What are these scores telling me?

Hi L.A.—

Yes, judging by these scores, a learning disability in the area of reading exists. (See assessment composition note below.) I’m not certain that decoding is a issue, but comprehension is one for sure.

As far as judging the need for a private school versus public: that’s an impossible on-line request. We don’t know the public or private school staff or services, and really only know the testing “snap-shot” about your child’s asessment. Assessment is comprised of history, interviews, observations, and testing.

I’m sure parents will respond that it’s unlikely public schools will help. I’ve seen many that have—and many that have not.

Thanks for your response Susan. I was told he had a reading, a writing and one other LD. In public school he gets an hour a day of resource. The LD school we are looking at (or they are looking at us at this point!) is the largest in the country - 770 kids and is really good at what they do. I hope he gets in and he will go if he gets in. I guess I’m just thinking about what if he doesn’t get in….

The only thing I would add is that his deficits may not NEED a private LD school. It is very possible his deficits could be addressed by a private tutor using the right methods, of course. For example, if you lived near Susan Long, I’d say definitely give tutoring a try before you move him to a private LD school. But alas, there are not Susan Long’s everywhere! But I’m betting with a private LD school nearby, that there are qualified tutors around. I agree that it is unlikely he will be remediated in the public school.

Janis

Hi LA,
we are awaiting a verdict from a very good LD school in our area despite the fact that my son’s reading disability is partly remediated after less than a year of private tutoring. We think if its the right LD school that the intensity of the remediation for a few years will allow him to be mainstreamed in a position of strength, as opposed to limping along forever . He needs a small class size, and will benefit from the structured reading and writing curriculum they provide. Good luck with your decision, when do you hear?
Karen

There are not test scores to demonstrate Written Expression achievement in your post above. Perhaps there were other tests that I haven’t seen.

Most of the world would go crazy if there were more Susan Long’s. There are many on these BB’s that would give a cringe, too. :-)

One is more than enough!

Mmmmm written expression…I don’t see a test that has the words written expression in it. He took, besides the above, DAB-3, TOLD-P:3, PPVT-III, VMI, ADDES-2, BRP-2, Draw-Person Test, GFW, Right-Left Direction Test, Berea-Gestalt Test, Times and Untimed, Gilmore Oral Reading Test, Gates Oral Spelling Test, Johnson Handwritting Test and did a Spontaneous Writing Sample. We’ve tested at two different schools and they required different tests. He has significant writing problems though.

It’s interesting that all LD/ADHD schools are not alike in the populations they serve. The 1st LD/ADHD school we went to for testing said their school was not the right one for my son because they couldn’t tie in his fluency and articulation speech issues and they didn’t have any special reading program for reading disabilities. This 2nd school integrates speech issues as part of the day for everyone with additional small group therapy (1 hour/week) for kids like my son who have significant speech issues. This school told me he would be in their Association Method class if he was admitted. Not sure what that means.

We are at the admissions stage where they brought my son in for their additional testing - twice - and they’ve reviewed his other testing from the other school and they have told me that he meets the criteria for admission. Now if they are still interested they will invite me for a tour and interview and then he will spend 3 school days there. Then they offer a spot if they want him and they have space. They have something like 67 3rd graders this year and that is the grade he will go into next year. They only have about 40 2nd graders so I know they take new students in 3rd.

We tried a PG reading tutor this summer (my cousin is a PG tutor 800 miles away which is how I learned about PG). He learned nothing from her despite going 3x/week all summer. She tried though! I looked into LMB and watched a kid being tutored and there is no way that method work with my son. I should also mention my son is ADHD and on medication. The meds help a lot with the focus but meds don’t help him hear the sounds of letters! In public school he gets 1 hour/day of Resource and the 2nd tester said he had made progress in the month between his two testings. Maybe the public school is making some progress. It is a really good school with a really good staff.

I appreciate all the responses to this thread!

“The 1st LD/ADHD school we went to for testing said their school was not the right one for my son because they couldn’t tie in his fluency and articulation speech issues and they didn’t have any special reading program for reading disabilities.”

Hmmm, then I would question whether this is an LD school at all. Sounds more geared to behavioral problems and/or ADHD.

“This school told me he would be in their Association Method class if he was admitted. Not sure what that means.”

The Association Method is one of the multi-sensory structured language approaches for teaching reading. Here is an article that explains it from this site:

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/reading/mssl_methods.html

Since he made no gains with PG, have you considered having him evaluated for auditory processing disorder?

Janis

Thanks for the links. I will look at them in a minute.

The 1st school is really an LD/ADHD school. Really! Apparently many kids start at the 2nd school and then move to the 1st one once the reading is remediated. The 1st school focuses on the kids’ individual strengths, which are often creative or sports. It has the most amazing art installations on its campus done by students. I kid I know went there and they taught him photography and he - now 35 - still makes his living in photography. It is an unstructured environment - don’t have to raise your hand, can walk around the classroom or leave anytime. Most graduates go to college and are very very bright and independent. Sometimes kids bring in private speech and reading tutors for help, but that is on top of the $14,000 tuition. They don’t wear uniforms.

The 2nd school is very structured. “Very, very, very structured,” said the admissions tester. They wear uniforms. She has worked at both schools. Certainly, more serious issues are handled better at this school. My next door neighbor has development apraxia (?sp) and he goes there. The 1st school would not be able to help him. Course, it’s $14,000, too.

There are several other LD/ADHD schools around too. Interesting the differences.

I think the lack of gains in PG may be from not being medicated for the sessions. That wasn’t fair to the tutor. Because of side effects he needed a break from the meds over the summer.

Auditory processing disorder? I think I was told (I was told so much lately so I could be wrong) he did not have this, but I can’t find anything in the reports that says one way of another. He was evaluated at age 6 for a stuttering clinic and I thought they told me he didn’t have this - they needed to know to know which clinician to assign him. Good question though.

I went to your article about the Association Method. One of the authors Joyce Pickering is the head of the school we are looking at! Small world. It really is an amazing school she’s got there. I hope my son gets in.

Wow that is some admissions process! We’ve been to see 3 LD schools and one mainstream with an internal remediation program. And they are very varied in their approach and who they choose to serve. Most only have met with him for 45 minutes or so. The one we are really interested in had him attend school there for 2 days - quite stressful for a shy anxious boy! We find out this week if they consider him appropriate for their program and then wait until March to see if there is space. They took in a bunch of kids last year (3rd grade) and only have space if someone is ready to be mainstreamed.

Wow, you surely are fortunate to have access to great LD schools! $14,000 is not small change, though. I think it is wonderful for those who can afford it. With such an expert as the head of the school, I am sure she will be sure her school is a good fit for your son before admitting him. And that’s a good thing!

Janis

http://www.shelton.org/resources/shedd23.html

Got it off Joyce Pickering/SHelton school web site. Seems a bit simplistic, but hey, its more info to chew on.

Oh yes, I think I have the entire Shelton School web site memorized by this point. I do want it to be a good match between student and school, but my mind is screaming, “It’s a match!!” Course, how would I know yet? Also, as part of the admissions process I had to get 3 teacher recommendations and send them a copy of his latest report card. I think they are looking for primary behavior problems, but my son has A’s in conduct. My neighbor also told me they are weeding out kids who don’t have real issues but just want to go to that school. Is that funny or what? If you saw and understood the Pattern part of their website, they say my son is a Pattern 3, 6.

Shelton School is wonderful. I attended a conference they gave a couple years ago to Montessori teachers. I’ve used some of their ideas for the Montessori materials with my own students.

None of us would be facing these issues. How about it Susan?

We would still have problems, to be sure. Each of us have our special gifts and talents—each teacher, each administrator, each parent, each child. I’m not much good outside of reading, writing, and some math. Lots of folks are better test administrators than I am. In my perfect world, I’d observe the administration and interpret scores.

The neural processes on these kids are just too complicated for one person to know it all. It truly takes a village and I like having a diverse pool of knowledge and experience upon which to base my conclusions.

Far from perfect!