math and NLD

I’m not sure there is any way to explain to a school that a student needs one on one assistance. That just doesn’t ‘compute’ for schools. School is set up as a group process - schools don’t ‘get it’ when we tell them something other than that.

What does his IEP say now? Or certainly you’d want to try to have that one on one assistance written into next year’s IEP.

In the meantime, what realistically can you get from this school? What do you want? If you do not want an F to appear on his transcript, set that as the immediate goal in your negotiations with the school. Then work on getting the one on one assistance written into next year’s IEP.

I agree w/ Sara — you cannot assume the school is educable. IMO you’d do better to work on it on your own — to insist that math be removed from the schedule and do it independent study at the library. Okay, I’m biased — every day I see the folks who have learned little more than that Math Is Impossible and I have to unteach their strange survival strategies.

I’d like to make another suggestion. You do not have to wait until next year to revise the IEP - you may request an ARD at anytime. I suggest you contact the school and request an ARD as soon as possible. Prior to the ARD review the modifications in your child’s current ARD paperwork. Request addtional modifications as appropriate - things you may want to look at if you haven’t already:

1. Shortened tests
2. Extended time on assignments
3. Revised/shortened worksheets
4. Content mastery or collaboration
5. Use of a calculator (as appropriate)

If you already have modifications listed in your current ARD ask the teacher to present copies of materials that have been modified for your child in the past grading period. Ask how she modifies for math - and how often. Unfortunately, many teachers don’t modify materials for students as they believe it is too time consuming. Yet others may give a 50 question test and tell the LD student they can pick out any 15 or 20 (not really the best way to modify). A proactive parent is a child’s best advocate.

Next, find out exactly why your student is failing. There could be a multitude of reasons - to effectively remediate the issue you first have to define the problem. Is it problems with operations, reading, remembering, distractions, lack of spiraling, time, effort, white space, etc.

Hope this helps,

Chuck
[email protected]

My first question would be is your child recognized by the school as having a disability?

I’ve found that there are two basic problems with getting the educational services a child needs — 1) getting the school to recognize the disability and 2) getting the school to recognize the services needed.

As others have pointed out, you need to have the one-on-one assistance in an IEP in order to get the services. This is secondary if you can’t get the school to recognize the problem.

If you haven’t already done so, request a special educational evaluation under IDEA (and corresponding state legislation). The evaluation should be complete. Once you have requested an evaluation your son has legal rights and the district has legal obligations (tied to state and federal funding). You can request independent evaluation at public expense if you disagree with the findings. You can submit your own privately obtained evaluations. You have rights to redress if you disagree with any part of the evaluation or the services your child needs. If your child has already been referred for evaluation you have the right to ask for a meeting to discuss the services your child receives. You are a part of your child’s special education process and they must listen to your input.

As for one-on-one assistance, in my experience schools are reluctant to provide it because of the idea that it may provide a crutch the student will not outgrow. Be open to the idea that there may be solutions that are somewhere in the middle. Specially designed materials and tests are common.