RAR #13: Learning to Read- What to Do With Your Struggling Reader
Reading aloud plays a major role in a child’s life as he or she is learning to read – especially if he or she is struggling to learn to read!
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- how often to read aloud
- how much to prioritize it
- and which books are best for struggling readers
Click that play button below to hear the podcast!
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
Links from this episode:
- All About Reading and All About Spelling – Marie’s (incredible) programs
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Hi. I can´t thankyou enough for this podcast and this episode. I have a Dyslexic child, and this interview really encouraged to keep fighting for her.
Thanks
Mariana
Just realized I posted my comment about our favorite wordless book under the wrong podcast, lol. My preschool class loved The Birthday Trombone by Margaret Hartelius. I made up some words that repeated. Something like,”STOP! You’re hurting my ears!” The kids would all cover their ears during that and say it along with me. Perfect for a classroom of two year olds!
After 20 years as a special education teacher with a focus in dyslexia therapy, I’ve just retired. It was a tough decision to make, but I think going back as a volunteer will give me the chance to work with dyslexic kids in a way I wasn’t able to as a teacher. Yeah, I know…. PLUS, my 8-year-old grandson is showing signs of dyslexia and knowing what I know about how long it will take to get him some help, I’ll be able to spend some time with him. I’m impressed with Marie’s curricula and plan to use it later this summer. Thank you for the introduction.
LOVE the Read-Aloud Revival. My dad read The Jack Tales to us, acting it out in such outrageous characterization that we begged for more!
I’m really enjoying these podcasts! I can’t believe I haven’t stumbled upon them sooner. It seems so rare to find so many like minded parents when it comes to the importance of read-alouds, even among homeschoolers! These are really inspiring me to get back to the quantity of reading we had previously enjoyed before the birth of our youngest 10 months ago.
Also, we are really enjoying AAS here after having a few failed attempts with spelling methods last year. It is phenomenal! I detail how the switch from a workbook based program to AAS is working for my daughter here: http://learningmama.com/ditching-what-doesnt-work-and-finding-what-does/
We have loved AAS level 1 for my oldest. My 4 year old is getting excited about learning to read like her brother, and I would love to buy AAR for her.
Forty years an educator and I am working harder than ever to get folks to read aloud to kids. After school over programming of children has lead to a lack of reading aloud.
I hadn’t thought of that- but yes! I could definitely see why that would contribute.
My favorite bit of wisdom is so simple. Just keep reading. If nothing else happens that day…just read!!!
I have generally enjoyed the encouragement to keep reading with my kiddos. We have been using Honey For A Child’s Heart and making library holds for the books! It has greatly improved our library selections!!!! The kids never want to return them (nor do I!!!)! Both ideas I got from the podcast.
Also, a quick note that I have trouble getting through some of the longer podcasts! It might take me several days of coming back to them. I usually listen when I am doing mindless chores (laundry, dishes), and it would be helpful maybe to break them into smaller chunks and post more frequently.
That’s good to know, Carolyn, thank you. I appreciate your feedback! :)
I started All about reading pre reader a month ago, and my son has loved every minute of each lesson!! This pod cast has been insightful with new ways to teach my son.
I’m inspired to let the housework wait, and spend more quality time with my kids. Reading to them always gets put on the back burner, and it’s high time I switch my priorities. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a veteran mom with adult children say, “The house can wait. Spend more time with the kids while they’re young!”
Just received our order for All about Reading Level 2 and I am so excited to see how this works to engage my reluctant reader who is 8…she is very creative, a charmer, expressive, loves audiobooks but not so keen on the reading thing.
I hope you both like it and that it works for her!
Thank you Sarah. I keep reminding myself that it’s not something to stress over. Were it not for annual testing it wouldn’t even be on my radar. I was way too busy at 8 years of age to sit and read. I loved to sing, act, play…all the things that my cutie pie likes doing now. And guess what? I did learn to read and eventually learned to enjoy reading (especially after being tested with Irlen but that’s another story). My parents never obsessed over my education like I do for my own children. But I graduated second in my high school class, have a Master’s degree in International Business, enjoyed an interesting career before having children, and now feeling completely empowered and in my element to teach my children. But in the beginning, say elementary school, I looked pretty disengaged. Maybe that is why I want more for my children. I think that I can somehow limit the limitations that my children will face. But I suppose that shouldn’t be my focus. My focus should be to set their gaze up and focused on their Father. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
I love the podcast. It’s like Finding the perfect puzzle piece for my family. That said, this podcast felt very rushed compared to all the others. It’s clear that you’ve opted to make it shorter, but I wanted to hear more from this speaker and actually felt a little uncomfortable with the pace. I still love what you’re doing, I just wanted to put in my two cents. Thanks for all that you do!!!
Thank you for this feedback! I was uncomfortable with the pacing, too, and had SUCH a hard time keeping it so short. Maybe I won’t worry about the length too much, after all. :)
I commend Maria for taking a really hard situation with her son and using it to bless so many other children. My second child struggles with reading. We started using All About Reading about two months ago and I can see improvement in her already. I love this program and my youngest daughter and well as my struggling reader enjoy it as well.
Another great podcast! :) I love All About Spelling, it is so very helpful for me because I am not a particularly strong speller, and my oldest definitely takes after me in that respect.
Another absolutely moving wordless picture book is called “A small miracle”. It’s about a poor old woman who is robbed and a nativity scene at the local parish comes to life to bless her. So touching for kids 3-99
I am very interested in this program for my son, he has began Hooked on Phonics and is so bored by that program, it turned him off to reading, i hope to try this one and see more enthusiasm for reading for himself.
I love the recommendations for wordless picture books!
I love All About Spelling! It works!
Listening to Marie has motivated me to get through the hard days we’ve been having lately.
I love the recommendations!
Great stuff!
THanks for all your hints!
Just received the first 2 levels of All about Spelling and I’m really looking forward to starting them with my children.
I wish there was a transcript. Some of us don’t process audio well for various reasons, and need to actually read the information. I would have liked to have been able to easily access this.
I’m working on those right now, Zara! You might want to pop your email on this list so that you’ll get notified on how to get the transcripts when they’re ready:
http://eepurl.com/4WsuX
:) Sarah
Great podcasts Sarah! I look forward to them- they are so inspiring.
Thank you so much for your podcasts! The most valuable inspiration so far has been all of the great book suggestions through your various guests, as well as the book list websites I’ve used from show notes. I’m a dad who has been reading aloud for 8 years now, I got hooked after reading “The Read Aloud Handbook” by Jim Trelease.
great podcast! I am so excited to have found it and can’t wait to listen to more!
What I have gained most from these podcasts is encouragement to read-aloud no matter what is going on in our daily life. It is an anchor in our days. A compass that guides us towards the good and beautiful. Thank you!
My fourth child is taking a lot longer to read fluently than his older siblings. I am curious to investigate the curriculum from All About Learning Press. Thank you for your podcast – it keeps me motivated to continue reading aloud to my children daily.
We have been using All About Spelling for two years now and it has made a huge difference! We really like the simple format and the parent-friendly manual.
Thank you.
Thank you for the suggestions on what books to read.
Thank you for this blog and podcast- it reminds our whole family that reading really matters!
Wow, this episode almost brought me to tears! Marie’s and her son’s story is incredible, and I am so glad my family is using All About Reading! The value of this podcast for me is just how consistently it reminds me that I just need to keep on keeping on with the reading and never give up on it. Sarah, you are consistently providing a variety of proof that it is worth it. Thank you!
That All About Reading could work for dyslexic children.
Loved the thoughts on reading aloud!
I love All About Spelling – have been using it for a few years now with great success! Love this podcast so much; keep up the great work!
Love this podcast! Thank you for the encouragement and new book ideas.
Thanks so much for the great podcasts. I’ve had a bad cold for the past several days and have struggled to read aloud without a coughing fit. It just makes me remember what an important part of our life together reading aloud is.
I’ve found the series encouraging :)
On your recommendation a few months back, I’ve started using AAS with my struggling reader/speller, and I’m pleased to see that his confidence is building as a result. Love the podcast!
This is fantastic! Two of my brothers suffer from severe dyslexia and auditory processing problems. They’re adults now and (amazingly) love to read, and I know it’s due in large part to all of the reading aloud my mom did with them. They learned to love books that way, and they would often re-read the books she had read to them, which made it easier for them since they already knew the storyline. I loved hearing Marie Rippel’s thoughts on this and especially appreciated her realistic approach–yes, the house might not be spit-spot clean, but reading is more important! Yes!
All About Spelling has been a fantastic blessing for my dd12 who has dyslexia as well as my other children. I just started teaching my ds5 and niece how to read using All About Reading. We are loving it. I really appreciate the readers. They are SO nicely done. Thanks Marie! And thank you Sarah for the wonderful inspiration to read aloud!
The biggest bit of inspiration I’ve gotten so far is the opportunity to hear so many people that share the same heart about reading aloud to their children. I think hearing about the reading promise and the new read aloud challenge are both so motivational to the impact this habit can have on my children’s lives. It’s so easy to get caught up in the moment and lose sight of that long term potential, the podcast really helps me be more aware of the path we are on and find a lot more joy in it.
I appreciated hearing the breakdown of reading instruction and phonics vs. read aloud time for preschoolers/kindergartners and older students.
I so enjoy your podcasts Sarah. Thank you! We use both AAS and AAR and love them both, especially for my struggling reader.
I was inspired to keep reading to my little man. He’s only 3, so I don’t have any expectation that he will start reading any time soon. but knowing that as we read I’m laying a foundation for later reading is encouraging! Thank you!
I love All About Spelling! It has been a God send to our family :)
Another great podcast! We love AAR in our home. My five year old twins are working through AAR1 right now, and they are doing great!
To keep working at doing read alouds–it is worth doing!
I love the All About Spelling and Reading programs. At first I resisted the program because I didn’t want a “mommy intensive” spelling but I really love how the rules of spelling are taught and then reenforced. Would love to win the gift as we have several levels left to get. Thanks so much for all your time and effort on the podcasts.
I just love your Read-Aloud Revival, Sarah! I was a fan before the podcasts and I’m loving the audio format now. You get some wonderful guest speakers and you get great discussions going. Keep it up!
I love AAR! So fun, and guess what? It works, too!
Thanks for the podcast. This has been very encouraging.
awesome advice! I love Herve Tullet books too (and his website! so fun!). He has a new one called I Am Blop! that is interactive and fun, too. It has a little more writing than Press Here, but both my kids loved this one just as much. You can see my review of it here: http://wellreadsleepyhead.blogspot.ca/2014/10/i-am-blop-by-herve-tullet.html
Sarah M
I think one of the most important things I’ve realized since listening to these podcasts is that there are other people who are just as passionate about the same topic as I am. It’s really been a blessing to be listening to your podcasts, hear the interest, enthusiasm and joy that you and your interviewees (and commenters!) share. I feel like I’ve found my group!
Sarah M
I’ve tried lots of different spelling programs and finally now have all three of my big kids in All About Spelling at various levels. I would love to try the reading program!
Sarah, this podcast has been outstanding from the start & I’ve learned so much. (I recently binge-listened to them all again to really get myself jazzed for the Jumpstart Challenge!) Two particularly helpful bits came from Episodes 4/5 and 10. Jim Weiss’ interview was great for giving me an idea about the voices and the mechanics of how to do a better job at reading books aloud. That’s a real confidence booster! Heidi Scovel’s many suggestions on choosing books were great for helping me know where to begin to wade through the library shelves & build a solid wish list on Amazon. I can’t thank you enough!
I found the podcast encouraging to keep up with the reading aloud. I have no memory of my mother ever reading to us. I’m happy that my children will have this basic memory. It’s the simple things!
I am not a homeschooler but I use AAR as a supplement as my daughter was struggling with her reading at school. We are now halfway through and she gas gone from a reluctant reader to now one of the strongest readers in her class. Much more encouraging is the fact she wants to read on her own and her attention span for being read to has increased too. BTW we are not American, we are Scottish so Holly has fun calling me Mom instead of Mum!
My son struggles with reading, and I have a special needs child who is just starting to learn to read. Just hearing Marie’s story about her son was inspiring and so encouraging! Thanks. I also loved the interview with Alice Ozma, and I’m listening to her book now, since you recommended it so highly. I haven’t listened to a book since I was in grade school and it was read by my teacher, and I’m loving it! :)
I always enjoy your podcasts. You have such an effortless way of interviewing that it makes me feel like we’re all sitting around (with coffee) discussing my favorite topic (books!). Thanks for the weekly reminder to get back to it, even if it’s only a few minutes a day. ;)
Thank you for this wonderful series of podcasts! I get excited about new episodes! And I love All About Reading as well– so naturally I am really looking forward to listening to this one.
Our favorite Wordless Picture Book is Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman. It’s really fun. A boy finds a key and sets out to find what it opens.
Thank you for the encouragement to keep pressing on in the important areas…and to keep those at the forefront of what we’re about as a family. I love hearing the same things from each contributor, but each from their own point of view with all sorts of practical tips! I feel as though I am growing in confidence in our homeschooling & family life and come here when I need a cheerleader! :) Keep ’em coming, please!!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! You and your guest’s ideas are very user friendly!
Thank-you so much. This has been an absolutely delightful experience. Each week I can’t wait for the next episode to download. I am enjoying the wealth of information about reading aloud. This has been exactly what I have needed to make reading aloud a priority in our home.
I love your podcast! Your guests are always great. I often listen to them more that once. Keep up the amazing work!
Love the recommendations for wordless picture books! I see some creative writing potential using these books.
Thank you for these podcasts! The most valuable thing that I am continually receiving from the podcasts is the reinforcement and inspiration to keep reading aloud no matter how well a given day goes….it is all adding up to create an amazing gift for my kids (and for me, too!!)
I started All About Spelling this year with my 2nd grader and a struggling middle school speller. I really appreciate that about the program! It can be used to remediate with older students without feeling “babyish.” I would LOVE to be able to purchase All About Reading Level one for my Preschool child!!
This has been very encouraging!