Identify Reading Problems Early to
              Save Your Child's Self Esteem!

I invite you to follow and contribute to my blog:  http://treasurereading.blogspot.com/ 

I am passionate about speaking parent-to-parent about how to identify reading problems as early as possible.

What are the warning signs?

How can you determine if there is indeed a problem?

What are your options if there is a problem?

My Family's Story

I'm still amazed that my older son's reading problems went undetected for so long.

I have a degree in English, read to my kids from the time they were babies, was a classroom helper, repeatedly questioned my son's teachers about his literacy level, did outside tutoring, and still missed diagnosing a reading problem.

The first real indication something wasn't right for him was in Year 2. At school, my son started quietly refusing to do his homework. He wasn't naughty or disruptive, he just wouldn't do his work.  At home, we started seeing changes in his behavior.

A counsellor worked with him and we determined the root of his self esteem and behavior issues was reading problems. He knew he was smart. He didn't understand why he was struggling at school.

We tried several things to help him but the final solution that worked was 1:1 remedial literacy tutoring using the Lindemood Bell method. He is now on and in some areas working above his grade level.

My second son has even more reading difficulties - but we were on to it early and are getting him the help he needs.

You see, kids who have reading problems are often quite intelligent - so the reading difficulties go undiagnosed unless you know what to look for. These kids simply learn differently and/or their brains process language differently. But many teachers aren't trained to look for these difficulties and our schools aren't set up to teach techniques that work for their differences.

And here's the shocker, about 20% of kids have reading difficulties.

For example, some kids have terrific memories. So they remember what words look like but can't actually break words down into their sounds and syllables. So reading nonsense words or spelling are extremely difficult for them. As Ann Edwards, literacy professional and creator of BumpyBooks explained it, these types of kids can get by in the lower grades when they are reading about plants, sun, water and soil. But as they get older and start having to read about photosynthesis and evaporation, the wheels fall off. 

I have spoken to so many parents in Australia and the U.S. who have had the same experiences I have with reading problems that were missed.

I've also spoken with numerous school counselors, psychologists, teachers, etc. and there is no question that the link between poor literacy and self esteem/behavior problems is strong.

So it's my mission to speak parent-to-parent to raise your awareness and provide information from experts as I find it.

In this section of the website, I will be linking to articles and resources for parents to use to determine if their child might have reading problems, how to confirm and what to do about it.

I welcome feedback, ideas, articles and resources so please send through anything you have!

My sons are now doing great because they're at a fantastic public school that is supportive of them and we have literacy professionals who are teaching them in the ways that their brains needed to process information.  

Media and reports 

Public Schools Principal's Forum in The Sunday Telegraph March 09- 4 in 5 Principals rate support for disabled children (dyslexia, autism, bipolar, cerebral palsy) as poor or very poor.

Articles

Is My Child a Reluctant Reader or is There More to the Story?

Why Can't My Child Read? Common Learning Difficulties that Cause Reading Problems

50 Tips to Promote a Lifelong Love of Reading in Your Child

If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them - Kids Who've Closed the Books and Plugged In.  

Poor Literacy + Low Self Esteem = Trouble for the Long Haul

Great Books for Reluctant Readers

Resources - Australia 

Kids First Children's Services 

SPELD - different branches by state
http://www.speldnsw.org.au/

http://www.speldvic.org.au/index.html

Resources - US