a little more info

The scores you posted below are from private testing, or from the school, a year ago? Did you get a written report? Did the testing person do an adaptive behavior scale? I ask because I wonder if the evaluator thought the FS IQ of 68 was valid? You need to be very clear to ask the school when they present their current testing what that IQ score means…average, low-average, slow-learner, mental retardation, these are all categories of varying scores…Ask are these results consistent with past testing? Are they consistent with academic performance and with adaptive behavior? Tell the school to go slowly with the information, so you can understand.

She “doesn’t,” he “doesn’t.”

We don’t, they don’t, you don’t

You write so clearly, you come across as intelligent……..better grammar will just seal the impression.

I don’t think Wendy should be too concerned with her grammar right now - English Teacher

Wendy, those scores you listed say that your daughter has an IQ in the mental retarded range. I don’t think that is the case is it? If you daughter has language problems, and the IQ test was a language based test just as the WISC, then that could be why the scores are so low.

There are many things you could do, but in my opinion, the best thing to do is get your daughter evaluated privately. You could request that the school pay for it, or you could pay for it yourself and get reimbursed later (possibly). There is always a risk that you may not get reimbursed. However, the value of a private professional evaluating your daughter is so worth it. The individuals at school just don’t have the same kind of training. A professional will know just what test are appropriate for your daughter. A professional will dig deep to find out what is wrong with your child. The school will not. Once you have a report, it is so much easier to get the help you need for your child. You will have the report and your person at the IEP to counter anything the school says. Any report that you pay for is just a valid as one that they have and it has to be considered. Believe me, I’ve been through this. Beg, borrow or steal the money for the evaluation, but get it. You will feel so much better when you have someone who knows what they are talking about to explain your daughter’s situation to you so you can understand it. It is worth the money.

Wendy,

Can you post the IQ scores from the testing in kindergarten? It would be good to see if they have stayed the same or fallen. Also, can you post the achievement test scores? Someone else asked if they did an adaptive behavior scale (the Vineland maybe?). If that is her true IQ score, then I would be doubtful that she could make it in the regular classroom to be honest. If she is really LD, then her IQ has fallen from lack of learning over the past few years.

As far as the math facts go, I would suggest that you do that at home. Start with whatever she needs, addition first if she doesn’t know those. Victoria has given excellent instructions about learning math facts over on the math board several times. But I’d basically suggest that you start with 2+1, 2+2, 2+3, etc.(if she knows 1+ all the numbers). Once she learns the 2+, then go to 3+. If she knows addition and subtraction facts, then begin with multiplication in the same way. I taught one of my students with a low IQ the multiplication tables, but it took six years of hard work. Really, a regular classroom is not the place a child with special needs will learn these skills as the rest of the class moves on far too soon.

Janis

The VIQ posted was 76, and the PIQ was 64; this is not the typical profile of a language-based learning disability; in fact the verbal scores are 12 points higher than performance. The evaluator should have provided a report explaining these scores.

Can’t explain much about the test scores, but certainly be assertive (yet polite) about getting more thorough explanations from any person who tests/evaluates your daughter in future assessments. Make certain, by requesting in writing, that when you meet to have the assessment results explained, that copies of all the testing materials and protocols are brought for you so you can understand what is being explained.

Regarding her behavior this year. I’m no expert, but it sounds like your daughter is simply modifying her behaviors based on the lead she is getting from her TEACHER. If your daughter has an IEP (does she?), I would request an emergency meeting, and request that COUNSELING be added immediately. To allow your daughter’s self esteem to continue to plummet this year because you think she needs to ride this year out with this “teacher” is going to make the next year and future that much more difficult to turn around (my opinion). Any chance she can be removed from this class and placed in another one with a teacher who is interested in actually teaching children? Becaues your daughter simply doesn’t learn according to this person’s program, it does not mean she is not educatable. Does this teacher have any idea how much harder she is making things on your daughter by simply allowing her to pass along without picking up the fundamental skills she will require the following year? I would be exploring these matters. Furthermore, if your daughter does have an IEP, if this teacher is a “team member”, if she really does believe what you have posted, get the district to put this in writing on the IEP, or tape record the meeting and then file a massive complaint with the state or the feds because this is pure BS (for lack of better adjectives).

Finally, as an LD parent of an LD child, posting on a “Parents of LD Children” bulliten board… I speak for myself (and possibly others), I NEVER WORRY ABOUT MY SPELLING OR GRAMMER HERE, CUZ I DUN GRADIATED AND I AIN’T IN SKOOL NO MO. :)

Seriously, I doubt your child’s math dilemas, or the district’s failure to address her learning disability have anything to do with your syntax or grammar. Please do not worry about it!

Take care of what needs to be addressed immediately. Your child’s plummeting self image, her need for assistance in math…

I still cannot believe an “educator” would simply give up on a child. What an oxy-MORON.

I would like to preface my post by saying that it is entirely possible that your comment regarding this parent’s grammar is not made out of malice or mean spiritidness (is that even a word?). Yet, you must understand that this bb for parents is here for us to share our experiences, ask questions, and often write and rage about what is happening to our children within the educational environment most call “school”.

Typically, when a parent points out that their child is floundering, failing, becoming depressed or anxious, they are not saying the teacher is failing; they are begging for help for thier child. It is entirely possible the child is incapable of learing within the evironment where they are placed. It is also possible the child simply does not have the tools with which to learn or any other number of possibilities that keeps their child from learning.

I am assuming here, but most parents who are causing anguish or pain to their children rarely, if ever, would try to bring attention or focus on the problem. There are much more serious matters that would have to be addressed, like child abuse etc…

I understand your concept of helping this parent “write better” for better “presentation” to her district, but I strongly take issue with any district that would judge a parent by their grammatical correctness, and then subsequently deny a child access to a Free & Appropriate Public Education simply because they failed the parent in teaching them years prior. (Yes, I know, a run on sentance).

I am not attacking you or your post, I know, or would like to presume that you meant well. I do wish to enlighten you and other teachers out there who read what we parents are posting about, that we are not “against” you, or in any kind of dispute with teachers on a whole. Those of you who truly know what happens, know that there are individuals within your system that for what ever their reason or purpose, choose to defend a beastly beaurocracy instead of protecting the welfare of children. For those of you who understand, we need you, our kids need you, and for your honorable and honest efforts, we are forever indebted and grateful.

A friend of mine sent me this joke, it makes some form of sense here to me. For the purpose of this thread, exchange “dyslexic & read” with “ability to do grade level math”…

–––––––-
A man and his son died and met Saint Peter at the
pearly gates. When it was determined they qualified
for entry into heaven, St. Peter asked them what they
would like. The boy was dyslexic and never had learned
to read, so the father and son had a dream. They asked
for educational services for the boy.

Saint Peter had an angel take them to a school. But
when they entered the classroom they were faced with a
surprise. The windows were cracked and broken and only
half the lights worked. The desks were bolted to the
floor and had dried-up inkwells. There were no
computers and the sparse textbooks were ragged. The
only teacher told them she had no knowledge of
dyslexia and if the boy only tried hard enough,
hecould overcome it.

The angel was embarrassed and quickly took them back
to Saint Peter. After considering the problem for a
few minutes, St. Peter himself led them to the
elevator down.

When they stepped off, St. Peter had a quiet chat with
the Devil who called a demon to take the father and
son to the school. When they got there, they were
again surprised. It was the school of their dreams
with excellent everything including knowledgeable
staff. The father was baffled and asked the demon what
was going on.

The demon replied, “Think about it. Every time you
asked your school district for any of these things,
where did they tell you to go?”

First of all I am a stay at home mom of 5 children and I have more to worry about than my grammer. But, I will take it into concideration. I take constructive critisisum well .(i know i spelled it wrong)
I can’t get to my papers from kindergarden right now, we just moved and things are still in boxes still . On the paper I have now from last year there aren’t any achievement test scores, there is a achievment screening summary it
says: reading- B spelling- C handwriting- D language- D social studies- C science- D and math-C and the only thing on here about adaptive behavior is summary results and it says Kendra’s adaptive skills appear to be somewhat below same age peers. I don’t see anything about adaptive behavior scale. We can’t change teachers because there is no other teacher to teach special ed ,believe me we would have changed already.She goes to counciling once a week at school.
The WISK 3 test is the test she was given to for her IQ tests, so does this mean sence she has a language disorder that these scores are not correct or that they would interfere with the results of the IQ tests?The results of these test are as follows:

Verbal IQ 76 72-84 Borderline
Performance IQ 64 61-74 IntellectuallyDeficient
Full Scale IQ 68 65-74 Intellectually Deficient
VC 84 79-91 Low Average
PO 62 59-73 Intellectally Deficient
FD 55 53-69 Intellectally Deficient
PS 80 75-91 Low Average
I didn’t know if that would help out or not.

Wendy,

Those tests alone don’t tell us enough to advise you correctly. Your daughter has more than a language disability, though. The achievement scores would be important because we’d like to know if she is functioning at a level far below her grade. If she is, being in the regular class might be questionable for any academic subjects.

I think you have a great attitude about the spelling and grammar comments! I’m sure you do have plenty to keep you busy with 5 children! Since you obviously are a bright person but have the difficulty with spelling, it is very possible that your daughter has some learning disabilites that stem from an inherited condition. These things often are seen in families.

The verbal score has the most to do with language. The performance score is more like a non-verbal score. When children have low verbal and performance scores, they are sometimes considered educably mentally disabled if they also show adaptive behavior scores of a younger child. It may be that a child has a combination of language and non-verbal learning disabilities, but this would be impossible to assess without seeing a lot testing.

Do you not think your daughter might be happier in a special class most of the day, where she can have the teaching addresed to her particular needs rather than being in a class where she can’t keep up and the teacher cannot give her the individual atttention she needs?

I think rather than a teacher problem you may have an inappropriate placement.

Janis

Most of my problem is a typing problem not a spelling problem. I was a straight A student in language and spelling. My trouble was in history and science.Just thought I would throw that in there.

Great! I can guarantee you can type better than I can! I am SLOW typing!

Janis

I loved the joke, it was nice to be able to actually laugh about dyslexia. I also loved your comments, they are so true. We aren’t really all teacher haters…..and you’re right, there are a few good ones. Most of us are all frustrated and only want our kids to have the right to learn in the enviroment that meets their needs, regardless of how inconvient (oops, spelling) it is to the school system.