7yo DD is on the 1st centile for literacy. Suggestions?

[DerryVale]

NCed for this because I prefer to preserve my child's privacy.

I've just come back from an assessment with an ed psych for DD who is 7.5 years old.

EP found that she is of average ability (IQ 94) but her literacy is very low. 1st centile.

This is not a surprise to me as I know that reading for her is a huge struggle. She has had significant health issues in the past (cancer and chemo) and it's likely that her brain development was affected.

I am keen to hear suggestions about what I can do to help her. We do read together every day but she finds it very hard to retain the words that she's "learnt" and still has to sound out every single word.

Derry Vale - I have no advice but I’m sending a bump.

Thank you- another bump.

I'm not sure I'm qualified to help but I'll try, since you haven't yet had a reply. My DD has dyslexia and didn't read much at all until Y2. We tried all the normal resources - Jolly Phonics etc. What clicked for her are the Dr Seuss books. In the US, they are used to teach reading and the rhymes and invented words are considered useful. I appreciate my situation differs from yours but it might be worth trying.

I would work on getting the first 50 sight/high frequency words learned. there are lots of different ways to learn and practise these words. You can also make your own booklets with your child. I have done this extensively with the children I support on a voluntary basis at a primary school. I am a retired senco. pm meif you want further information examples, resources.

Hi DerryVale

I’m the designer of a literacy programme that’s based on long-term research.

We use books that pupils can almost read by themselves already. Generally they then ‘pick up’ the odd new word because it makes sense in the context. More demanding books are gradually introduced, but pupils don’t see them as demanding as they’re continuing to read so easily. Any word not known – just supply quickly.

Our pupils read fast and furiously and you could simply just start doing this with your daughter but you would need easier books to start with and not use ‘decodable books’ – just use easy story books. Pupils also learn a lot if they do re-reading: think of the favourite bedtime story.

We teach phonics separately and very systematically in a way that gives pupils control over what they do and as with reading books all work is at a level that enables pupils to ‘just do it’. Very quickly the two ‘tracks’ merge and pupils automatically start decoding, or simply just read new words in books without needing to give them much thought.

Hope this helps and if you’d like to know any more just pm me.

You need to find a qualified specialist dyslexia tutor. You can find one on the British Dyslexia Association website. Sorry twoyears, but unless your programme is specifically designed for dyslexics, it won't work for a child on the 1st centile for reading. If you would like more information, feel free to pm me.

I would certainly think about the different aspects to writing and reading.

Quite often, where children struggle with reading and / or writing, they can get stuck with really simple books or trying to write out really simple words and phrases. What I would do is to encourage her to develop her expressive language by scribing for her - get her to tell you what to write and you record it for her. Can be stories, can be a diary of what you get up to in the holidays or at weekends, or anything that continues to develop that expressive language. If her writing never really materialises, there is voice recognition tech that will write for her in the future, so develop that ability to debate, argue, persuade, imagine, recall, retell, etc and don't limit it by expecting her to be able to physically write it.

Same with reading - continue to extend her vocabulary with reading a wide range of books to her. Talk to her about anything and everything. Ask her to think about why this happens or that didn't happen in a story, or what they think might happen next, or how the people are feeling, etc etc. This will extend her vocabulary, for her speaking, which she will need for good writing (see point 1).

Certainly don't give up on the learning to read / learning to write (I would also advocate learning whole words / sight words and not thinking every child can learn with phonics), but don't limit her oral abilities by limiting them to what she can currently read / write.

We use Nessy Reading and spelling in my school. Fun computer games and the children love naming their monkey and helping them compete the challenges to gain rewards/ spend at the shop to dress up your monkey etc

I would apply for an EHCP as soon as you can. The report will form a good base for this. Support will be key.

Agree with Nessy, it's brilliant! We use in school too and children love it. I used the apps to help my ds 1 learn to read. Hairy letters, hairy words and hairy phonics are the apps you can download on phone/iPad etc. You can also look on YouTube there are short clips for learning spelling rules. I'm not sure how you get the proper reading progression programme for personal use but must be a way and I'd highly recommend. They idea is to help dyslexic readers and give audio and visual clip to help with recall. Good luck