Back in November, My last conference with my daughters 3rd grade teacher did not indicate any problems. She was doing average work but had a problem handing in homework assignments. We discussed the issue of her illegible handwriting and determined that she may have the school therapist talk to her.
I received a note home today explaining that we need to have a conference about her behavior, poor handwriting skills and not handing in written assigments, some are done in school.
I suspected she had a problem since last year since her 1st grade handwriting was better than her second grade writing.
In researching how to improve her handwriting I came across the word dysgraphia and some of the characteristics fit hers, such as no spacing between words, letters are sometimes backwords, words are mispelled even the same word is spelled differently in the same writings. I contributed some of this to the fact that she is left handed and I could not show her how to write correctly.
My question is if she was evaluated by an occupational therpist at the school, would they have not suspected this and let me know their findings? The teacher insists that she is just lazy and disruptive. She is not like that at home. We struggle on nighlty basis with any form of writing assignment and she becomes very emotional and says she just can’t do any better. We usually end the night very fustrated with each other and nothing gets accomplished. I am at a total loss of what to do or where to go.
I have made her write things over and over and each one is no better than the next.
I am to meet with her teacher but am concerned that I don’t know what I should ask. If she is committed to her being lazy and the occupational therapist says there is nothing wrong, do I seek alternative consult and who do consult with?
Any suggestions is greatly appreciated.
Tina
New and need some guidance
It is unlikely that your dd has been tested by the school OT because you would have to sign paperwork for the testing. So, what you may want to be prepared to do is to have a written letter requesting testing. All requests need to be in writing! This documents your requests and keeps them from saying “that was never discussed….”.
You may also want to have her tested for other issues. Some spelling difficulties can come from auditory issues (have good hearing but the processing gives them trouble, especially with blended sounds) and visual disorders which can also be a cause for backwards letters, misspellings, etc.
Take lots of notes on what the teacher tells you during the meeting. This will give you a good basis for requesting full testing under IDEA. A great place for IEP info is http://www.wrightslaw.com Remember to document, document, document.
Re: New and need some guidance
Thank you for the advice. I had a conference with her teacher who said she was tested by the the school districts OT. At this time they find no reason for further therapy. The report she gave me from the OT.
I asked of the OT’s qualifications, she said IEP. Of course, the report I read made no sense to me as I don’t know a thing about what tests are performed and what the evalutation consists of. Her teacher and I have worked out a home and school work plan trusting in her opinion that she just lacks some organizational skills. I hoping that it resolves itself by the end of the school year. If I don’t see improvement next marking period I think I will seek additional advise from a independent source. I have also set an appointment with her pediatrician in hopes that he may offer some further advice.
Thank you again.
Tina
Re: New and need some guidance
EV,
I think we just have trust in our parental insticts here. I am definately a push over when it comes to teachers. Our lack of knowledge in learning disabilites tend to make us trust the teachers opinion. I have always thought that many dx of learning disabilities was just poor discipline, and I am sure some are. In my case, I do have contact with her teacher, she seems to know enough about LD, at tleast more than myself, so I am just praying she is guiding us in the right direction. My guess is that we are too far into the school year for it to make a difference in. I am willing to work with her in hopes that we can make some improvements by year end. If I don’t see any impreovement by third marking period, I will probably make further consult with and independent councilor. I hope you find what it causing your daughters problem, too! I feel so helpless and at the mercy of others who feel she is not normal because she make A’s where they think she should. Best wishes for a speedy resolution.
Tina
Oh my goodness… you posted my problem with my grade 3 daughter almost word for word to what I would have written. I hope you get a response, I will be looking to see if you do, as I need help with this one as well. I am new to this site, so sorry no helpful advice.