I said he could do his reading response on the computer. He has his digital recorder hooked up to the computer headset so he doesn't have to hold the recorder. He is reading into the headset at the computer. Every once and awhile he is writing something for his reading response. I'm flabbergasted, at the difference, and happy.

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My son is now 12 and we have been over and over this issue. The good thing is he loves to play video games and can now earn video game time for reading one book a week. When he flat out refuses I take away all his video game time for the next day. It works wonders and we no longer battle .. behavior consequence.

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Hi, my 12 year old also hates to read. Curiously, he LOVES to be read to. While it isn't easy to get him to agree to it (the embarrassment factor) IF I do start the process, he loves it. He loves the stories. I've always read to my children and the girls made the transition very effectively. For them, reading is freedom. For my son, it is torture. I think the difference is in what you pointed out - he has trouble remembering what he has read and it is too difficult to do. THis is part of my son's Learning Disability. Graphic novels - the Bones series, that worked when he was 10. So do books like Guiness Book of World Records. From there we progressed to other Fact books on topics he enjoys. What I've stopped doing is arguing (as much) because I really don't want to damage the relationship we have. We model reading - and talk about enjoying our books, at the dinner table. I'm still quite bothered by the issue, but I think it is more fair to acknowledge how difficult and exhausting the process is for him. He has gone to Tutoring sessions for three years now and they have worked to improve his reading skills, so that he HAS learned to read more fluently and with more comprehension over time. Their process was incremental and began not where he should be, but where he was at. (3 grades below) He now reads at a grade 8 level (he's in grade 7) He still doesn't read for pleasure, but he is gaining the skills to succeed in school. By the way, I would definitely tell the teacher that the book report is not appropriate for your son, and that you would like her to help you by rewarding much smaller first steps. She is only contributing to his hatred and reluctance by insisting on something he is uncomfortable doing. No child likes failure - so to choose such an outrageous reaction means he's willing to accept a lot of pain to avoid the greater humiliation of demonstrating his incompetence.

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He doesn't have to do book reports. He has to read chapters, and do a reading response where he relates, reflects, and retells. I am going to take the advice and tell the teacher that the reading responses are a bit too difficult at this point and ask him to do his reading responses on a few pages verses the ten usual pages. His reading comprehension is just not there where he can do a reading response from ten pages.

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Our 8 year old also gives much resistance to reading... I think he can do it, but getting him to is like pulling teeth. We also wonder if there could be some kind of reading disability that is hindering him. I think on some level he knows he is having trouble or not reading like he should. My concern is that his 5 1/2 y/o brother without ADHD is on the verge of surpassing him in reading ability, and we arent quite sure how to handle that, as it could cause additional self-esteem issues.

The video game reward is a good idea, something I think we will try... Perhaps a reward of listening to music (which my son loves) or something else would also work...

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I too hated reading while in school, and still today if it's material I'm just not into. I recently graduated from college after 9 years. What got me through? First, the summary books (Spark Notes, etc) are a significant help as he will be able to focus in on the main ideas. Also, make reading a game for him. Suggest he try setting a goal for himself to read 2 pages in one sitting and then allow him to get up and get a drink or something. It's honestly all about the challenge. I remember many days I had to find a certain time I could focus on reading. It was usually on the bus or times when there was nothing else I wanted to do. I also realized that once I stopped trying to summarize or review after every paragragh and just read straight through, I comprehended an retained a lot more. People with ADD/ADHD tend to try and learn like everyone else but the truth is, we don't. We have to be creative. Finally, don't put so much emphasis on testing what he remembers. With the Spark Notes, he will be able to refresh hisemory before a test or quiz. I truly believe he will have the same boost of confidence when he gets an A on his quiz or exam. He knows more than he realizes and just needs the pressure taken off and a boost in his confidence with positive results.

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