MSU Psychoeducational Re-test prove Incredible Gains!!

KC gained  up to 2.5 grade levels in only 23 Hours of Reading Instruction- his progress is documented through Michigan State University's Psychology Department- They re-evaluated his Reading (In December)to provide specific, data-based feedback for me to learn from..

Isn't his progress thus far amazing?  Unfortunately, K.C.'s vision deficits will impede faster "Reading Fluency, Pseudoword Decoding &  Word Reading Scores  (Because speed and timing are factors in the score)- but his diligence, attitude and success so far is tremendous!

FOLLOW-UP READING ASSESSMENT

RESULTS SUMMARY SHEET

MSU Psychological Clinic

Client: KM

Clinician: Katherine Thomas, M.A.

Supervisor: Tim Goth-Owens, Ph.D.

Assessment Date: 12/18/13

Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, 3^rd Edition (WIAT-III) 

* What are Early Reading Skills? They are the skills necessary to build reading; Segment Words, Blend    Sounds, Word      Rhyming, Sight Words. With these achievement scores, I expect his Reading Abilities to take off!

* Untimed- K.C's Pseudoword Decoding Skills and Word Reading Abilities are much higher.

COMPOSITE	BASELINE 8/29/13		FOLLOW-UP 12/18/13
Subtest	%-ile	Grade Equiv.	%-ile	Grade Equiv.
Early Reading Skills	10th	K.6	68th	3.2
Reading Comprehension	23rd	1.3	55th	2.3
Word Reading	8th	K	23rd	1.5
Pseudoword Decoding	14th	K	23rd	1.4
Oral Reading Fluency	3rd	< 1.0	14th	1.2

Amy Maida
Reading Specialist
FOCUS! Academics
(248) 789-4049

Visual Problems Documented

In addition to Dyslexia, Kevin also has severe visual problems that affect his academic performance- His Pediatric Optometrist Provided the following diagnoses:

1. Anisometropia (difference in prescription) -Right Eye =20/20 Left Eye =20/400~!
2. Amblyopia Left eye (reduced vision, not improved with glasses)
3. Hyperopia (Farsighted) 
4. Oculomotor Dysfunction (tracking difficulty) 
5. Convergence Insufficiency (eye-teaming difficulty) 
6. Accommodative Dysfuntion (focusing difficulty)

Erica Johnson Carder, O.D., MS, FAAO

Bennett Optometry- Ann Arbor MI

87 Words Per Minute!

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."   
Thomas Edison

Our Goals & Progress: Dated November 25th 2013

After 25 Hours of One-on- One Instruction-

1. K.C can now read 150/150 Most Frequent Sight Words...(Began with 54 on Oct.2)
2. K.C read 87 Words Per minute of a Grade 2.1 Text!- (Began with 19 words/minute on Oct.2)
3. K.C can read and identify all letter sounds, diphthongs, vowel teams & front of the board suffixes with 100% accuracy... (Began with not even knowing letter sounds on Oct. 2)
4. K.C. can also read 90% of "back of the board suffixes.(Knew none on Oct.2) (which I understand, doesn't mean much to most of my Blog readers- but to me this is a HUGE feat.)

My main focus and goal for this intervention is getting K.C. to READ at Grade Level- I am thrilled to say that he is meeting and exceeding his READING goals!

Always bring your own sunshine :)

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather,always bring your own sunshine." ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

...My Sunshine...(I couldn't resist)

 "Mommy, does Jack get to read with you during the day like I do?" K.C. asked me, wondering if his brother gets the same attention.

"No." I replied

"Is it because he isn't Diff-leckick?" K.C. asked.

"Yep." I said.

"Well then... It's a good thing at I am Diff-leckick. Thanks Mommy for teaching me how to read." He said as he exited my car.

"It's not because of me Buddy, It's all you.."..I replied, as I teared up, kissed the little freckles on his nose and sent him back into school..

I'm utterly amazed at the lessons I've learned from this child.

DRA Level 3 to DRA Level 14! (In only 18 Hours)

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude."  ~Scott Hamilton

I need to skip over the last month of intervention and cut to the chase with the progress K.C. has made. I'm way too excited to hold back!

October 2:

Pre-Primer (Kindergarten) Level Text:  32 Words Per Minute   
DRA Level 3

November 15: 

1.5 Grade Level Text:  74 Words Per Minute 
DRA Level 14

What have we done to raise his level of reading over one whole grade level? (While increasing Reading Fluency almost 60%)

1. K.C. has worked 18 total hours (One hour at a time) with me as his Instructor in the morning hours. 
2. He has also worked with me-(as his mother) for 30 minutes to an hour in the evening. (By this I mean he has to do homework from me as the instructor :)
3. He's diligent, He never gives up. I'm simply amazed at his desire to learn to read. 
4. When we're done with his homework he wants to read more. It's like the more he reads...the more he wants to read.!

Off to see our Pediatric Optometrist...

October 14, 2013

"Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth."

--Helen Caldicott, author and peace activist

VISION UPDATE:
K.C. has a huge issue with his vision. He has like a +2.5 prescription in his left eye, and needs no prescription in his right eye- bring on the extra wall to break down while figuring out how to read.

BUT KNOW THIS:  K.C. passed all prior vision screenings at school, and passed a normal basic optometry exam.

BOTTOM LINE: Don't waste your time with a routine eye exam. Have your child examined by a Pediatric/Developmental Optometrist . (This is the link to Doctor Carder in Ann Arbor)

Uphill journey began with a SMILE!

October 8, 2013

When Thomas Edison was six years old his teacher sent the following note – “He is too stupid to learn.”

I've been trained in almost every reading program under the sun. Orton Gillingham, Lindamood Bell, Wilson and F.A.S.T.....etc. FAST offers the best bang for your buck. In that I mean, Kids see IMMEDIATE SUCCESS.

My son and I began at STEP 1 of FAST- to learn correct sounds of letters, build tracking skills and start reading!

On Day Four, K.C. read 70 words per minute in a reading fluency (speed) drill.*

After I counted the number of words he read, K.C. looked at me, gave me a toothy grin, stared for a moment, and said, "Can I do it again ?"  
"Of course...!" I replied. And our uphill journey began....with a smile!


My thoughts on FAST, just in case you are curious!
I've had friends say to me, "Oh, well my son was tutored in FAST and it didn't work."

My response, "If your child had FAST instruction, delivered by a competent instructor, they'd be reading."

On another note, I do believe that "if you love your job, you'll never work another day in your life." 
I love what I do. I give people the gift of literacy....so maaaaaayyyybe it IS more than just training in FAST???

“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” -Thomas Edison

*This rate was a .6 GLE, and also was after his 3rd timed read-NOT a Cold Read)