Reading Comprehension for 1St Grader

Do you notice him having trouble with reading comprehension? Seems odd to me that a teacher mentions the problem and then Oh by the way I can tutor him for $35/hr. Maybe I'm just a bit skeptical. I'd try working with him on my own first or have an independent evaluation.

What school is that? My son has reading problems and there is no charge for tutoring through the school.

Hi,
Have you tried getting your youngster picture books? This way when he reads he can look at the pictures then after you can ask him other questions about the story?

Hi D. G,
Yes I've went through this with my daughter. I just wish his school offerd it for free. My daughters school had what they called the "After School Program". The teachers would stay and help. See if they have extra help at school like a teacher who teaches reading and comprehension.

A trick I used with my daughter was to read a few sentences or paragraph. Id stop there and ask her a few questions about that paragraph. Also point out the title to your son and ask him what he thinks the story is going to be about. It will get him thinking, and also try some books that will interest him enough to want to know what the sotry is about. Good luck.

Hi D.,

I was a first grade teacher prior to becoming a mom. Alot of children at this age have some difficulty comprehending what they are reading. Some of the moms have made some good suggestions. Recording him read is a great idea. Most of the time, children are so focused on trying to decode the words that they miss averything they have read. Perhaps try finding easier books for him, like a reading level below what he is at. The book should be easy for him to read therefore he shouldn't being paying as much attention to decoding the words as he would at his normal level. Talk to the teacher, see if she can send home any books for you to read with him. Even books that he has read before with her. There are also some great websites that have books that you can print out for use at home, with great worksheets to go with them. If you are interested let me know and I will send you some links. Make sure you are asking your child who, what, where. when, and why questins when he is reading. Ask about the characters, the setting, and the order in which things happen. Perhaps some sort of visual organizer will help him sort through the details. Let me know if you need any additional help, I'll be glad to do so. BTW- $35 is actually a resonable rate for a tutor, however ask for materials that you can use at home with im first and see the improvment he is making.

I have the same problem with my daughter, who will be nine. She's been having trouble since 1st grade (she's in 3rd now). We paid for a tutor for a while and then a friend told me that my local library offers free tutoring. In addition, I read with her every night and as we finish a chapter, I ask questions about what we've read. The next night, before we continue, I ask her to tell me about what we've read so far. It's helping. Keep the faith.

Hello D.,
I have published some educational songs that help struggling readers such as your son. The series is called "Singing Sight Words". The songs are based on the Dolch sight word list which is the list of 200 words most encountered by beginning readers. You can have a look and listen by visiting:
http://www.S.-J..com/SightWordsMenu.shtml
We also have a phonics series, complete with workbooks:
http://www.S.-J..com/PhonicsMenu.shtml
If you'd like to receive a free newsletter with free songs and activities which may help your son, you could sign up here:
http://www.S.-J..com/newsletter.shtml

It's good that your teacher pointed this out now. Some extra help and guidance should help a lot. The more time you can spend with your son, reading simple kids magazines, signs on the street corners, even collecting stampes and learning how to sort them, will make an enormous difference later on.

Good luck!
S.

He is ONLY 6!
Give him time. Public Schools push too hard too quick for reading readiness and comprehension. I was a public school teacher then a private school teacher.

Naturally, children will start to read around 6 or 7 years old. Comprehension comes with time and patience of the reader.

I would refuse the extra tutoring and just read with your child at bedtime or other times that suit you both. If your child is unwilling to read so much, then trade sentence for sentence with him. After each page ask what happened in the story. At the end of the book ask what the story was about. Remember to use terms like beginning, middle and end of the story, and conflict and resolution to the story. This is what will help his mind to wrap around the words meanings. Build up his comprehension slowly while having bonding time with him mom and not allowing this teacher to make him feel like he NEEDS extra help. He is within normal realms and should not be made to feel like he is behind.

When children are forced into reading too early; they do not gain comprehension of words, these letters and words are just symbols on paper that they don't grasp. They have memorized these symbols and sounds but not the meanings. Vocabulary drops in children who learn to read too early because words are not in context.These children tend to loose interest in reading and fight doing so. In this way they compromise their whole education as much learning happens through reading.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7107798.stm

p.s. it is absolutely amazing that MOST mamas who responded to this post also had this issue when their child was a 1st grader. It is the public school system and pushing children before they are mentally ready to go forward. Do we force solid foods into our 2 month olds mouth before they have teeth to chew? This is what we are doing to children when we force them into early learning when they are not ready. They don't have the teeth for reading yet. Let them develop properly. K and 1st graders should still be working on social skills and building their vocabulary and learning to do household tasks and learning to respect all people and things. Give them proper time to breath and bond with the world, their peers, and family.
Sorry for the rant. After being in the public schools as a teacher and the private waldorf-inspired school setting where reading is taught later and the children are better for it (in my opinion) I have very strong feelings. I, in no way, want to offend anyone with my opinions on school and academic readiness but am open to questions, concerns and comments.

Hi Darmarys~ My daughter had terrible trouble with reading comprehension in 1st grade. Her reading level was at a 3rd grade level and her vocabulary was at a 4th grade level, but she had no idea what she was reading. Initially, we had her tested at hunting learning center but couldn't afford the charges for tudoring. I then had her tested through the committee on special education though our school and she qualified for services. She receives services for math and reading comprehension and has made great progress (she is in third grade now) I have had her teacher send home additional practice packages to work on at home. Also, there is a literacy specialist at our school who i consulted with for additional ideas. i would give your school a call to find out if any of these resources are available. I am very glad I had her tested through the school because every year they build on the skills they learn and now she is able to keep up. Good luck.

I've had a similar problem most of my life. I love to read but for me to really understand what I'm reading, and not have to reread the paragraph over again, I have to read it out loud. I need to hear it. Start a regimen before he goes to bed every night. Make it a game. Pick a fun book and each of you takes turns reading to each other. This way he reads out loud and he hears what he's reading.

Hi D.. I wouldnt be so concerned about you son not comprehending so much in first grade. Each child learns at their own pace and I think with just a little time and some effort on your part, like the workbooks that you mentioned, would be a great help to him and probably quite fun. What I would be concerned about is the fact that his teacher is willing to charge you for her services. There should be some sort of reading comprehension classes going on in his school. I would look into it if I were you. Give him some time and Im sure he will gladly catch up on his own witha little help from you. Good luck!!!

At this point the best thing that you can do is keep reading with him and talk about the story after you are finished and ask him questions(anything that you thought was important to the story). A workbook might be a good idea too (Barnes and Noble has a great selection but go there and look through them).

Hi- I think it is rediculous to assume a child at age six has a reading problem. I also think that it is a conflict of interest- as well as very shady- for a teacher to tell a parent your child has a problem and you have to pay me 35 twice a week to tutor him. I would call the school district and set a meeting with the principal about this. I have been a pre-school teacher as well as run my own group family daycare with children from 6months to 12yrs as well as a child with down syndrome for twenty three yrs total. Go get s few work books,take him to the library to pick a few books. try to spend at least 15 minutes a day or at least 1 hour every other day reading. After a few lines ask him what he thinks and help him make the connection . It may just be that he is so focused at reading the words correctly he doesn't relax enough to internalize what he has read. It may just be performance anxiety. I would try to work with him first. I also would make it a point to call the school and speak to principal about the sham I feel your sons teacher is trying to pull. There are also reading programs in school for children in your sons grade. Don't let this teacher fool you. Please consider my ideas. Thank you
L.

what about that "no child left behind" thing? $35. an hour is alot. can't the school provide some free classes? GOOD LUCK

Hi D.-
I think 6 is a little young to determine if he has a real problem and two a teacher should not be getting Paid to tutor your son at home, most schools have a reading teacher at the school that will help children that are having difficulty comprehending what they are reading, I would call the school and see what is up with that,Other then that I say just work with your son at home reading and asking him questions when done reading, He will get it in his own time, Some kids just take longer then others and he will get there with some help.
I hope this helps even a little bit and good luck!

Record him reading with a tape recorder and play it back to him and he may understand it better that way. When I read outloud, especially as a child, it was hard for me to pay attention to what I was saying because I was too busy paying attention to how to say it, you know? I think it's normal. And I read slower than I would if I was reading out-loud. Don't give his teacher your money.

Damary...Hello my son had reading and comprehensing issues when he was in first grade too. What i found that worked was I made up a book with 3 stories in it. The stories consisted of his three favorite things...skateboards, motorbikes and dogs. I found them at the libray and made photocopies of the short stories.I went on line and found pictures and graphics to make the stories all the more interesting.I bound them together and made a folder cover and let him decorate the cover with stickers drawings etc...I read it the first time to him...we talked about the pictures and i asked him lots of questions...Next day we read it again...and the day after that...and the day after that...we continued to read the same thing...I would read a page...he would read a page...Pretty soon he was reading it on his own...His reading improved. He was comprehending the stories. I found once he established a steady flow of reading he was then able to concentrate on what he was reading.My son is now in 5th grade and he loves to read.
I truly believe that consistency and alot of patience is the key. Make reading fun...read about his favorite things...it will make it all the more interesting and fun for him...Hope this helps...it worked for us!
B.