Daughter doing Lexia reading program. Don't feel it is working

[kalpamum]

DD is 12, yr 7. She is severely dyslexic along with other difficulties with a statement. Since starting secondary she has been put on Lexia reading (foundation) She has completed 3 levels now but I cannot see how this is helping. He single word reading isn't that far behind, her difficulties with reading are fluency and keeping track (5yrs behind). When I have questioned school regarding how they are supporting fluency, sentence structure, grammar and comprehension they say Lexia is supporting this. I am struggling to see how this is supporting a 12 year old sentence stucture and comprehension. I feel they are pulling the wool over my eyes and it seems every child is put on this program for reading difficulties. Out of 12.5hrs support she is pulled out 1 hr a week to sit in front of a computer to do lexia and work shark. Wordshark is also a waste of time as spelling set are Yr1/2 spellings and her spelling isn't that bad, assessed as 9yr old. School commented that there are some area where she has not done so well on the lexia, but when I mention that this is due to her listening skills (lowest1%ile in auditory processing) they just seemed to change the subject.
I am wondering whether to tell them to stop pulling her out of lessons to do these as they are not supporting her personal difficulties and she is missing a drama lesson which I feel due to her speech and language difficulties (that are not being supported either) is much more important. She hates doing Lexia and at the moment is again very reluctant to read to me. Her quote last week was "I wish I never had to read again"! On her I.E.P is to read to someone once a week but this has never happened unless I write a note and it happens that one week!

Any advise would be helpful. I would like to approach them with a different way they should be supporting her reading. Or am I missing something regarding how Lexia will help.

[23balloons]

Hi I am no expert on Lexia but my son has also been asked to do this programme due to being dyslexic. He is really struggling with it and I asked the school for a report - they can print one out. It showed he wasn't making good progress and needed 1-1 support in certain areas. They said they would arrange this but didn't. I tried to follow up explaining he still wasn't getting the lexia& could I have another report their response was to tell him to stop doing it if it was causing him distress ( we have a logon at home and he is supposed to do it at home ). He doesn't have a statement or allocated support though but I am pushing for him to try and get some 1-1.

He reads with a sixth former and I have recently bought him a kindle touch ( with text to speech) he is "reading" regularly but mainly letting the kindle read the words and following the text. I would recommend it. When he was assessed the assessor said don't make him read as he will find it too difficult, try audiobooks. I did this and he loved them and could at least engage with the stories. A lot of libraries offer free downloads now. Hath, good luck. I would be questioning how her support is being allocated if I were you.

[kalpamum]

Thanks 23balloons, dd does try audiobooks but does struggle due to auditory problems! We have a kindle but still reluctant to use it. She has come from a family who has books around them all the time, but she really struggles bless her. At primary she was being listened to lots and it was part of her support but now with hardly any support is back to hating reading. I know Lexia program may be useful to some children but can't see how this is helping dd.

[23balloons]

That sounds stressful. Ds had never read a book for pleasure until recently so I know how you feel but he has really taken to the audio thing on the kindle & listened to all of the Harry Potter audio books. I don't think he has the audio dyslexia though? I know he is a visual learner & learns a lot from watching tv.
Ds has been doing lexia since Sept and hasn't completed level 3, he has 20 repeats on some exercises and just doesn't seem to understand the sounds letter combinations make but can somehow read longer words?

I have been reading the tinsley house thread on special needs children and have been giving him the omega 3 & 6 vitamins which are really helping his eyes, he has vision problems. Sound like your dd needs a special tutor, is this mentioned in her statement? They are very expensive and hard to find but her school doesn't seem to be doing all they can either.

[winterdays]

Get the statement change to specify 1 to1 literacy lessons with a trained teacher in reading difficulties. Lexia and word shark should be used as one tool in the teachers toolbox. Your child needs an individual programme with a trained teacher. The school may be using this as a cheap option. Ring the dyslexia assoc for advice BDA and Ipsea for advice on amending the statement. .

[EverybodyLearns]

My name is Sally, I was an experienced Primary School Teacher/Deputy Head in a school in a disadvantaged area and many of our students used the Lexia program. I now work for a company called Everybody Learns Ltd (www.everybodylearns.co.uk) which gives advice to parents regarding their child?s reading skills and problems and also sells the Lexia Reading program for parents/home use. It is difficult for us to comment as we do not know the exact background for your child. However, having read your comments we would make the following points for you to consider ?

1. Normally a student in Year 7 would be placed on the Strategies for Older Students program which presents everything in a more mature format. The school may have manually placed her on Foundation Reading for a reason, it may be worth enquiring as to why she is on the more ?childish? version as this may be one of the reasons she is not enjoying Lexia.
   
2. With your daughter?s auditory problems, it is likely she will need help from time to time with Lexia to distinguish sounds that often sound similar. We would recommend that someone was in attendance whilst she is using the program so that if she cannot distinguish the sounds properly, she can request help.
   
3. Lexia teaches basic phonic and comprehension skills and fluency is also tested as part of the program. (It was initially designed with dyslexic children in mind but is now widely used for all abilities within schools.)
   
4. Lexia recommends minimum student usage of 60 mins + per week, ideally in three 20 min sessions or three 30 min sessions for older students. Teacher support is also needed when students become stuck, so teachers should monitor student progress and act promptly when extra instruction is needed.
   
5. Ideally she should be receiving support for her speech and language difficulties, but obviously this is for the school to sort out. We also think it is extremely important that she is given the opportunity to read at school and at home on a regular basis and that she is given text that she is able to read confidently. She will be able to put into practice the skills she has learnt on Lexia and enjoy what she is reading. She does need to build confidence.
   
6. Lexia will not work for your daughter without some support in school due to her auditory problems.
   
7. If she does not receive assistance while she uses Lexia in school perhaps you could enquire if the school will let her use Lexia at home so you can provide the help she needs.
   
8. We think you need to find out why your daughter has been placed on Foundation Reading rather that Strategies for Older Students for a start. Good luck, please post again if we can advise further.

[23balloons]

Hi everybodylearns, I am not the OP but did respond and I am interested in your response. I was told by one staff member at my son's school that my son should stop using Lexia if it is distressing him & then by another staff member to continue using it even if he has to repeat an exercise 20 times as this is perfectly normal. Also I have been told it is an independent programme and he should not receive any guidance with it even though that is what the 1st report produced indicated. I am confused and had asked for a copy of the latest report and questioned why the 1st report suggested guidance? Is there anywhere I could go to get a better idea of what my son should do stop or continue with this programme? Thanks

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

This is a statement on behalf of Everybody Learns:

Mumsnet have asked us not to post things which have a commercial nature. Can we therefore please ask that if anyone needs assistance or advice on the Lexia Reading program used in schools that they contact [email protected]. If however the problem is with the home use program they can contact [email protected].