Help too much pressure at school for my son?

Question

I have been dealing my sons "extra help" teacher for 1 year, he has not had a formal assessment, but is on the waiting list through the school and they say that next year he will come up(grade 6 by then) I suspect he has dyscalculia, I myself was diagnosed at 24, My problem is he does his math in the morning in regular class and then more math in the afternoon (they want him in thewre 5 days per week)in his extra help class, then more math with his homwork, he is now failing the classes that he is good in social studies science reading and writing, and they are making hime do grade 3 math they started it all las year by putting him back to the begining and "tying and see if that works" well it did not I allowed it for last year, and the only difference was that he was getting bad grades in the other classes and he now has anxsity and poor self esteam, I know he needs help but if they do not know what the problem is conclusivly then how can they teach him.

Answer 1

In order for him to get a 'formal assesment', you have to write a letter to the district special ed director requeting 'a full initial educational evaluation, testing in all areas of suspected disabilities, as specified  by IDEA law, to determine if my child can qualify for special education services'.

You HAVE to use these exact words. This way, if they ignore or refuse, you can take further legal action. Schools will NOT tell parents there is a specific legal process in getting child help thru special ed.

THey did not tell you to write this letter. They also did not tell you that when you do write this letter they will have 60 days to do the evals and determine eligibiltiy.

Answer 2

Sounds like to me you are getting the run around.  Sounds like they are trying to avoid getting him assessed. If he had an assessment and he was diagnosed with dyscalculia he would fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and would have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The IEP creates an opportunity for teachers, parents, school administrators, related services personnel, and students (when appropriate) to work together to improve educational results for children with disabilities. To create an effective IEP, parents, teachers, other school staff--and often the student--must come together to look closely at the student's unique needs. These individuals pool knowledge, experience and commitment to design an educational program that will help the student be involved in, and progress in, the general curriculum. The IEP guides the delivery of special education supports and services for the student with a disability.

You have the final say in the child's IEP, they cannot implement the IEP unless you sign it; and you must by law be included in the writing of his IEP. They will not be allowed do like they did by making him take 3rd grade math unless you approve. That don't mean he'll go to special ed classes because under IDEA  they do Least Restrictive Enviroment. The law begins with the assumption that, to the maximum extent possible, children with disabilities should be educated with their non-disabled peers. Once the child's needs are assessed and necessary services and supports are determined, the placement options should begin with the regular or inclusive classroom. Children with disabilities do not have to start in a more restrictive or separate class and then "earn" the right to move to a less restrictive placement. If it is found that a regular education classroom would not meet the child's needs, even with support services, then another option may be pursued. Keep in mind that the child with a disability must benefit from the placement. The child should not be "dumped" in a classroom where the child is not receiving an appropriate education.

The law specifies that educational placement should be determined individually for each child, based on that child's specific needs, not solely on the diagnosis or category. No one program or amount of services is appropriate for all children with disabilities.

"Child Find." The state must identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities in the state who need special education and related services. To do so, states conduct "Child Find" activities. A child may be identified by "Child Find," and parents may be asked if the "Child Find" system can evaluate their child. Parents can also call the "Child Find" system and ask that their child be evaluated. Or —

Referral or request for evaluation. A school professional may ask that a child be evaluated to see if he or she has a disability. Parents may also contact the child's teacher or other school professional to ask that their child be evaluated. This request may be verbal or in writing. Parental consent is needed before the child may be evaluated. Evaluation needs to be completed within a reasonable time after the parent gives consent.

I would demand that they give him an assessment ASAP. If they don't I would go directly to the schoolboard. Don't sound like they have assessed him in a reasonable amount of time. I

Answer 3

I deal with 3rd grade math students who are technically 6th, 7th or 8th graders so I understand what you are saying.

Is he on an IEP yet at all or is the assessment only for dyscalculia?

I used to try and "go back" to fill in the gaps as you describe but with certain learners, you would be there until they were ninety!

What I have done in the last few years, in effort to keep the kids mainstreamed, is to modify the work. Past about 11 or 12 yrs old it is time to think about bringing higher thinking skills down to his level rather than always developing skills. By this I mean using calculators to aide with the calculation so that the process is taught w/o the added strain of memorizing facts.

You don't really say what skills he is lacking but it sounds like he could handle the grade level logic and thinking problems too. A clever SPED teacher should be making these modifications. So many skills can be solved w/o drills and pages upon pages of timed tests. All our states standards are thinking, application problems.

Self-esteem is vital- fight for his self-worth and you will teach him to circumvent his difficulty. Many successful adults have this condition and use technology to overcome it! It's time schools get out of the one room school house syndrome where all the kids wrote out their lessons on slates, so to speak! Good luck!

Answer 4

Next year!!!  No way!  They need to test him immediately!  You need to write a letter to the school requesting a full evaluation.  They are required to complete testing in a timely manner.  Then they need to set up an IEP meeting and discuss the conclusions.  You should also share their findings with your pediatrician.  Actually, your pediatrician would need to be the one to diagnose any form of dyslexia.  Call your pediatrician and set up an appointment to discuss your concerns.  He/she may write you letter requesting testing by the school also.  Good Luck!

Answer 5

You're going to have to fight "loud" and hard for that assessment.  How can the school determine anything without an assessment is way beyond me.

Sounds like they're going on the skin of their heals.  Trying this first and trying that second and then try the same thing again!  Who wouldn't be stressed under such circumstances?  

Don't except the "waiting list" thing for another moment.  Why should your child continue to suffer because you aren't being listened to?  It's like they're telling you, "you don't know anything so just leave it to us because that's our job and we know more than you."  In the mean time nothing is really changing.  

As I was once told, sometimes you have to put these counselor's in their place.  Their heads get too big.  How true that is.  I finally had to tell a counselor (working with my grandchild) that he was totally out of line and totally unprofessional.  At that time (1 & 1/2 yrs. ago) I was asked to sit in with my daughter and grandchild during home visits and that's when I opened my mouth.  Talked to another professional person who said I was right about the above.

Now it's time that you are heard.  You have gone along with the program (schools advice) and you can see it's not working and how your son is beginning to go down hill with all his other subjects.  So what's going to happen about that?

There's nothing wrong with special ed. class for math.  But do agree with you, it's being over done to the point that he's failing the other classes.

Other grand daughter had problems with sounds (words) and brought home a pack of cards with certain words she was having difficulty with.  Just about the same thing as flash cards, but teacher made them herself.  

While asking about the assessment and that you will no longer continue for your sons name to be called from this waiting list.  Your son is too important to you especially when you are not being listened to.  After all's said, suggest flash cards can be taken home so you can work with him that way.  Simply put, too much is just too much.  He also needs to make gains in his other subjects.  

It's time the school gives back your son's self worth.  If you have to start writing letters to anyone you can think of for more support for you and your son then start writing away.  There's always someone these teachers and professionals have to answer too.  Find out where there are support groups just for this kind of thing.  Call Social Services because you are concerned about your sons education.  Don't forget to mention there HAS NOT been an assessment done yet.  Also mention that you have been diagnosed with dyslexious

and you suspect you son may have the same thing.  

Remember, carbon copies to give to the teachers, principal, counselors at the school of the other people you have contacted.  Don't forget about yourself.

When things like this come up, I get angry.  As the saying gos, "there will be no child left behind."  You could add parents to that too.

Hope you get heard LOUD and CLEAR.

Answer 6

`The first thing that you have to do is stop being so complacent!!! When you request a IEP evaluation  that has to be done with in 60 days of the request.  You need to put the request into a letter and cc copies to the principal of the school, the director of Spacial eduction services, and the person in the school who's in charge of making sure that all the children with special ed services in the school.  Let them know that you expect them to do something and to do it soon.  They are breaking a federal law by making you wait for so long.  They figure that the longer they make you wait you'll give up and they won't have to provide the services which will cost more money for them.  You should have your son evaluated by a private agency so that you can make sure that the diagnoses is the same one that you're expecting.  If you don't you may get a diagnoses from the board of ed that says that your child has a learning disability with out giving it a specific name.

That way they don't' have to provide a teacher that deals with the specific cause of your son's disability.  Most of the time they don't have teachers who are taught to deal with specific disabilities.  This is how I got my daughter and out of our department of education and into the private school for children with disabilities that she's in now.  My daughter deals with dyslexia and some processing issues along with fine motor skill issues and a NIP a non specific reading disability. It's not unusual for a child to have one or more disabilities at the same time. Contact your son's pediatrician if he does not have a therapist and see if they can recommend a nureo-psychologist a person who test people for learning disabilities.  And make sure that they do a complete assessment. IQ, academic.and educational.  That will give you the best idea of what his disabilities are and make sure that the person gives recommendations as to what they think that your son will need to succeed in school. After you find that out get all of the medical professionals that deal with your son to write letters recommending the same things that the nureo-psychologist has suggested.  That will let the school system know that you're taking this seriously and that you expect them to also.