Help for Your Child

My Child Is Struggling With Reading. Can Learning Through Listening Help?

Don't wait for someone else to identify your child as being a good candidate for using RFB&D. As the parent, YOU may very likely be the first person to recognize how your child could benefit! Here are some questions to get you thinking about whether or not audio textbooks or novels could help your child succeed in school. You may want to talk to a teacher if you answer "yes" to two or more of the following:

Does your child do a better job at digesting information when she hears it as opposed to when she reads it?
Is she able to keep up with class discussions, but struggles with related reading assignments?
Does she become easily exhausted or frustrated with reading assignments?
Do homework assignments involving reading take much longer than you or the teacher expect they should?
Is she uncomfortable reading aloud?
After reading, does she have a hard time summarizing or recalling information?
Does she avoid reading even "fun" books?

Some students find it helpful to listen to RFB&D audio textbooks as they read along with a print copy of the book. An effective strategy for other students is to listen to short passages of text, stopping periodically to look at what they have just heard. The important thing to remember is that a multi-modal technique to reading books is not a "crutch;" in fact many students report that these strategies help them become better readers.

Your child does not need an IEP to use RFB&D's audio textbooks. As soon as you or your school begins exploring effective remediation or intervention strategies for her learning difficulties, you can ask if RFB&D is appropriate. Don't feel shy about having a conversation with a teacher, school psychologist, family physician, or educational therapist about using audio textbooks. Together, you can determine whether or not RFB&D can be used either at home or in the classroom as a supplemental learning tool. Or if you'd like more information before (or instead of) approaching your school, call RFB&D-LA. The support may make the difference between your child falling behind and keeping up in school.

Do you have more questions? Call your local Member Services Coordinator and we can help you through this process.

Los Angeles County - Michael Granger, 323-664-5525 x2 or mgranger@rfbd.org
Inland Empire & Orange County - Alice Way, 909-949-4316 x 107 or away@rfbd.org

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