this might be a strange question..

[AmyinWI]

but when a child has difficulty with speech (articulation) is it a good idea to hold off on teaching reading?

while M is nearly 6 (but emotionally younger) and delayed in speech, I decided to wait on teaching reading . She does know quite a few of the letter sounds, and can identify the letters as written, but I wasn't sure she'd be able to handle sounding out words.
I'm thining of starting in January with "100 easy lessons". But I'm wondering if I should have started sooner, or wait until she has another semester of speech therapy in? just second guessing myself again!:unsure:

[Alice R]

That is not a strange question. It's a smart one. ;)

Yeah, if a child has some serious articulation issues, reading is going to be a struggle and very frustrating.

For example, sometimes children with articulation issues don't even really hear that /s/ is not /d/. They don't even process the sound difference. The actual /s/ sound might not even be "in their brain" yet because they've been putting /d/ in there for so long. /s/ isn't even on their radar. How can you introduce words like "sat" or "sit" to a child who can only say "dat" or "dit"? You really can't. And my example is just ONE sound. Many children with artic problems have multiple sound errors.

If you feel comfortable taking it easy and waiting for my sounds to come in, why not? 6 is not old and you have time. Why struggle? Why frustrate?

Without seeing your child and from what you posted, it sounds like your mommy suspicions are correct. It will be challenging.

This is also the justification that speech therapists use to get a child articulation theray. I write "poor articulation skills will affect pre-reading and reading skills" under why I'm recommending.

[AmyinWI]

thanks Alice! That's exactly what I was thinking. since M leaves out a lot of sounds, or substitutes them , I wasnt' sure how she could sound out words.

And while M has made some great improvements since last year, her speech artic. is just not where it should be. Interestingly enough, I'm feeling "peer pressure" to start teaching her to read , by fellow homeschool moms. :unsure:

[Chris-AL]

My Noah had 3 years of speech therapy. His speech therapist strongly suggested that I hold off another year before schooling him. She warned that if he got stressed with phonics that his speech would decline. He had moderate articulation probs and stuttering.

[WendyW]

Both my boys have speech articulation issues, and both have been very late readers. When my ds1 was in 3rd grade I had him tested for LD's and THEN the therapist told me there is a HUGE correlation between speech difficulties, and reading troubles.

At this point, based on what you described, I'd do a lot of play-based learning for the sounds, but no pressure on sounding out words.

[AmyinWI]

I took M to the school to meet her new speech therapist (we just moved to a new district) and she asked if M is learning to read yet. I said no, but we are doing some pre-reading activities,etc. She really frowned upon that, then she asked if I was going to put her into kindergarten, which opened up a whole new can of worms, since I said we are planning on homeschooling.
Well a few months ago, WI passed a new law that school is mandatory for 5yo's, so the she reminded me of that and "how behind" M will be next year.. grrr...:sad:

[Alice R]

You already know this, but this is probably not the speech therapist for you. ;)

Why does everyone give their opinion when it's not asked for????

[Cheryl in SoCal]

Have you looked at FIAR's Small Talk? I think that would be a really good fit for both speech and pre-reading. I agree with Alice, I don't think she is the speech therapist for you;)