Fall 2011

A year ago today, we paid the deposit to have our house build begin. It is hard to believe that a year has passed so quickly. So last year, we spent the evening pinching ourselves wondering if we really were settling in Texas! This evening I spent in the school office with the principal, teacher, counselor and a mediator.

For those who still read and have similar issues, I'll post come information that might be helpful. Sophia still isn't reading. I don't worry one bit about her IQ or her "smarts" because she truly is a very bright kid. It is obvious in so many ways. However, she has not been successful learning to read in the manner in which reading is taught at the public school and quite frankly at most private schools.

I have done tons of research, and I believe that she is simply a right brained learner. Besides this research, I have tested my theory. About 7 weeks ago I began to teach Sophia her spelling words using right brained techniques. In all honesty, it takes me about 5 minutes to teach her all 20 words and she retains them well beyond testing. She earns a 100% most weeks and a 90% on rare occasions. THIS tells me she can learn very quickly and successful (hear my sigh of relief). If you are curious as to the technique, leave a comment, and I'll elaborate.

The problem I have is that I am forced to send Sophia into an environment that is counter intuitive for her each and every day. Right brained learners do not decode symbols and put concepts together piece by piece. They see concepts in pictures. They see the whole FIRST and then break it down into parts.

Right brained learners are usually very good at sports, very social, and highly intelligent, BUT they struggle academically when taught by good old fashioned "American" methods. I presented this group of educators with a stack about 2 inches high of right brained teaching techniques and information. You see NONE of the representatives in this meeting were even familiar with hemispheric learning!!!

So, long story short, Sophia will have to go through a 60 day battery of educational testing to determine how to help her learn to read. Of course, I already have this answer, but I don't have the time to teach her myself!!! If I had the extra money lying around, I think I'd send her to a Montessori school. I am sure that it would suit her needs better.

The school cannot change how they teach or test her until this battery of tests is done. So I agreed; signed on the dotted line; and cried quietly on the way home. Am I sad that my daughter is academically challenged? NOOOOOO I am frustrated that it has taken 2 years to get the school to agree to testing and that even now with the proof in her spelling improvement, they "cannot" teach her in a way that she learns. It is just plain sad!!!!

If you're struggling with teaching your child to read, I'd love to hear from you. My biggest worry at this point is that we get this under control before it affects Sophia's self esteem and love for learning. She is very driven and extremely eager to do well. I hope these good traits aren't lost in this uphill journey to getting her what she needs.