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Otago, New Zealand | I can relate to the sort of problems this young guy is facing. I went through similar issues, I couldn't/wouldn't/refused to read, especially out loud, right through primary school, I am now in my late 60s. My mother was a teacher & was at her wits end to get me to read. She even had a mirror on the table to watch my eyes! Some days I would follow the lines, other days danced all around the page. I could read & mainly understand the story but found it difficult to read out load for fear of making a mistake, wrong pronunciation,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, basically shear EMBARRASSMENT !!!!!!!!! I learnt to become very very stubborn & no body could get me to read. I was like this until I left school, now, I can read a book in one sitting & at speed!
My advice is to make sure his confidence is never dented, avoid embarrassment, be very careful that reading is not a chore. Make it FUN. Figure out what topics really interest him & get reading in that topic.
My son who had similar problems with reading as me, had a very clever remedial reading teacher. She figured out that he knew quite a bit about small motors, so she acted dumb about motors & got him to teach her about motors! He had to read to her about them, write her instructions on how to repair etc etc. His confidence soared & reading became a reason for him to impart HIS knowledge.
Protect his confidence, avoid embarrassment, and find an understanding remedial teacher who he likes and who he is happy to be with.
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2nd grader having trouble reading
