AS and reading

[PeachyClair]

Hi y'all!!!

Does anyone know anything about teaching a child with Aspergers to read? Sam is clearly very bright, language and maths skills are +++, but we are struggling with reading. he has flash cards, but he memorizes them- the give away is that if he doesn't recognise the word immediately, he just rattles off the other words on the list with similar letters in. He aslo told me that he got a star for being agreat reader and reading a whole book, but that he had heard it before so remembered it rather than read it.

I too have this memory: I went to see Blod Brothers when i was about 13 and could remember the first act word for word for years.

At his first school he was classed as advanced because he could read so well, but in fact he couldn't read a word- just memorized the books.

Is this common? he has about forty flash cards, Dh thinks we should add more so it's harder to memorize and I can see the validity in that, but I don't want to interfere with the pattern of words the school is setting. His teacher has gone sick, so I can't chat to her (he has just the one substitute though, and she seemed really nice).

I am also concerned about his getting into a routine of certain words: last night I did the flah cards for the first time in a while as DS was out, and the world effectively ended! Full on violence to all.

It sounds like he has a semantic memory, dd (AS) has this and stores loads of info but has difficulty recalling it when needed (although it doesn't interfere in her reading) I would keep to the key words they are learning at school as they are often the words used the school books they are reading at that time. At least that way he may learn to use/recognise the words in the stories and avoid loading his memory with other words that he cannot recognise in an unfamiliar story.

Am I right thinking your ds would be year 2 now?

I reckon my ds who has ASD memorises whole words as well. He's considered quite a good reader at school, he's in year 1, but he has real problems trying to read a word that he's not familiar with, he's unable to work it through. I've noticed that many others in his class do exactly the same thing though and he's in mainstream. Can your ds spell O.K? My ds has very simple spelling tests every week at school but this is where his real difficulties lie. But trying to get him to do any reading or writing is an absolute nightmare, really hard work. He gets so frustrated and he always ends up so angry.

I'd be really interested to hear what your ds's teacher has to say.

He's year 1, but in a very fast mnoving school- they're about a year ahead of where the old school was at. DS2 has just started reception and already ahs word lists!.

His spelling appears to be non-existent. Their new task is to write phonetically correct words from memory. I asked Sam to do the ones on his list, he laughed and said 'i'll just trick them'.
Just the attitude, eh?

He does recall well: he can remember events that happened when he was eighteen months in detail.

You might think I'm being stupid, but I got a catalogue yesterday called Smart Kids www.smartkids.co.uk (can't get link to work).
It is FULL of materials and resources to teach reading and spelling. It would be no good at all for my DS but a more Aspie kid might like all this stuff, although your DS may be too young for their products......

Why would I think you're being stupid? Thanks for the info! I will zip off in a mo and have a look. Thanks

To me, this sort of catalogue is for genius children but I don't have a "normal" perspective!

They had trials of the CD-roms on the website, I got Sam to try one and he really enjoyed doing it! Have discussed with Dh, and one will be finding it's way into Sam's Christmas stocking (by which time DH will have fixed the cd rom drive he says!)

Thanks again

Blimey! I'm so pleased he liked it, just goes to show eh?

I suspect he'll take after his father and be a computer programmer (at least Dh was until he got bored of it), although he says he wants to be a Lawyer at the mo. In fact, he says he just wants lots of money for his treasure box. Hmmm.