Hi, I have a daughter going into the 6th grade . The Middle School called me yesterday wondering which math class to put her in. She is dyslexic so her teachers in 5th grade suggested putting her in a co-op class where there will be teachers to help her because of the reading factor. But according to the person I spoke with yesterday her test indicate that she should be in a higher level math class. If they put her in the higher math class she will have to go into the higher Social Studies class which may cause problems because it isn’t a co op class and there is a lot of reading in the class. They say that all her mods would of course be done in those classes but there would be no second teacher to help her out.
I am a bit confused , angry and worried now. Why can’t they have higher math levels with the co op teachers ! Why should she have to suffer one way or another , she is either not going to get the extra help in the reading the math problems she needs or she is subject to set in a math class which she is above academically! This doesn’t seem right or fair. I would think the IEP in some way protects her against things like this. Does it?
Then they want me to decide in 5 sec. what class to put her into! It isn’t an easy decision, at least to me. They did say we could change it at any time, that is at least something i guess. I am now wondering which i should do.
On one hand giving her a challenge would probably be good , just as long as it isn’t too much of one which would make her shut down. And her knowing she did so well on math test academically might give her a boost in her outlook at school and confidence she so badly needs. On the other hand what if she does shut down if things are too difficult for her in the SS class that could undermind her self confidence and set us back.
I guess I am just looking for opinions and maybe things either way that I haven’t thought of. So what would you do if your child was in this situation?
Help!!
And thanks,
Sharon
Re: 6th grade confusion
It gets my dander up as well! thanks for the reply
Let me see if I understand what you are saying correctly.
They have to supply a teacher to help her if I chose for her to be in the higher level math and SS?
If this is the case how do I go about doing this? The lady I spoke with said that if we changed to the higher level that we would have to redo her IEP, so I sensed that they want to cover their butts on this one. Redoing it to state she won’t require a co op teacher in those classes was my guess.
Does anyone know of a advocate in the Atlanta metro area????
I have a feeling we may need one.
Thanks,
Sharon
Re: 6th grade confusion
If you’ll post your e-mail, I’ll be glad to give you the name of a terrific advocate who just yesterday had tremendous success at an IEP meeting for a friend of mine.
Re: 6th grade confusion
Get the name of that advocate in Atlanta. You have to be MORE knowledgeable than the rest of the IEP team, basically. And contact the right people, etc.
Again that advocate in Atlanta will probably be your best bet.
Re: 6th grade confusion
While as a parent I am sympathetic to the situation, I will say from a practical standpoint, it is impossible to provide an inclusion special ed. teacher in every class and in every grade. There have to be some trade-offs in reality.
Janis
math group placement
Sadly IEPS can’t protect against the limitations of schools and the sheer silly nonsense of them. Of course you can’t make such a decision in 5 minutes over the phone but many schools expect parents to do just that.
My advice both as a teacher and a parent of my own children with learning differences would be to put her in the lower math group. While I would certainly tell her how well she did on the test, the results of a test shouldn’t overthrow the opinion of last year’s teachers who know her and worked with her. Do the teachers making this suggestion of the higher math group know your daughter?
The first year of middle school is a challenge in itself. My concern would be the amount of reading she will expected to do in Social Studies and how she will manage that. Is a higher math group worth a possibly painful struggle in Social Studies?
And does your daughter deal well with transitions? Will this likely be a smooth year for her? I’d factor that into my thinking.
Whatever decision you make, I’m sure it will be the right one.
Gosh, Sharon, I just had this SAME conversation with my friend,/frmer 5th grade ESE teacher/now guidance counselor.
They are WRONG. That’s “how they do it”. Sorry, wrong answer. The I in IEP stands for “Individualized”. I was questioning her b/c my daughter is in 5th grade (I know, I’m a “planner”) and we will be facing this dilemma next year. They told me she had to take ALL gifted classes. I said, “It would SEEM to me, that the law says that her education is to be customized for her ‘unique educational needs’and that, through her IEP, that could be changed.” (They looked kind of sick)
After I talked to my friend this past Sunday (to confirm sticking my neck out), she said they TRIED to do that with her ADD/Gifted son. She said they told her “That’s how we do it” and she said, “That’s NOT how you’re going to do it this time!” 3 phone calls later to the SD, he was in honors english and standard geometry.
SO… in answer to your question, no they can’t MAKE you do it that way. Of course, it will take some courage and forthrightness :-) on your part to convince them the error of their ways. BUt, it sure will help the next ESE kiddo that comes along.
Also, if your child needs ESE help in her class, they HAVE to provide that as well. They say they don’t, but they do. (Just met a lady whose son was in a GATE school and they “don’t have a special ed dept at GATE schools”. He needed extra help in 1 class. Guess what, they had to bring a teacher from another school to help him INDIVIDUALLY.
Personally, I think you are always better to have high expectations for your child. In 2nd grade my gifted/dyslexic couldn’t read on grade level, couldn’t copy from the board, and couldn’t write legibly. Her evaluator told me to put her in gifted. (I was shocked and very apprehensive). They tried to “kick her out” in 3rd. Through the use of AT she got to stay and now it’s her favorite class.
BTW, the lady whose son was in the GATE school is encouraging me to put my daughter there as well. SHe said she’s “blazed a trail” and others need to go through it b/c we need systemic change.
Sorry for the long post - this get’s my “dander up”.