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My son is 9. He will be 10 in April of this year. He has never attended school and has 3 younger sisters that have also never attended school. When he was 4 a counselor told us that he had Asperger's. My concern lies with his reading. He can read some words and says that he wants to read, but gets upset and frustrated when trying and just says" I can't read, the words are too long" Then he shuts down.
I realized early on that typical "teaching methods" were not for him and that is what brought me to seek out unschooling. I read stories to him and assist with reading things when he is playing video games or any other time he asks. My main question is...is there time when I should worry that he hasn't cracked the code yet. I am at a loss of what to do to help him further. His 7 yr old sister started reading at 4 and is an avid reader, and he doesn't understand why he is not. I try to explain to him that everyone does things in their own time but that has not helped him.
How can I help him?

Stephanie

Sandra Dodd

-=-is there time when I should worry that he hasn't cracked the code yet.-=-

Certainly not at nine.
It might take longer than it would have if he hadn't been told there was something wrong with him, and if he hadn't already had reading lessons to make him confused and afraid.

There are accounts here, though, that might help you relax:

http://sandradodd.com/r/encouragement

http://sandradodd.com/r/hollydodd

http://sandradodd.com/r/carol
This is the account of the latest reader documented on the site. I've known this family since my oldest child was four months old. Carol was one of my first La Leche League leaders. Her son, Liam, was a marine in Afghanistan and is home safely (in case as you read you wonder what became of him; we still don't know the longterm, but at nearly 30, he seems good).

Sandra

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