I don’t know where to start. I am so frustrated.
My son is 8. His reading ability is high, but he has a lot of difficulties with writing. I met with his teacher and the school authorities at the beginning of the school year and was told flat out he didn’t have dyslexia or dysgraphia. This with no evaluation or testing. Just “It’s not dysgraphia.”
Well, I don’t care what label you give it. He has a lot more trouble with writing than he should be having. This is stopping him from demonstrating what he knows. He brings home a reading packet marked 40%, because he has done none of the written parts.
At the same time he loves to read, can read fluently well above grade level either silently or aloud. It’s so paradoxical. He is in the lowest reading group because he can’t write out what he knows. He likes to draw, but I don’t think he ever even captions his drawings.
I want to get him whatever help he needs, but I don’t even know where to start. Who evaluates kids for stuff like this? The meeting with the school happened because I called and asked that. But I feel they gave me no info. Basically all they said was no, he doesn’t have a problem. Argh.
Don't know where to start
Write a request for evaluation to the school. Document, Document, Document! Make sure to keep a dated, signed copy for youreslf.
Ask that the teacher quiz your son orally on the reading comprehension (written) work. If he does better that way, it will help them see that he definitely has an issue with the written work.
If you have any of the work that he has done without the writing, you can ask him to dictate to you and fill in the stuff he is missing. If he is correct, then, again, it will show that he has the knowledge but that something is effecting his ability to communicate it in writing.
Re: Don't know where to start
Hi Johnsmom,
I had a similar experience when my daughter was 8 or 9. She was reading at above grade level and everything with her reading seemed on track if not better than on track. Her struggles were with math and writing. She would always say “I don’t know what to write!” The teachers said that things would improve as she got older.
Well, by 3rd grade she really began to struggle badly. She could read, but was not really understanding what she read. As the text became more complex she couldn’t keep up.
I had her evaluated and she was diagnosed with a receptive and expressive language impairment. Meaning that she had a difficult time processing information she read and heard, as well as expressing herself both orally and in writing. She began to receive language therapy with a speech and language therapist daily.
She is now in 9th grade and doing realy well.
Go with your gut - if you think something is wrong, request a formal evaluation be done. You have the right as his parent.
Good luck,
mykidcanlearn
Hi Jon’s Mom… I’m Ashley’s Mom. If your school is like ours you may not get much help from them. Unfortunatly there seems to be a strange trend to not be helpful for kids that need more or anyone out of the “norm”. I’m somewhat navagating this myself although I have some experience with some similar issues at school with my diabetic child. I can only suggest what I’m doing myself… 1. Try to educate yourself (like getting on this site and others) 2. Try to find other parents that may be dealing with kids with special needs and see if they have any suggestions for contacts locally (caution… some parents may not be compfortable discussing their kids so use discretion) 3. Talk to your physician - they can sometimes offer help (I’ve talked with ours in the past and I believe we are now ready to talk again because this is now at a point where it can’t be ignored). and 4. NEVER underestimate the feelings you have (a Mother’s instincts are usually right on)and remember you are your child’s BEST Advocate! Good Luck and Hang in There!
Mamabear