My son just completed his 1st quarter of high school and just received his grades. He was pleased that he did so much better then he expected and I must admit then I expected. Throughout his elementry and middle school years he seemed to struggle to learn the simplest of facts so I thought how will he ever survive high school. In 7th and 8th grade he was in self contained LD classes for half the day, this year he would be in all regular ed with the aide of a resource room. Luckily he only has 4 acedemic classes and I think it has helped. Each class is 55 minutes long which seemed to also help. For the first time in his school career he completed 95 percent of his assignments and turned them in! He has not lost any textbooks/supplies and has gone to class prepared each day. What is interesting to me is that the classes he is doing the best in are the ones without textbooks. He does not have a text for science or social issues. Both these classes are mainly geared toward group work and discussion. Science is mainly hands on labs with lecture as the students do the labs, he got an A- in this class. Social issues is mainly taught through discussion. A topic is presented, articles read and discussed, and group debate about a possible solution to the problem, he got a B- in this class. He does have a text in algebra but it is used mainly to give examples. The teacher has the students use dry earase boards at their desks, has students work in groups, and plays games to reinforce the facts, he got an A- in this class. In Lit they have a textbook, they use the textbook often. The class involves alot of reading and a lot of passive listening, he got a C- in this class. This Lit teacher is known as the hardest teacher in the whole school. The nice thing is though he actually teaches skills I think helped my son in not only this class but his others. He taught the students how to take notes and I have seen an improvement in my sons ability to take notes. He has taught the students how to study for exam and I have seen an improvement in my sons ability to prepare. He taught the students how to be organized and make priorities again I have seen improvement. My only problem with this teacher is he does not believe in learning disabilties. He tells my son he could read if he wanted to. My son does want to read and he does try. Right now they are reading TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, my son not only reads the reqired chapter but listens to it on tape and reviews the chapters with the resource teacher, yet he still has failed all but 1 of the quizes related to this book (luckily these grades are for this quater and he has a chance to bring the F up). What else might I try to help him pass these quizes? Moving my son to another class is not an option as he wants to stay in this class to prove to the teacher he does want to learn and is doing his best. And yes I am very excited for him.
Re: 1st quater of high school
Lisa -
Create a graphic organizer to complete as he is reading/listening to the chapter. It could be organized several different ways but you want him to think about 1) what were the significant events in this chapter and 2) who was impacted by the significant events. I’d probably set it up as a 2-column table.
If it was me (the classic enabler) I wouldn’t make him fill it out himself (it sounds like he is already working so hard), but you could discuss it with him and fill it out for him. Then he has a chapter-by-chapter study guide.
Seems that for my kids, the concept of “significant” is pretty hard to grasp. They think that “Jim ate his lunch” is as significant as “Jim escaped from prison.”
Re: 1st quater of high school
Thanks K and aj did not think to try and make it visual. I will give these things a try. Yes, you are correct he does work very hard and maybe too hard. I found out today when I got home that the school pulled a sneaky move. They called my son to the guidance office and told him he did to well to need resource room any more. They told him they thought he should drop resource and take another course. They did not call me or my husband but talked to my son. According to his IEP he is a resource student, they are not taking him out of special ed but are taking him out of resource. He will have no special ed classes or contact with special ed personell. He will still have his accomodations. If they are going to do this shouldnt they of called an IEP meeting to discuss change in placement? If they would of placed him in a reading class in place of it I would not of been as mad but they placed him in Tech Ed instead. Without resource he gets absolutely no reading support and school whatsoever.
Re: 1st quater of high school
I was not aware that children could make changes in placement, but maybe I am wrong. I believe that an IEP meeting needed to be called, even if you agree with the change.
How does your son feel about it? I would discuss it with him and either way call an IEP meeting. I wouldn’t be so quick to drop the resource this early in the year, what harm is there in keeping it? I am sure Tech ED is a fine class but if he needs reading help then Tech Ed will have no benefits.
K.
They Can't Do That
What they might have done is asked you son what he thought of the possiblility taking another course instead of resource. Taking him out of resource is a change of placement and requires Prior Written Notice (read up on it) to the parent or gardian. Placement is a IEP team decision and you are a member of the team.
Didn’t the Resource Teacher have you sign a form to do a re-evaluation because it has been so many years since testing? If so there should be a meeting to go over results.
Also, regarding the English I would suggest taking a look at the tests and try to figure out if there is a general format to the tests. Analysis the questions and try to come up with practise tests or study guides that mirror the tests. Glad your son is doing well. It is too bad the English teacher has such an attitude about LD but I guess the good out weights the bad. Maybe your son will be the one to change his attitude for future LD students.
Helen
Ow! I cant see that being kosher...
taking him out without your permission. I have always had to sign my kids high school schedules giving my OK for their selections-and they are not special ed!Id say someone overstepped their boundaries
Our old high school had a class in information reading-kind of a tech related thing but also a reading help. Have you perused the whole catalog selection?
And, I had to tell you, my 9th grader is gifted and lit is his hardest class. He complains all the time-they are doing shakespeare and his interpretaions are never the same as the instructors. I cant imagine what it will be like for my LD, literal minded, just the facts ma’m kid to discuss symbolism, moral righteousness, etc
I agree with the poster who said to study past tests for the trend-maybe cliff notes. There is a popular interpretation of what the whale in Moby Dick represents, for ex-if you could have him memorize those type things, his scores might improve. Maybe even buying a book similar to the instructors or asking kids from previous years whove had the same teacher….
If he is indeed teaching the symbolism in class, and ds just has to recognize it and remember it, drawings would be great. If Moby Dick represented evil(Heck, I dont know) you could draw a whale with a skull and crosbones for him-or try to get him to do that in his notes. Teach him to listen for words like symbolism and represent
Re: They Can't Do That
The resource teacher suggested a reading evaluation but the school psychologist did not feel it neccessarry. They feel it is not needed since they are not removing his accomodations just his resource room.They felt that since he only used resource room for homework help (mainly with reading) then he did not need resource room as a course. He has officially been removed from resource room starting in January. My son is all for it so I am going to give him the opportunity to prove himself. He said they stated he can get resource room back if he starts to fail. Since my son is willing and his desire is to get out of special ed I am going to allow him this opportunity. He will still have an IEP and will still have his accomodations of test read, no points of for spelling and extended time which is what he need to do well any way. I will let you all know how it goes. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas on how to help him pass the quizes. Hope you all have a great school year.
Congratulations, to you and your son! He (and you) must be so proud! It is such a feeling of accomplishment when you are successful in school, escpecially when you have had hard times in the past!
As for passing the quizzes, recently I was talking with someone about my 18 yr old sister, who is a senior in high school, she has to learn tons of vocab for her English class. They suggested having her draw out the definitions to the words. Maybe if you use a program like the inspiration software and draw out the outline this might help!
I have a problem with the teacher telling your son he could read if he wanted to, I am all for praise and encouragement, as long as it is positive praise and encouragement. Maybe you could reach some kind of agreement with the teacher, that you respect his opinions on LD’s but would prefer if he only praised you son postively.
However, congrats again, it sounds as though your son is very dedicated to working hard and keeping up good grades!!
K.