Language Arts

I recently came across a program entitled A Reading Program for Overcoming Dyslexia by Cheryl Orlassino. My eight year old falls under the generic term of dyslexia. We've been struggling the last two and half years with reading. We have not completed the book yet as I only ordered it a month ago. So far so good---he does not clam up and cry every time we start our reading/phonics lesson and is beginning to decode on his own without just memorizing the words. In fact, he's writing words from his lessons all over his art work. (My son is an avid little "illustrator".)

The book contains 55 well laid out lessons (you know, open the book and teach without prior preparation). I have found that the first two lessons can be done in one sitting but from lesson three on dividing the lessons into two sessions seems less overwhelming. The difference between this program and others we've tried unsuccessfully is the following:

1. Consistent repetition
2. Giving the reluctant reader more consonant/vowel blends to practice---not just the basic phonograms
3. Taking the consonant/vowel blends and presenting them in different orders so the brain can learn and reinforce the visual input
4. A nice balance between oral and written drills and dictation.
5. Teaches and drills high frequency words

This is not a beginning reading program. The author notes that a student needs to know the alphabet, basic sounds, and how to write before beginning her "reading boot camp". Consistency and repetition are the key to this program. Hence, it is a big lesson in self-discipline for both student and parent. It is imperative to drill from the lessons and read to the child everyday--- as in seven days a week.

The book cost about $28--$30. It is spiral bound softcover and printed in black & white.

For more information: www.yourkidcanread.com
Reviewed by: Christine Hamel

Available from: www.yourkidcanread.com

Christine Hamel is a Catholic homeschooling mom of 4.

These little saint stories, beautifully illustrated by Augusta Curelli, are very appealing to children because of the nice hardcover format and the full-color pictures on each page. The moderate amount of text (about 4-10 lines per page) makes it fairly accessible to beginning or reluctant readers. We found this series to be an excellent help to our eight year old son who was struggling with reading. I was delighted at how much he enjoyed reading about the saints and he didn't even mind reading about the girl saints. :) The sewn binding (so unusual even in hardcover books nowadays) make the books very sturdy for heavy family use. Children may need help reading the names of people and places.

Individual Titles:

• Saint Angela Merici: Leading People to God by Sr. Maryellen Keefe, OSU
• Saint Anthony of Padua: Proclaimer of the Good News by Marie Baudouin-Croix
• Saint Catherine Laboure: Mary's Messenger by Sister Marie-Genevieve Roux and Sister Elisabeth Charpy
• Sister Colette: In the Footsteps of Saint Francis and Saint Clare by the Poor Clares of Poligny and Sister Elisabeth
• Saint Francis of Assisi: God's Gentle Knight by Francoise Vintrou
• Saint Therese of Lisieux and the "Little Way" of Love
• Saint Vincent de Paul: Servant of Charity by Sister Catherine Ethievant

Continuation of family stories from Primer. Twenty-three chapters like "What Father Kelly Told", "The Snowman", and "A Prayer". Also has black and white pictures.

The Third Grade reader includes a total of fifty-two selections which are somewhat coordinated with the seasons of the year. The selections include poetry (about God, country, nature, etc.) and a variety of stories that are both appealing and inspiring - saint stories, fairy tales (with very obvious morals), biographies, stories that teach something about the world around us and others relating examples of devotion and heroism, such as the well-known tale of the little Dutch boy ("The Hero of Haarlem"). A few of the stories are a little "dated", such as the story entitled, Jamie Watt and his Grandmother's Tea Kettle" which treats the concept of steam engines in a rather contemporary fashion. Rather than being problematic, I see this perspective as informative and educational. (Another learning opportunity). The stories are surprisingly "multicultural" (in a good way) for their day; you'll find several very nice stories (and even a poem) involving American Indians and one story about a little boy from China.