My child has terrible problems with spelling and math calculations. Fingers or dots on paper is completely necessary in order to do any basic calculation.
I am trying to get the school to assess my child. I’ve been attempting this for years and years. However, they take one look at her standardized test scores (which is an unlimited time test) and her report card which teacher’s allow unlimited time; then they tell me that she in no way would qualify for a disability. So, they won’t test her. Also, her spelling and writing mechanics is awful, but her content is years above grade level.
The teacher is allowing her to sit multiple times to complete a test (missing other class lectures) and the teacher will point at math problems she has to take another look at. She had a test where the teacher sent the D- test home for her to look at over the weekend. The teacher administered the same test and my daughter got an A. I’ve never seen that one done before.
At my request they were going to do a response to intervention for the spelling and writing mechanics. Their decision was to de-emphasize the spelling issue. (huh?) That’s a novel approach! Pretend it isn’t a problem and it will get better.
Is it true that the amount of time a child takes to complete a task should never be a determining factor?
Am I out of line thinking that my child may suffer from a disability because she spells like a second grader and needs her fingers to do even the simplest of math problems?
Re: No Time Limits, Retakes
Hi Wondering,
I wonder whether I’ve suggested that you have a look at my Dyscalculia [maths disorder] Forum before?
Where a main sub-type is Visual-Spatial Dyscalculia.
Which could be relevant?
But more specifically, Visual-Spatial difficulties?
Which is made up of Visual Working Memory and Spatial Working Memory.
Where Visual W/M is used for visualising, and Spatial W/M is used for representing ‘space’ in our mind.
For doing ‘mental maths, we visualise the calculation.
Also for ‘spelling’, we need to be able to visualise how a word is spelled.
Also with ‘hand-writing’, we need to have a mental image of the letters, as a reference.
So this could be the underlying difficulty?
Geoff,
http://www.dyscalculiaforum.com/
Re: No Time Limits, Retakes
Dear Geoff,
I have not looked at your web site, but I will. I appreciate your response.
Always Wondering….
No Time Limits, Retakes
I am concerned that they are not willing to test your daughter. Have you submitted a written request for this to be done? What state are you in? How old and what grade is your daughter?
Re: No Time Limits, Retakes
My daughter is 5th grade, and we are in VA.
I’m not surprised at all that they won’t test my daughter because I have gone through the process with my son, and it was a fight the entire way.
The Asst. Principal’s take on spelling (they grade for this on the report card) and math facts is that it is no big deal because when she is older she will have a word processor and a calculator. The asst. principal rolled her eyes the first time I mentioned my daughter having a problem. Just about every one I know who has a child with a disability had to fight tooth and nail to get the child assessed at this school.
I put requested tesing in 2nd and 3rd grade. One year they did speech testing because of recall issues. It was lower than other skills, but not low enough for any help. No IQ and achievement testing was done. They decided that based on the content of her writing, it would negate any spelling and writing mechanics error that were made. So, it wasn’t in their best interest to test since they had already determined that she wouldn’t qualify.
Re: No Time Limits, Retakes
No Child Left Behind does not emphasize spelling or writing. But what about the writing SOLs? Isn’t the school worried about that? And how does she get the calculator accomodation for the entire math SOL? How does she pass the math SOL without that accomodation?
Where in VA do you live? I am in Southside VA.
Anita learntoreadnow www.learntoreadnow.blogspot.com
No Time Limits, Retakes
Have you considered having her tested outside the school district? Privately?
Re: No Time Limits, Retakes
Anla,
I’m not sure why they aren’t worried about the SOLs.
She can be really iffy.
I think she will struggle with the writing (non-prompt) SOL. I think her ideas and writing process will hold her up for the writing prompt.
I just looked at the Released Math SOL. It is going to blow her mind. I’m really torn as to whether I should help her prepare for it or let her bomb. I guess I will decide based on whether they assess her or not.
I’m up in the NoVa area.
Goodysbaby,
Yes. I have thought about having her tested privately. However, the last year was spent on various therapies for my older child. So, I thought I should try again to get the school to do their job.
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