are reading small paragraphs each day to make up a story. Each word is written with the charactors making up the sounds floating above them, so the children can work out all the words easily.

Can I also say, that even though this is a web based course, the staff at Easyread HQ are very quick in offering adive and support when you need it. Im very happy with the course up to now and will keep you posted on the boys progress.