My Kindergartener Is Struggling to Read, Please Help

I feel for you and am right there, what do you mean by trouble, I condier my daughter having trouble by her schools standards, she can do all of the words she knows and sound some out but cant get the words that have multiple sounds like when two oo's are put together or a y at the end sometimes makes an e sound...

the starfall website
my daughter seems to learn by the prhrases her teachers use
the king of ing--then they do and ing words and she understands the sounds it makes
there are tons of them
the fuz of was
and a lot more, i hear her saying it when trying to sound out words

I have click n read. It was good for my son. But my daughter never grasped it. we had to teach site words then once she got it. click n read worked. its fast past for someone that doesnt read at all. flash card site words every day. then they will pick up reading

My goodness. A few years ago kids didn't start reading until sometime in the first grade. This new push to get them reading in kindergarten is a bit much in my opinion.

My hubby has a Mensa level IQ and could not read until nearly 2nd grade. He nearly flunked 1st because of it. His mom dropped him off in SLC to his grandmother's for a visit during summer break and she read to him from the BOM every day and by the end of that visit he was reading on a 3rd grade level.

Give your child the benefit of a doubt. He will read when his brain clicks on in that area.

He sounds like he is under some real stress with this, probably because he is trying so hard to please everyone.

Try a computer program for beginning reading. Years ago there was a DK disc called Bear and Penguin I Want To Read. See if they have something like that. My younger son, who we had to have lots of early intervention for, could not recognize his alphabet enough to even put a train puzzle in order. His tutor introduced him to it, and a light bulb turned on in his brain. He was able to do the beginning numbers as well. We had tried all kinds of tricks before that and none stuck.

Because of that, he started learning to read. Maybe it would work for your son.

Separately, read TO him for leisure. Read stuff to him that he LIKES! Take him to the library and tell him to pick out books that he wants to HEAR from you. Even if they are chapter books. Get a plain white book mark or sheet of paper and put it under the line that you are reading. Sit him in your lap and have him watch the words while you read. Put lots of inflection and excitement in your voice. Ask him questions about the story. Ask him what he thinks will happen next. Keep him involved.

It worries me that you mention that you don't want him to "hate it even more." Helping him love the written word in whatever way you can will make this transition between "not reading" and "reading" better, and establish a love of reading that he may not acquire later if you push him too hard now.

Good luck!
Dawn

I want to add my voice to the choir of responses urging you not to worry. He is just not developmentally ready. You sound pressured and upset about this and he probably feels that. Pushing reading might not be the answer right now. He might need OT. I don't think they'll even test him for learning disabilities at his age. My son is 9 and struggled with reading. Get professional advice - but don't sweat it now.

Before my son went to Kinder and although he did also attend Pre-School.. I tried to make reading fun.. e.g. we'd read license plates of cars that went by and I say, New York, what's the capital... and he'd tell me.. or vice versa.. so not only was he getting used to reading random words but also learning the state capitols.. which by 5 he knew all of them and still does.

additionally, when we'd go to a restaurant, I would give him his own menu, again, just trying to introduce him to new words and frankly, NEW foods.. I also allow him to read not only chapter books (he is now in 5th grade) but he likes to go online and read up about Italy and the various regions (he loves Italian food) therefore, I let him do it... you mention your son enjoys the computer.. nowadays,there is so much on there.. find a site that your son has interest in and get him reading it..

I think reading needn't be just from books and sometimes kids just aren't that into reading a book all the time..
just make it fun.. We also had a placemat at each meal that had the united states on it along with their capitols.. you could buy one that has words or other things on it... eventually, your son will pick up more and more words. it's my opinion that as they begin to recognize how words are formed, then it makes reading sentences even easier..

I wish you all the best.

Most children don't learn to read until first or second grade. I was told by a first grade teachers that some kids seem to "struggle" with reading until it "clicks." Kindergarten is much too early to worry about a reading problem. At this age they are still associating pictures with words and just getting to know a few sight words. Flash cards with words and pictures on them might help.

I too have a 6 year old who isn't reading yet. she knows all her letters and a lot of the sounds but it's still a work in progress putting it all together. She loves to write words and does a lot of copy work for enjoyment. I find that reading is something that has it's own timetable no matter how hard you push. My first born started reading at 5 after 4 months of kindergarten home school. My second started reading at 61/2 after 2 years of kindergarten home school. Now My 3rd had a very academic preschool for 2 years with lots of exposure to writing and letters but still in her 2nd year of kindergarten home school she isn't reading at 61/2 years old. I really see it as something that is just not connecting in her brain. It's not from lack of effort for sure. One program we use is "Reading Eggs". Look it up before you purchase anything else. It's fantastic! The children play fun games ,have challenges and hatch an egg with a little critter for their hard work. It's colorful and not to slow. I felt Click and Read was really slow and I felt my child would lose patients with it. Reading Eggs has a free trial. Do it and see if your child likes it. My daughter loves it. Best wishes in the pursuit of reading.

Can you clarify what you mean when you say he's struggling to read? Does he not know all his letter sounds? Is he not picking up the "sight words" he's supposed to learn in Kindergarten? Is he unable to sound out simple words like "sit"?

Many kinders can't read on their own, but there are certain expectations with the above. Both my girls weren't "reading" until 1st or 2nd grade. The one who didn't read until 2nd grade is in 4th now and has completed reading the complete Harry Potter series on her own. I didn't push, but I always kept reading time at home fun. I read stories every night, and sometimes ask them to help if I see words I think they know or can sound out. Go to the library weekly and let them pick out their own books. I think keeping it joyful is a key to making a lifelong reader. Whatever he is struggling with, try to incorporate into a fun way into daily life. Have him sound out "STOP" when you're at a stop sign, that sort of thing. Give him short fun quizzes in the car or on walks, but give it a rest when he gets discouraged.

I've heard good things about the "Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons". I'm finding it interesting how my opinion on things have changed over the years with my children. I have children that range from special ed to one that reads 3-4 grade levels above her own. After watching my kids and seeing how different each one is and how different they each learn...my personal opinion is...so what if he repeats kindergarten? I'm kind of surprised that they would hold him back for that...my daughter had a few kids in her first grade class that were still struggling with reading and needed a lot of extra help. I think the consequences will be FAR worse if you stress him out and he feels like he's failing or disappointing you...then if he ends up repeating kindergarten but feels like you're proud of him for his efforts and you're confident in his abilities.

Hi Ali

I feel your pain, however I am not sure that a different preschool would have made much difference. My oldest daughter went to a coop that was strictly based on play (no academics) and she was the best reader in Kindergarten. Has been a straight A student all her life. My second daughter was being taught to read when she was 4. She hated it! It turns out she is dyslexic. In some European countries reading is not introduced until kids are 7 . I suggest you get him tested by someone qualified and take it from there. If he really has a reading problem you will need someone qualified to give him tutoring. My daughter was tutored by a reading specialist from first to fourth grade. She is now in the seventh grade and does everything on her own. Early intervention works. Best wishes, and don't beat yourself up. I am not familiar with the ClickNRead program b the way.

As others have said, developmentally, he may not be ready to read. And most teachers should understand that all kids learn at different levels & he should not be pushed to read or it may backfire on you & cause him to not want to learn. Most important; read to him, at least 20 minutes a day, if not more. Pretty much any teacher will tell you that. The K teacher can also tell you what he is expected to know by the end of K in order to move onto 1s twhich will give you a guideline as to what you can work on w/him. Our son is in K at Madera in El Cerrito & he has a list of sight words to learn by the end of the year but absolutely no expectation to be reading. Don't stress about it as your son will pick up on that. If he repeats K, so be it. He will be more ready on all levels. I speak from experience; this is our son's second time in K. Started last Fall, made it to November when we decided he just wasnt ready on all levels, pulled him out, went back to preschool & then K again this year. Sure, at 6.5 he's the oldest in the class (which no one comments about at all) but he was cleary so much more ready to go this year. Best of luck!

I would also suggest that you have his vision checked by an optometrist.Both my sons ended up being far sighted which would make reading more difficult.

I second the book "Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" I used it with my then 4 year old. She was reading any easy reader in 60 days. It was very exciting to see her progress and only took about 15 minutes a day. It was probably the best $15 I have ever spent.

I highly recommend The Ordinary Parent's guide to teaching reading. I just ordered it because I've been told over and over that even children who are slower at learning to read can easily and very quickly learn with this program. I also am getting the Bob books. I ordered mine from amazon. I would go there and read the reviews!

My daughter had a lot of trouble learning to read too. I purchased the "Fun with Dick and Jane" treasury for less than $20.00 and taught her to read using that one volume of several "Dick and Jane books". It worked really well.
However, she was still not an advanced reader in first and second grade. (Mind you, at the age of five, she could tell you the cubed root of a number and was playing around with Algebra by the age of seven.) Reading finally clicked in at the end of third grade when she decided out of the blue to read The Hobbit. So, basically she went from behind in reading to advanced in the span of reading one book. She's in high school now and advanced in everything. My point is that children develop in their own special way so enjoy the journey.

Hi A., this is not meant as a criticism to you in ANY way so please don't take it as such. Preschool is great - both our kids have been in day care/preschool the since they were 1 - but certainly not necessary. I have a friend who didn't send her daughter to any preschool, daycare anything, and her daughter is reading at the 3rd grade level in K. It sounds as if your child may have some issues because it shouldn't be THAT hard to learn to learn. Possibly he is developmentally just not there yet. Or maybe he has an issue like dyslexia or something else. Time to get him tested is right now. Test, then make decisions as to what the next step is. It's great that you're working with him but could you be making the problem worse by pushing him when something is obviously not right. Good luck to your family! It will all work out.

Hi. I 'm sorry to hear about your little guy's situation. It sounds pretty stressful as others have noted. I just started writing for a website that looks like it's a wonderful reading program for all those that need some extra oomph. You can check out the video on it that might appeal to you? Just a suggestion.

It's called TRIP (Targeted Reading Improvement Program) and uses hand-eye coordination exercises, etc. The blog is being built w/some ideas and useful stuff. buytripnow dot com and the blog can be added to the end of that url or just click from the main link.

Best of luck to your family.

Don't get so down on yourself over the preschool thing.
I went to preschool (of course this was the 80's-whole different ballgame-I know) and struggled mightily to read.
I did not send my DD to preschool and am homeschooling her and her reading ability amazes me.
Different kids, different brain wirings.

I am trying to think of something to help...We are using the book "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons". You might check it out at the library. It is a good system.
It is not my DD's favorite thing to do but maybe it would help it to just click for him.
I think it would have helped me.