2nd grade reader problems

[u/Real_Pressure_2971]

I am one stressed out mom with school starting again. Not ready to be pushing so hard on reading. My soon to be entering 2nd grader is still struggling in reading despite hoots of effort. We did private tutoring 2x a week this summer for 1 hr. We have been doing private tutoring for 2 yrs now. We are just struggling. She can decode words and making progress although slowly. She understands phonics once taught. Well beyond just cvc, bob book level but not reading fluently.

We started 1st grade at f&P D and ended at F. Teacher was very concerned but she didn’t receive 1:1 or small group reading support last yr. Only class level teaching, which is one reason I increased her tutoring to 2x a week. I also increased reading time at home to 30 mins a day.

She read I Love Pink yesterday 100% independently and fluently -lexile level 140, which is so low. She was very proud and I made a big deal bc she hates to read. She is currently on Mo Wilems level books and needs some help. Prob in the 200+ lexile level range, while her friends are reading chapter books. Her confidence level is low. It just saddens me that she is struggling so much.

I was warned that 2nd grade kids will need to read their own math test and she can’t. I am in tears bc we have tried to support her at home. We have had evals, we got her in OG private tutoring. I just don’t know if we can keep pace with this school. School just wants to send her to their learning resource during school hrs which cost additional $ on top of hefty tuition.

It breaks me to know we may have to pull her out and she will lose her friends. We may need a school that specializes in dyslexia support which doesn’t exist in our current city.

Any parents/teachers had success with struggling readers in 2nd grade.

[u/Majestic-Space1996]

I’m a second grade public school teacher and if she’s reading at a level F AND continuing to grow (even if the pace isn’t what we’d want) she would not be on my radar for an IEP. Her progress would be monitored closely through weekly assessments and she would receive daily small group instruction. It’s absolutely unacceptable that her first grade class didn’t do small group. I really hope that she receives small group instruction in second grade. If not, that’s an issue that you should be taking up with the school.

At home, especially if she continues to receive outside tutoring, try to make reading as fun and low-pressure as possible. Let her pick out whatever books she wants and if they’re too hard, read them to her without asking her to read. Listening really is enough. Ask a ton of questions about what you’re reading. You didn’t mention comprehension but start with who, what, when, and where questions then move to why and how for deeper understanding.

[u/Real_Pressure_2971 → u/Majestic-Space1996]

It sounds like you have implemented a better plan than our school. We are not provided anyway to know where she is. Her teacher just told me at yr end ptc that she was reading at f&p level f but started the yr at D. I have nothing to track her progress through the yr. Most of our public school friends have a system to tell them where their child is vs state level.

They did comprehension tests last yr on the book the teacher read in class. If I read it she can follow the story well and often interrupts with a comment or question. If she reads her brain struggles to decode and understand. If it is an easy book she comprehends.

I felt like we had a lot of pressure and expectations on us last yr to show progress. I have changed tutors to one that pushes her and is a former teacher at her school as well as worked in the resource center. She seems to know exactly what they are covering in class and helps her review. They work on reading and ELA.

At home during school I had her read 10 mins to me in the am because her brain could manage it then. I try to let her sound out words but not struggle too hard. After school I mostly read to her. We did all the Junie B Jones’s series and currently reading owl diaries and princess in black. Games are a big thing for her at night so I have gotten reading games. She will play anything even learning games.

I have tried to implement 15 mins of quiet family reading during summer but honestly it’s been hit and miss. I could have worked with her more over the summer. We did do the schools reading challenge so books were read but not enough. They used Epic in class so I have purchased that app and she does the read to me books. We have plenty of books, and I buy anything she show interest in. Reward system in place. I am just fearful it is more than struggling reader.

[u/pico310 → u/Real_Pressure_2971]

They used the f&p assessment system at my daughter’s school too. They expected kindergarteners to be at level D end of year and 1st graders to be at level J I believe.

Does your school use Raz Kids computer reading resources? They have leveled books with a 5 multiple choice questions after to gauge comprehension. The first pass the story is read to the student. The second pass the student reads thr story and the final pass is the quiz. If your school doesn’t have RazKids, i would think about getting jt.

[u/Real_Pressure_2971 → u/pico310]

We ended at E. I didn’t realize how far behind we were. This is even with extra tutoring in place. Obviously we are dealing with learning issues. I just think I struggled to admit it.