Learning to read and ADHD
Carol
parents with ADHD children learning to read. As a child, I struggled
to learn to read and I remember wondering if only I could have help
with a word exactly when I needed it. LeapFrog sells computers and
books with this idea--click a word and hear it spoken. However, I put
this concept into downloadable ebooks.
I'd like to comment on a couple results. I showed them to one student
who was out of school and in his early 20's. Although I was told he
was first grade reading level, for the first session I couldn't get
him to read at all and he couldn't focus for longer than five minutes.
I'm not a teacher and I had never experienced anybody who was so
easily distracted. However, the second session I showed him my ebooks
and he focused for 45 minutes straight! It was a miracle to watch. He
liked using the computer and being in control of the story--he was
intent and motivated. The fact that he could click each word and hear
it seemed to drive him on, just as it does anyone who has *already*
learned to read. After all, an interesting story is its own reward. I
want to clarify that after only minor instructions, he did everything
on his own, so he felt like it was him doing the reading.
Yesterday I got a call from a father who said his six-year old (who
has ADD) had a wonderful reaction to my Talking eBooks, that his
self-esteem had jumped and that through these books he was enjoying
reading. I did ask him if his son had tried LeapFrog products and he
said yes, but that his son hadn't seemed interested. Somehow it's the
combination of a regular *computer* with a short, engaging story that
really works. This father wanted more stories, but unfortunately, we
only have 10--of which only four are beginner's stories.
Anyway, if anyone is interested my ebooks can be found at:
http://www.magickeys.com/ebooks. Our free stories are at Children's
Storybooks Online (http://www.magickeys.com/books)
Thanks for reading this post.
Carol
Ganishe
Carol,
As a 20 yr old who found it terribly difficult to read until the age
of 8, I believe the issue is very complex, and is only more complicated
if someone (like I had, undiagnosed) also has ADD. I also had a speech
impediment.
Kids who struggle to read need to be on sophisticated Ed plans. I was
fortunate to go to a school that made special needs a huge priority, and
made sure I received a comprehensive ed plan. Rural school kids aren't
as lucky.
Learning and Speech Disorders Clinics, which have neurologists work on
kids with learning + speech deficits, are vital for a kid to use.
It can be overcome, as I am writing this from a very prestigious
school as an English major!
In article <259df1e5.03112...@posting.google.com>,
Carol
needing professionals and sophisticated programs. I offer my e-books
as merely a momentary pleasure so that kids with reading disabilities
can feel what it is like to successfully read without struggle. In
other words, to feel the joy of reading, although temporarily, and
perhaps create some motivation and self-esteem. Anyway, that's the
goal I set and I saw it achieved in the delight of a 23-year old who
had had multiple teachers tell his mother that he was "unteachable."
In my other example, the father told me how he was positively jazzed
at his son's response!
Just so you know, I graduated from UCLA although I, too, struggled
with learning to read. Fortunately, my problems must not have been too
severe because I did finally learn to read with the tenacious help of
a loving mother. Furthermore, I learned to love to read and write. I
created "Children's Storybooks Online" in 1996 and its stories, many
of which I wrote, have achieved a certain amount of popularity with
schools, students, parents and teachers. So far the site has had over
4 million visitors.
Remembering the struggle of having to figure out a word, sometimes for
2-3 minutes, I simply thought that the option of clicking a word and
hearing its sound *exactly the moment* you decide you need to hear it,
would be a satisfying and helpful experience. I would certainly never
claim it to be a substitute for professionals and sophisticated
programs. Then again, sadly many people cannot afford professional
programs. --They might afford to buy inexpensive e-books, however,
which can give a temporary joy to individuals who have not had the
positive experience of reading.
I truly believe in these books and would love to create more, however,
time and expense prevents me. (sigh) It looks as though they will be
forever overlooked.
Oh well, at least Leap Frog has got the idea and is going with it big
time!
Carol Moore
Ganishe <utopi...@yahoo-nospam.com> wrote in message news:<utopizen54-81842...@reader1.news.rcn.net>...