Some body please tell me I’m not crazy. I have a 6 year old son that will be 7 at the start of the next school year. He is currently in K and receives services because he is learning delayed. I would say that this is learning disability. He is endanger of not progressing to the 1st grade. He has had an IEP since he was 2 years old and receiving services. I also have a 5 year old that will be starting K next school year. I am worried about the emotional impact that this can have on my oldest if they hold him back. I have put my 6 year old into Sylvan and what I can see it has given him confidence and fundamental skills that he did not have 3 months ago. His current IEP says he should be receiving service 3 x a week for 30 mintues. However, his teacher, me and the special ed teacher agreed before Thanksgiving to adust that to 5 x a week for an hour a day. We were all in agreeance that this would benefit him the best. He has long term and short term memory issues that requires you to continuously go over things day in and day out. We didn’t redo his IEP on paper. I have asked his father to pay for half of this Sylvan bill but he feels that I should pull my son out of his regular class more often rather then spend the money. I have a total of 3 kids ranging that are 4, 5, 6 and I work full time and he is trying to tell me that I should have handled this at home instead of putting him into Sylvan. He enjoys Sylvan and it seems to be helping. Am I crazy for putting him into Sylvan at such a young age. My thought pattern was that I wanted to give him the fundamentals to get out of K and then see how he does in 1st grade. I am fully mentally prepared to retain him into the 1st grade if that is what he needs then. Any body have any advice or suggestions?
Thank you
Re: Sylvan
Thank you for the suggestions. We do these things already. My son loves to do homework and read. I have made sure to space this tutoring out and to mix it up with other activities as not to overwhelm him. My biggest fear is to burn him out. However, his disabilities go beyond my expertise. I also have two other children in the home that are 4 and 5. My children’s father and I are already divorced and I agree this is not a topic I discuss with him within ear shot of the kids. I do what I can to ensure that they do not hear us arguing. My son has had IEP since he was 2 years old and now his father is trying to tell me that he does not have any disabilities. My son is below grade level in every subject. I put him on Adderall for his ADD in Oct of last year. I waited until February to start him in Sylvan. Once I had my 3rd quarter conference with his teacher. I was informed that he had come a long way but still had a long way to go. I am not looking at Sylvan as a cure all or a band aid but yet as an resource to help my son gain the fundamentals of learning so that he may have the opportunity to become successful. He needs more help then the school can offer without hurting him more on missing more class time. I work full time, not that this is an excuse but I am trying my best. I’m a military wife, and am not located near family and my neighbors already have families of their own. I’m not into spending big money but I honestly felt that I had no other options. I was only asking his father to help cover half. I thought it was a small price to pay to give your 6 1/2 year old the confidence and skills to grow in life happily and successfully.
Re: Sylvan
I do agree being pulled out of class too much isn’t good. The student miss things in class. Can the school provide an aid or special ed teacher to be in class to assist your son? Request that at your IEP meeting. We had that in 3rd grade and it helped. My daughter has had lots of pull out time over the years. When the aid was in the class to help her and a few other kids with extra directions and things it was good.
We did Sylvan last year for 6-7 months. It was good and expensive. My opinion it’s not really for kids with learning issues, IEPs. It helps but can’t fix it all. My daughter loved Sylvan and it did build confidence. I think that’s the best thing Sylvan can do. Most tutoring provides one on one and builds confidence. A teacher at school told me stay at Sylvan awhile, but not as long as they recommend. Because it’s expensive and they are there to make money, too. But, now a year later at age 11 daughter told me “Sylvan didn’t really help that much Mom”.
I hope your ex can be patient and help out with one on one attention with reading or whatever. I know it’s hard as a military family without family support around. We have always been that way too. Goodluck.
I had a family that used Sylvan learning center. They are now divorced and in bankrupt, but there son could read at grade level. I would get books from the library and read with him for twenty minutes a night. What is more important to you.
Most students are exhausted when they get home from school because they have worked hard and are overwhelmed. I think time with mom in his corner being him mom is more important.
Make sure your children now they have a soft place in your home. Do not let them hear you argue over this.
If you do not have the time to read with him is their a neighbor kid, grandparents, college in the area that has an education program? It’s usually much more cost effective.