Deciding what level/grade my son with a learning disability is in?

Question

My son is fourteen and in the process of being diagnosed with NVLD/ADD inatententive. He is homeschooled and we cannot go through the public school system (they said unless he enrolls they don't have to do anything) He ranges in grades.

Anyways, my question is, how do I tell what grades he should be in. School for him is a struggle and I don't want it to be too hard and he get frustrated or too easy and he get bored.

TY

Answer 1

I would look into your state's education regulations.  Chances are the school district is *required* to test and ID him.

How long have you HS'ed him?

There is no worry about grade levels with HS'ing.  Just place him where hit fits into the scope & sequence of the curriculum(a) you're using.

You can do placement testing for most curricula.  Most are free, but some, like Alpha-Omega, do have a minor cost.  They will let you know where he falls, but you as the teaching-parent will have to decide where his disability may have tripped him up and decide placement as a combination of the two.

You could see about him taking a standardized test with accomodative support.  However, that's still not going to show what grade level he "should be in".

If he "ranges in grades", then keep him at the various levels.  My 10 y.o. son has classes from 5th grade to college.  We don't worry about grade levels as they just aren't important when HS'ing.

Answer 2

I would choose a "grade" based his age.  For example, if most kids his age are in 3rd grade, then I'd consider that his grade.

Now that has nothing to do with the level of materials you use to teach him.  For that, I would take placement tests associated with different curriculum and see which grade or program level to buy.  He may be on different levels depending on the subject, and that is perfectly fine.

I think it's really important for you to find out his learning style and choose a program that fits.  Here's some information that may help:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Some great resources for special needs homeschoolers are:

http://www.chadd.org

http://www.nathhan.org

Good  luck!

Answer 3

In order to accurately determine which grade level he is working on, you should get a diagnostic test done. Slyvan Learning Center offers them. Also, you can check with other educational facilities. It will cost but it is worth it. They normally test the students in reading, writing, and math. After the diagnostic test is done, the director will go over your son's results and you can then order learning materials to fit his levels in each subject.

Answer 4

I'm gonna go with Jazzy on this one. Anytime you have a child with differences like that, go by age based (so he'd be 9th grade)

My son has NVLD and aspergers, and is 13, so we count him as 8th grade. In some things he's much much higher, and in others he's a little lower. But the whole point of homeschooling is working on their level, rather than forcing them to follow along on an artificial scale created for administrative convenience.

Trust me, public school was much harder, and the help you'd get not really worth the trouble. Speaking of struggles and frustration!

Answer 5

I would definitely recommend that you get him diagnostic testing. You can either go to a center, like Sylvan or you can administer one at home. I use the testing services offered by Family Learning Organization. It cost me $35 for a complete battery, including science and history.

http://www.familylearning.org