My son was labeled with written expression disability. He got the label in Second Grade. Currently, he is in 7th Grade. Help me, I am trying to understand. We were told at the time of testing that he could have problems in Math in the future. We had him tested privately, at the end of 5th grade. Test results indicated a problem in Math. Yet, in his regular ed classroom he got a B in 6th grade.I thought the math was very simple. Yet, I questioned it and I was assured that it was regular 6 th grade math with inclusion teacher to support kids with an IEP. When he went to 7th grade he got an F for the first nine week period. He made careless mistakes when computing. I told him he had to proofread. I sent an extra book of problems into the teacher and asked him to check off pages that would be helpful for my son to review. We spend 20 or 30 minutes 2 or 3 times a week. He gets a C during the second nine weeks. Now we are in the third nine weeks and my son gets an A on the first test of this grading period. Of course I am pleased but I wonder about IQ test that signal problem areas. What if a kid just does not try their best. Can they score poorly but not really have a problem? I know that my son’s teacher this year does not give out presents as grades. He has an excellent reputation as a teacher. Could good teaching and more drive from my child help him go beyond what a test indicates? Think of this: This child has a label that could give a teacher an excuse. Oh, he’s LD. I think the LD label is scary. I have heard teachers in our highschool say that the LD kids in inclusion are a miserable group to teach. (I am an elementary teacher in the same district.) I want to jump for joy and say give the child a chance. He has used the extra time part of his IEP for test taking.
Re: Effects of the LD label
I am concerned that if the school knew he would develop a problem in the future they did not take corrective steps to remediate the problem before it became a problem.
I am concerned but not surprised.
I would be less concerned with his grades and more concerned with how you think he is doing. I think some teachers just give the kids easier work and voila higher grades.
Look for things like is he independently able to do his homework? Is he getting the same homework as others?
If the answer is yes to both questions he is doing well.
Re: Effects of the LD label
I believe he is getting the same homework load, although I think it’s a good question to have answered. As far as homework, he is doing it on his own. From time to time we look it over. The only thing I know he is getting is an inclusion teacher and extra time when taking a test.
You’re right, a label can mean teachers lower expectations. People can also say “he might have Math problems later” because kids with similar profiles have — knowing of course that he also might not.
What “problems in math” did the IQ test indicate, since that statement could mean any of a number of things?
It sounds like he’s got a great teacher!