Zach's Frustration

Zach is struggling to learn how to read. He's one of the youngest in his class. Developmentally, he's actually not that far behind where he should be. But the frustration makes me want to cry. He's struggling like I did. Just in a different way.

The classroom books are in letters. He's on letter C. Most of his class is on higher level books. He notices. Sometimes he doesn't even want to try because he feels he'll never catch up. Other times, he works hard to get it right. He's memorized some words, but sometimes has trouble sounding out words.

His teacher is excellent with encouraging him. The town recommend he try this tutoring program for ten weeks. In June they tested at-risk kids and thought this would benefit him. Only 8 kids per time slot got in. The first 8 with the paperwork submitted. I delivered it to the Board of Ed office on the day it was in the mailbox.

Select teachers in town got into a special class run through a NJ college on the Orton-Gillingham method for phonics and spelling. This tutoring is part of that class. His classroom teacher was one of them. His tutor is a different teacher in town though. His classroom teacher was very happy to hear he is in this program. She strongly feels that this will make a difference for him. He's also been tested by a Reading Specialist at school. It's likely he'll need her. But not confirmed yet. We both feel this will help him too.

He's a stubborn kid. He wants to be able to do everything. He has days where he's unwilling to do things he struggles with. Because he doesn't think he'll succeed at them with practice. Other days, he works hard to figure things out.

I do what I can to help and comfort him. But he needs to figure these things out. He needs to learn how to deal with not knowing how to do some things and disappointment. It's painful to watch. But it's a necessary life skill.

It's good to catch the reading trouble now. Reading is so much a part of every subject starting in the third grade. It will effect his overall school success if he continues to be behind in reading. All I ever ask from him is that he try his best. Sometimes, he tries so hard he throws the book down on the bed and cries. But Mommy is here to hold him.

Last week, he was crying and kept trying to run away from the school the tutoring class was held at. It was the first day. Today is the second class. He's mad at me for making him take the class now. When he's older, he'll thank me for it. But for now, it's a frustrating struggle he needs to work through. It's painful to watch when it's just too much and/or too hard for him.