Helping to improve someones verbal and reading abilities

[Brackis]

I tutor a kid in a rough area of town twice a week, and recently he got his PSAT results back, only to score in the 7th percentile for Critical reasoning, and about the 14th for Writing. On the other hand he was in the 70th for math.

Anyone either overcome a struggle with reading and writing or helped someone with this issue? He certainly has some traits of dyslexia, but no testing or accommodations have been made for him, he does not struggle with attention. Anyone have anything in particular other than "finesse tutoring" (using my general experience and overall high IQ to explain concepts and keep on him to do his work)
Thank you

 

[Queasy]

Sylvan Learning Centers?

 

[Brackis]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Sylvan Learning Centers?

This kid cannot afford such things, heck, his family just got its first computer for Christmas. I am working with him as a tutor but my good intentions and general intelligence do not necessarily translate into effect tutoring methods.

 

[Yossarian]

first, you are a very good person for helping out a kid like that. second, you should have him tested for dyslexia and other learning disorders. if he is affected by one, you probably don't have the training to help him but could at least steer him to someone that does.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
first, you are a very good person for helping out a kid like that. second, you should have him tested for dyslexia and other learning disorders. if he is affected by one, you probably don't have the training to help him but could at least steer him to someone that does.

Exactly. Treating either of those conditions is almost impossible without special training, but once he gets identified, he should be ellagible for some state sponsored help.

 

[Brackis]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: Yossarian
first, you are a very good person for helping out a kid like that. second, you should have him tested for dyslexia and other learning disorders. if he is affected by one, you probably don't have the training to help him but could at least steer him to someone that does.

Exactly. Treating either of those conditions is almost impossible without special training, but once he gets identified, he should be ellagible for some state sponsored help.

Interesting.
I do consider myself a pretty experienced tutor, working with a lot of middle school and early HS aged kids over the past year or two. The issue is also that he attends a private college preperatory school in a poor area, which makes his access to public LD classes unlikely and the resources at his school minimal. My hope is that I can find a way for him to be tested at no cost to his mother and allow him to get more time on tests and on the SATs.