IS YOUR CHILD A STRUGGLING READER ?

IS YOUR CHILD A STRUGGLING READER?

Poor reading skills are a major concern today and a topic of discussion in very leading newspaper. Not only is it one the biggest contributing factors to the high dropout rate at schools and at universities; it also impacts on the employability of young recruits. Companies report that they first have to train young recruit to read and write before they can start with in-house training. Parents and teachers are faced with this crisis on a daily basis and it seems as if there are no strategies in place to address the problem effectively. To complicate the matter, learning cannot take place without reading and understanding, which means that poor reading skills have a direct influence on general achievement in school.

If your child is a struggling reader, where do you start and what do you need to know?

Reading difficulties do not exist in isolation.

There are numerous factors that can cause reading difficulties and that can contribute to reading problems, including-

·         Sensory input and integration

·         Attention difficulties such as ADD and lack of  concentration

·         Neurological developmental problems

·         Decoding, phonemic awareness and phonic

·         Language-related problems such as poor vocabulary

·         Reading comprehension

·         Fixation, regression, eye span, foreground/ background, etc

·         Dominance

·         Emotional problems manifesting in reading problems

·         Anxiety

·         Nutrition-related problems manifesting in the  form of poor concentration

·         Aberrant primitive reflexes, and

·         Reading readiness (start formal reading if the learner is not ready).

What is meant by contributing factors?

 The causes of reading difficulties are not easily identifiable because difficulty with reading is often the result of other related problems. The struggling reader very often dislikes reading and is labeled as the “dummy” in the class, contributing to a negative self-image, feelings of failure and an unwillingness to engage in reading activities. Formal reading instruction at school often requires the learner to read aloud, causing severe anxiety and  stress  for the struggling reader. They feel exposed and humiliated, as a result, they often act out because they prefer to be seen an naughty than stupid. This behavior is used as an escape from being humiliated and exposed in front of their classmates. Disciplinary consequences await these children at school as well as at home. This vicious circle feeds poor reading skills as the reader believes that he/she cannot read and therefore does not see the use of trying anymore. The contributing factors escalate to create a daunting, negative experience for the learner.

How do we know what the causes are?

A comprehension assessment to determine the cause is necessary to provide a tailor -made strategy for individual learner. Assessing reading speed and comprehension are only helpful as they indicate that the learner does not read on the appropriate level; however, this limited assessment does not provide information on the reasons for low reading speed or poor comprehension, nor does it provide information as to additional causes or contributing factors of poor reading difficulties.

Where do you start?

Once you know what causes the child to struggle with reading, the causes and contributing factors can be addressed: a child with concentration problems will not develop reading skills at a normal pace unless he or she is able to concentrate and focus on the content to be read-only then can an intervention programme be compiled. This principle applies to all possible causes of reading difficulties. Sporadic success may occur but will not be sustainable until the child is able to concentrate.

What role does computer program plays?

Because of the complexity of reading difficulties, software based reading programs have shown to have limited success unless they are utilised according to a specific method or strategy for every individual learner. Many schools have invested thousands of dollars in reading software just to find out that they do not have the knowledge to use  the program effectively. What a waste of resources!

Reading Zone has done extensive research results have been published internationally indicated that software programs are only tools to be used in addressing reading difficulties. Success lies in the methodology, in other words, how the program is manipulated to do what you want it to do for every individual learner. Some software programs offer limited opportunity to effectively address reading difficulties.

Reading zone

Reading Zone is a young, dynamic and fast growing company that focuses on the improvement and development of reading and learning abilities.

What makes reading Zone unique?

·          We believe   in re-creating a love for reading through a medium young people can identify with and therefore support the idea of technology assisted reading and learning. However, reading difficulties do not exist in isolation and therefore we follow a unique and holistic intervention methodology between facilitator and learner and base our reading and learning intervention on the latest research in the field of technology assisted reading and neurophysiology.

·         We base our intervention on comprehensive assessments in reading and studying to ensure a unique and individually focused intervention program for every leaner.

·         We present a reading and learning readiness program (early literacy) for 5 to8 year old learners, this program is developed according to the latest research in reflex inhibition, neurophysiology and developmental psychology.

·         We have a full time academic research program that distinguishes us as leaders in the field of reading and learning intervention .Our result are published and well accepted overseas. Reading Zone takes pride in the success our learners achieve.

·         We include study strategies as part of our intervention as reading and learning goes hand in hand.

www.readingzone.co.za/ info@readingzone.co.za

Reference: Van Wyk. G. April 2010. Is your child a struggling reader? Edunews. 66-67. Windhoek