‘Last mile kids’ must be allowed to finish the race

Feb. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Dear Dr. Fournier:

My son is a fourth grader who has done well in school until now. The past week I was called for a parent conference and, when I arrived I was shocked to learn that my son was having serious problems and they felt he should be tested for Attention Deficit Disorder. I was told he is not following instructions. I was barely able to speak and couldn’t continue with the meeting.

Since then, I have gone to his class to observe, and have spoken with his teacher. He does take longer than the other children to finish his work, but I saw him trying. I’ve had him read to me at home, and when he knows a word, he reads it quickly. When he comes across a word he doesn’t know, he guesses.

At school, the teacher says he is not following instructions, but at home he can’t read many of the words. What is going on?

Lila L.
Lexington, KY

Dear Lila,

ASSESSMENT:

As astounded as you are, I feel like I have already met your child. I see so many just like him in my practice – children that I call my “Last Mile Kids.”

If you view reading as a journey that is ten miles long, then to complete the journey –to say that you can read and demonstrate mastery – you must travel the full ten miles. Unfortunately, I continue to see students who have traveled nine miles, but the teacher moved on before the child could travel the last mile.  Perhaps the child missed a few days due to illness.  Perhaps their pace of learning is a bit slower, due to developmental readiness.  Whatever the case, if the last of the distance is left unraveled, the gap it will leave in a child’s learning will not enable them to build a strong set of basic skills, and the effects will accumulate over time.
 
These children may be able to deceive their teacher because they have learned so many words by sight, without using phonics or context clues to figure them out. However, just because a child has learned words by sight does not mean he knows what to do with the words that he does not know.

Without that last mile of teaching, these children are inconsistent. They can do well if the skills they have, along with their own logic, can help them read correctly. But, as you have already assessed with your son, how can a child follow written directions if he does not understand critical words in those directions?

It is not as if there is something “wrong” with the child’s ability to learn. But by the time these “Last Mile Kids” come to me, they have convinced themselves that they can’t read. They call themselves failures or describe themselves as “disabled.”

To make matters worse, many fourth grade curriculums may grade children on reading, but what they are actually teaching is reading comprehension, vocabulary, correct word usage, parts of speech, inferences, main ideas, and more. As schools demand more and more, then children are expected to learn how to sound out new words by the end of the third grade, if not sooner.

For many children, that simply does not allow the time to travel that last mile.

WHAT TO DO:

To determine if you have a Last Mile Kid, listen to your son read and search for the signs.

He reads certain words quickly, but then gets stuck. He tries sounding out the word, but the sounds do not blend into anything that makes sense.

He guesses at words he does not know. At times, guessing will work because your child is using logic to make sense of the sentence. But at other times, your child will guess a word that is similar to the one in question, but a word with a very different meaning.

Based on your description of the way your child reads, he seems to be anticipating so he can substitute a word that he knows for one that is unfamiliar. Even if the meaning and context seem right, he is using his own words, not the words that the author wrote.

He reads a word with your help and then, two lines below, can’t read it on his own again. He thinks it is a word he’s never seen before.

To assess your child’s reading ability, have him read a variety of materials, not just stories at his grade level. Take the graded papers from school – especially the ones with low grades – and have your child read the worksheets. Often, students can read stories yet have trouble with worksheets that use much more complex vocabulary.

Remember to stay positive during this reading assessment. Do not resort to words such as “lazy,” “unmotivated,” or “learning disabled.” Last Mile Kids have come a long way; they just need a little extra help in reaching their destination.

If you believe your child needs to travel that last mile, make an appointment to talk to the teacher and other school professionals. Collaborate to pinpoint what is missing for your child and then ask the school to develop a plan to teach what needs to be learned.

CONTACT DR. FOURNIER

Have a question about education, education-related issues or your child’s schoolwork or homework? Ask Dr. Fournier and look for her answer in this column. E-mail your question or comment to Dr. Yvonne Fournier at drfournier@hfhw.net.

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For 30 years, Dr. Yvonne Fournier has been helping children become more successful in school. Her column, "Hassle-Free Homework," was published by Scripps Howard News Service for 20 years. She holds her doctorate in education.