I’m looking for a program for my 12-year-old who is going into the 7th grade. His reading is not up to par, his study skills are not real good, not sure if he is retaining what he reads. He needs some organizing skills. Is there a program that can help me? I’m very desperate!

Phonics programs are designed to teach young children how to read phonetically, so this might not be a good fit for your boy right now. There are two suggestions I can think of that might be of help to you. First of all, you need to visit with his school counselor, privately where you can voice all of your concerns without making your son feel embarrassed or ashamed of his abilities. You need to visit with any resource teachers that the counselor puts your child into. Working together with all these people to help formulate an educational plan for your son is extremely important. Just sending him to school isn’t going to help. You’ve done that for several years, and he is slipping between the cracks. You’ve got to ensure that someone besides you is tracking his progress, monitoring his successes and failures and doing something about it. More of the same thing isn’t going to help. A different approach is needed and you’re going to need professional educational help. Sit down and visit with them until you are satisfied that they understand the problem and are going to do something about it. Then keep at it. Visit with them monthly, weekly, daily if necessary to ensure that there is follow through and support.

Secondly, a visit to your local library to inquire about their adult literacy programs might be in order. Many adult literacy programs offer special help for young adults and it is always confidential and away from the prying eyes of their school peers. This might give him the off sight help he needs in a non-pressure school setting. Having success somewhere other than school will most likely cross over to his schoolwork. Good luck to you and bless you in your efforts to help your son.