Reading Troubles

I am feeling so discouraged and defeated right now. Kaitlyn is struggling with reading. Well, she has been all along and it's always just been a lets wait and see how she does kind of thing. She had a reading test this week and is considered substantially deficient.

I wish I knew what was going on in Kaitlyn's head though. She tries so hard. I see it, her teacher sees it, her reading teacher sees it. So why can't she get this? How does she feel about this? I know she's gotta be feeling discouraged. She gets so frustrated when she can't read a word. I don't know what more I can do for her.

Her teacher is actually concerned that there is something more going on with her. The problem is they usually don't test in 1st grade because they want to give them time to develop more. So we're looking at the possibility of retention. I don't want her to stay back. Reading is all she's struggling in. She does well in math. So what if she does stay back and is doing all of the same stuff over again? What if she gets board and starts acting out? Then there's her age. Her birthday is in April. She's one of the older ones in her grade. How is that going to feel to be over a year older than a good portion of the other children in her class? She's been in school with most of these children in her own grade since preschool. So how is that going to feel to see them all moving on while she stays behind?

I don't want her to hate reading. I just don't know if this is what's best for her. I want them to test her for something. She can read high frequency words one day, but then the next she can't read those same words. I really want testing done. I really worry about her. I wish I could get into her head and figure out what's going on in there. Please don't let my little girl have to stay back a year!