Do you ever feel frustrated with your child's schooling? I want to share a little personal story with you. It's how we landed with Reading Kingdom. An online reading program for kids.
Since our daughter was very little we knew there was something different. We didn't know what to do. We started with doctors when she was two. They informed us that there was something going on but they wouldn't be able to diagnose anything until she was of school age. It was going to be a long three years to wait.
We found a preschool program that tested for "at risk" kids. It was a long drive and a shot in the dark but, she was accepted into their program and they found a local preschool that was willing to help. It was nice to hear the raise of the coordinator that our child was tested so early, she had good parents. As a parent, I can't hear that enough.
She was the youngest kid in her class. She was socially developed as a child her age, she was right on target with all of her peers and advanced in some areas. Her dexterity was amazing. She didn't seem like the other kids that were in this program. Then the issues really started to show. My baby couldn't read.
Her ABC's may as well have been circles and stars, it didn't make any sense to her. Letters didn't equal sound at all. We thought there was something wrong with her eyes maybe her ears. At the same time, we had no idea what to think. We were terrified there was something wrong with her brain.
She could talk and communicate well. She had a complete understanding of what verbal communication was. She could express her feelings with no problem. She had a few speech issues but nothing that was too far out of the norm. It didn't help that she lost her hearing briefly when she was 5.
After having her tonsils and adenoids taken out, she could instantly hear again. We were so thankful.
It seemed like the older she got, the more we were able to narrow it down to her reading. We had her eyes checked and she did need corrective lenses. Only to help with reading though, it wasn't a huge correction. It wasn't something that affected her vision completely.
With all of that and all of the specialists, this little girl could still not read or visually identify her letters or numbers. This was one of the most heartbreaking things to deal with. I will never forget the day she came home and said, "Mama, why can't I learn?". It was devastating to us that there was nothing that we could do to help her. Everything we were trying wasn't working and she was trying, she was eager to learn.
When she was 6, we made a cross-country move. When she started school here, she was in first grade. Her new school was not understanding at all of the troubles she had been through treating us like we were overdramatic first timers. On the contrary, we were pro's, she is our 4th kid. But all of this was an adventure that turned into a journey with no known destination in sight.
Our daughter was placed back into a regular kindergarten class. She was a first grader and knew she was a big girl first grader and got sent back to kindergarten instead of being placed in a special reading class. That wasn't so great for her morale but she's a happy kid and adjusted well.
We told her it as a granted wish because she wanted to go back to kindergarten a few times. We didn't tell her our only other option was to put her in with mentally challenged kids. If we placed her into a special needs program here, she would never receive a diploma. She would receive a certificate of completion, that's it. I really felt like we were badgered into agreeing to that decision.
At the end of that school year we moved to a better school district where she is still attending now. Throughout this time we had her at several doctors to see if we could diagnose why she couldn't read. It wasn't laziness. This girl is eager to please everyone. Constantly trying to do new things so the ambition was there. She wanted to learn to read. She wanted to know where we were going without asking. She loves road signs.
There was one point when my sister was conversing with all of the kids talking about homework. My niece was saying she didn't feel like reading that day, or something to that effect. My daughter asked her why. She said she wished for one day, she could read as good as everyone else. That she would read everything. Again, here I am sitting broken-hearted in tears.
Every single doctor said it was a behavior disorder. She was pegged with all kinds of labels. I feel like she was an easy target because to people that didn't know her story, she seemed like she wasn't trying and couldn't concentrate. When in fact she could, she would just try to detour when she was put on the spot because she was nervous and not getting it.
We finally got introduced to a doctor that we were told he didn't believe in medicating kids unless they truly needed it. That he was able to get to the roots of the problems to treat them. We couldn't wait to meet him. All of this was stressful for a little kid. Constantly being asked questions and the same questions by strangers. So just to ease her mind we wanted to have a doctor that let her be the one to talk. This was an amazing moment. She instantly enjoyed her appointments.
He was there for everything going on too. I couldn't believe the turn around in her. Someone to talk to her like a human instead of just family. Someone that actually listened.
When she was 9 we were able to test her again to see where she was on everything. We wanted a diagnosis to see what exactly is going on if it's treatable, and mostly just a name. Something she can name instead of herself for not being able to get it. I was happy and scared. Finally, an answer. But what if it's an answer that only gives us more questions??
It all went well. We got all of the answers we pretty much knew but we had that amazing piece of paper to back us up and not let us be bullied into any more routines. The one shocker, she is dyslexic. All these years of her struggling to learn, we have an answer!! A reason that our kid can't learn the way everything else does. Something to go on so we know what to do next. Or at least a path to take instead of a brick wall to face.
She was able to get accommodations in her classroom to have her work read to her instead of reading alone and she is doing it. Her grades went from D's and F's to A's and B's.
Fast forward a few years and she is a happy regular 5th grader. She still learns a little different but, she's learning. Now that she is increasing at a fast rate, we want to help her along to close the gap. To get her reading and writing more on her own. With everything she has been through, she is still one of the most positive people I know.
So, all of that and here we are. I just made her profile with the Reading Kingdom. It's a reading program tailor-made for the student to get them the boost they need. She's in 5th grade but only reading on a 3rd-grade level. With Reading Kingdom, she is going to get caught up in no time.
It was an easy process to set up. I got to pick the program I wanted her to use and the device I wanted to use it on. There are options for touch screen or a mouse.
Once I had it all set up she was able to go right into her testing. The testing is a great idea, in my opinion. That means that she can start at a level that she can comprehend. It is set at her pace. That is exactly what we are looking for. She has to read every day after school as a part of her homework so this fits right into her schedule. And it's fun!!
Reading Kingdom is an awesome program for kids that need a supplement or a curriculum based program.
You can find them on their website and social media.
I received this product for free to facilitate this review. If you have any questions please feel free to email us directly at [email protected] or [email protected].
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