Dear Allan, Thank you for your reply. I am sure that he has a learning disability, but I cannot do anything about it. The boy's parents don't have money nor the awareness to the problem. I have my assumptions as to the reasons the boy functions academically the way he does (by the way, the problem is not only in English), but again, there is nothing I can do about it. I am not looking for a book for him to read, I am looking for a textbook that I can work with him on (he barely reads in Hebrew, so I don't suppose he would bother to read in English). If you are a teacher for these grades, do you know the answers to the questions I asked about the vocabulary and the grammar? Hadas --- On Fri, 7/4/08, allan hirshey <rigoletto8@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: allan hirshey <rigoletto8@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [etni] To elementary school teachers and tutors To: hadassiyo@xxxxxxxxx Date: Friday, July 4, 2008, 2:24 AM A few comments - have you checked out why he's easily discouraged; are you sure there's no evidence of a learning disability; why not let him decide what book he wants to read? Does he feel like his parents are "arm twisting " him to get tutored? Do you feel that your rapport with him is satisfactory? After objectively answering the above questions, maybe there's more than just tutoring to be considered. My last question - what do you charge (say high & low range) for age 16 & below students and also age 16+? Hope this helps. Allan Hirshey --- On Thu, 7/3/08, Hadas Y <hadassiyo@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: Hadas Y <hadassiyo@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [etni] To elementary school teachers and tutors To: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Thursday, July 3, 2008, 12:50 PM Dear ETNIers, I am a private tutor in English. I have a student who is very weak in English. I am currently working with him mainly through "Ready, Steady, Read", "Apples and Zebras" and "Mr. A" (I am not a fan of "Mr. A" but I am trying to make the best of it since the school had asked him to purchase the book). I want my student to be ready for the fifth grade. I would appreciate your advise on the following: 1. What is the vocabulary expected from 5th graders at the beginning of the year? 2. Which book would be advisable for use in the course of private lessons after "Ready, Steady, Read" in order to continue to reinforce and develop the reading and the reading comprehension? 3. I like to work with the book series "We Love Grammar" (by Orly Weiner and Judy Shmilovitch). I have looked at several book lists for next year, and I noticed that most of the schools chose for grammar for the fifth grade the book "Grammar Helper 1" by Batya Elazar and Ronit Broder. Which of the two books do you prefer? (Other suggestions would also be welcome). 4.At what point of time is it advisable to begin working with my student on listening comprehension and writing (paragraphs, compositions, etc.) I would like to point out that this student was a total non-reader before I had begun working with him, he discourages easily and needs constant encouragement. Thus, while I wish to bring him to the point of 5th grade (and more), I also believe it is more important not to discourage him with tasks that will be too hard for him. Your advice would be appreciated, With thanks, Hadas