A Summer Full of Reading

Luke gets to attend a reading intervention class this summer, just before school starts up in the fall. I feel bad for him. At this point he is a full year behind in reading. He was fine at the first conference, a little behind at the second conference, and when I talked with his teacher last week she said he is now a full year behind. It seems like excessive regression. Why? How can a child regress so fast when he is at school working with the teacher and a parent volunteer, who specifically works on reading and comprehension? Why?

I know what the problem is. I do. It's the written part, which has to do with comprehension. It's also retaining the information in order to answer comprehension questions. When he is able to verbalize his comprehension is fine. It's when he has to put those thoughts in writing. He struggles with writing. He can't make his brain tell his hand what to write. There is a huge jump from second grad to third grade on how they answer comprehension questions. They can't give one word answers, it has to be a complete sentence, a complete thought. This is tough for him. I feel awful. I feel sad for him. I want to help, I want him to succeed and not struggle, I want him to learn powerful, helpful strategies. I just don't know how to give him the strategies to get through it.

Speaking of reading, do any of you brilliant minds know of a series that would hold a 9 year old's interest? I have not been successful in finding an acceptable series for him. Nothing I throw at him captures his attention, his interest, his mind. I am willing to try anything at this point. I know it is important to enjoy what you read, it makes you want to keep reading.