Learning Issues Questions?

Question

I think I have learning issues. It is hard for me to pay attention in class and to like focus on one thing. I am in high school, and have been working with some teachers to work on this. I want to email my teachers and let them know, but I dont know what to say since I technically dont have an IEP or anything like that. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Talk to your guidance counselor, school psychologist, and/or your parents. Your parents can request that you have a formal evaluation, which can help pinpoint your areas of difficulty and help teachers develop interventions to help you.  Although it's good that you are self-aware and that your teachers are willing to work with you, having a formal evaluation and getting an IEP will ensure that you receive that same help for the rest of your high-school years AND even into college. Additionally, an IEP can give you accommodations for state standardized testing (which teachers cannot, by law, just give you without an IEP), and even for th SAT or ACT.

So your best bet is to start the process for formal evaluation, which will take some time. However, by law, any student suspected of having a disability (like learning problems) must be given the same accommodations as they would get with an IEP, so you can begin receiving help while the eval process is going on.

Best of luck!

Check out ldonline.com (or org?)  for more info that can help.

Edit: You can also ask your guidance counselor or school psych about ADD or ADHD. Having difficulty paying attention and focusing can be related to learning disabilities and/or ADHD.  Only your physician can diagnose ADHD, but most doctors will request some documentation from the school, so be sure that whoever does your evaluation (usually the school psychologist) is on the lookout for signs of ADHD.

Answer 2

Everybody learns different, you may want to talk to your teachers and explain that it is a little difficult for you to learn, usually they stay after school to help. Talk to your parents and suggest to getting a private tutoring like "Kumon" (you may find them on your local yellow pages). The way they work is through assessments to determine where you have learning gaps and they will bring you back to those areas and help you. Learning is a sequence and if you missed several areas more than likely you will experience problems later in your future. Also try to exercise and do yoga it will give you lots of energy (specially yoga) and help you stay focused. You can find Yoga and other videos really  cheap at ROSS or Marshalls, start with the begginers series. Take vitamin C and B, they are good for your brain. Avoid junk food, eat lots fruits like oranges, apples and grapes, or anything that you like. Avoid white sugar like white bread and sodas. Try to become vegetarian for a little while you will feel so much lighter and energetic, but if you need a good steak/bake potato, just go for it. I heard that chocolate milk can give you a little boots, yeah I know I'm contradicting what I just said, but if you need a little to push to finish a homework it may give you a good boost. You may also try the program "Where there is a will there is an A," it is a little expensive but it is worth every penny. From Bs and Cs, I went straight to As. These are a couple of videos that teach you how to study the right way, not hard and learn fast, basically learning by following a long list of tricks and shortcuts, it really works. Ask your guidance counselor if they have them in your school, I know some schools have them. Most important excercise, no matter how tire you feel, make sure you stretch so you are not sore the next day, and drink room temperature water after excersiing to eliminate the toxins in your body. Im serious you are going to be able to think and feel so much better. Make copies of these responses and show them to your folks. Good luck!