8 Year Old Can Not Read

hooked on phonics is good....you can get the lower end one for $25 on sale...I got it at Mardels...sometimes toysrus has it, too. what about his school? are they aware of his aptitude? I agree the mom has a duty but isn't this what our tax dollars are for? to help children like this?? sorry, just hoping the school will step in and help.

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This is strange, he should be learning to sound out his words at school. My daughter who is in first grade has a had a hard time reading but she knows all the letter sounds really well and can read most words, she is just a little less ahead than some of her classmates. We didnt really start doing more work at home until Nov 08 because we saw she needed some extra help but honestly kids are in school until 3pm and then they get home and the last thing they want to do is read and do homework for 1 or more hours right after, at least for us its been difficult to get her interested in reading more, it kind of frustrates her so there is a thin line there between support and pushing too much. I agree that the parents have to step in and work a little more with him, but it seems to me that he should be recieving more from school also.

More than likely the child has learning differences and needs testing to learn the best way for him to learn. I agree with TF, if there is a school involved. But from your description it does not sound like you think the parents are capable of helping him. You don't really tell us the situation, but if you are friendly with the Mom...can you speak to her without sounding judgmental? Perhaps you can learn some different styles that may work for the child and work with him yourself or share them with the mom. If he is in public school certainly you can make a call to the school counselor in confidence.

This sounds strange to me as well. He should be getting help in school. The teachers have to do testing and they know what he is capable of and should provide afterschool tutoring.

We are in Plano ISD and they start tutoring afterschool in 1st grade for students who need extra help.

Has he been tested for Dyslexia? There is a reading specialist at the elementary school (or should be..PISD has them). Also, there is summer school available for kids who are not up to par with reading and math skills.

Along with support from the school, his parents should step up and help him. Computer games that my daughter loved were the Jumpstart series.

Bless you for trying to help.

I wouldn't say he has learning issues unless he has been worked with at home or you know the home situation. I know someone whose 9 year old couldn't read. They were in a custody battle that was terrible and the "mom" had "homeschooled" the kids. The dad was doing everything to get the kids out (and has since gotten sole custody) but it took working with her a LOT at home and at school to get her able to read and understand. She is in middle school now and still has a hard time spelling. Other than that she is a straight A student.

Not to say that many learning disabilities aren't present in many kids, but if they aren't getting any consistency or routines or even the parents don't have the knowledge to even realize there is a problem, then it happens all the time.

Good for you for caring! The best way to help a child in that situation is to read to them ALL the time. Let them hear your inflection and let them start to read along with you. Read short books, long books, and find things that interest them. He may be at home all night watching tv or playing video games and never been read to. That is so important. And, it is best to catch them before 3rd grade. Otherwise, it is so much easier for them to get "lost in the system."

And, it is really easy for people to say, "why hasn't that teacher or that school DONE anything?" but I promise you, a day's work at school can be EASILY undone at home if the parents are not concerned or consistent.

Good luck and I wish you all the best!! Being able to read is so important. Also, it is so important to comprehend.

Now, if you know all that I've said isn't true, and you have reason to believe that there may be a learning difficulty, I would say that if the school doesn't refer him, the mom will have to. :(