extra help needed for ds (11) for secondary

[germyrabbit]

he has only been there two weeks! yet has been identified for extra help. I am not surprised as it has been as issue throughout primary but how can I help him?

it's for english comprehension. he reads like mad and seems to take it all in :( am lost

Ask him to put the text into his own words?

It's a good idea to keep reading with an older child and then to discuss the book.

You can take turns reading aloud, or you can both read alone and discuss afterwards.

Reading and close reading are linked, but not identical, skills. Second the idea of discussing it with him. Why not pick one or two news stories each day that interest him and get him to summarise them for you? Make sure you ask him lots of questions that go beyond "what happened.". For example, "What caused that?" "Was that headline appropriate?". "Why do you think they chose that word / phrase?". Close reading is about HOW something is written and not just getting the jist of it.

With your support, he will make progress and the school sound motivated to help him.

thank you both, we are not an academic family at all and find it really hard to put thoughts into words, am so worried about the change of sylabus for kids like mine! will try tactics you listed, do you think we need to look for outside help at all?

Reading a quality newspaper together is brilliant. I really recommend it.

Have you talked to the SENCo at the secondary? If not request a meeting to discuss what measures might be useful.

Some of the teen graphic novels are really engaging now: esp Horowitz. Maybe go through the 'text' together and get him to discuss what he thinks about the plot and characters? This may lead him to the written novel eventually