:D Last year, I spent many hours on this board researching parent’s experience regarding LD schools. Were they effective?Were kids learning? Was bullying a problem? Most parents were happy, but some warned me (off-line) that such schools may create social problems as kids move away from the neighourhood school. So, after 3 months at a very small school in the Vancouver area that specializes in language based ld’s what have I found?
*my 10 yo old son has a bunch of new friencs, and still sees his old friends.
*he is clearly learning and progressing on all fronts.
*he is given leadership opportunities that would not have come at public school-like MCing the Remembrance Day ceremony and getting a great part in the school play. (Only the highest achievers would get these at his old school). We learned that he has a talent for public speaking and acting.
*he is definitely not “slow” as we were told at his old school.
*the kids, while LD, are pretty much the same as the old school. The smallness of the school means that anything approaching bullying is halted.
*effective monitoring of ADHD symptoms found that he improved substantially on a smaller dose of meds (literally one-half of what he was on before), and best of all,
*he feels good about himself and for the first time ever, loves school.
He says that the teachers”teach the way I learn.”
The self-esteem improvement has also transferred to soccer and generally better behaviour.
I truly hope this continues!
Re: LD School experience: 3 month progreee
Hi Karis, we too moved our 4th grader to a small LD school and my son has literally said some of the same things your son said to you. (First day of school ” Finally some teachers that understand about dyslexia”)
Congratulations!
Re: LD School experience: 3 month progreee
Count me as another mom who has a child in an LD school for the first time this year (3rd grade) and is THRILLED with what I’ve seen.
It’s even hard to put into words.
The public school environment was even worse than what I imagined now that I have this new school to compare it to.
I haven’t had any problem with the neighborhood school kid thing. Our next door neighbors actually attend the LD school too and one of the kids is in my son’s class. My son’s best friend from the neighborhood school continues to come over every weekend to play with my son. Plus, the LD school is actually in our neighborhood!
That is very excellent news, Karis! I know it must be a huge relief to have such a good start!
Janis