Any thoughts would be helpful.
My son is in the fifth grade. He has been diagnosed ADD, he is learning disabled, and has a hearing loss for the time being. He is scheduled for surgery on June 8th. After that I plan to get an evaluation for CAPD.
I am not getting anywhere with the school.He is in the mainstream and has resource room for thirty min. a day. Science and SS are modified.
Organization is very difficult for him. If I hear that he needs to be more responsible or they just don’t have the time to help him one more time……. I am going to scream. He tries very hard and is a real sweetie.
I have tried to be very observant this year to discover where exactly my son’s difficulties lie, so I know better what to ask for.
In doing that ….one thing really stands out…..he has failed every open book test this year in Science. He is not able to locate the answers in the text. He can read just find. When I ask him what he thinks is giving him a hard time he replies” I look and look for the answer but I can never find it so I just guess”. Sometimes he tells me that he thought his answer WAS right.
What would you suggest I do for him over the summer that will help him with that?
Thanks much,
Mo
Re: Finding answers in the book
Personally, I think finding answers in an open book test is more difficult than taking the test without the book. For students with LD, skimming, remembering and repeating what was just read are all advanced skills to be taught over the years. Can he give you the right answers if you ask him verbally? If so, can you ask his teacher to do the same. I find for my son, this always helps.
Re: Finding answers in the book
What great suggestions! Getting next years book would be very helpful. I have never concentrated on if he actually knows it or not, but I will from now on.
Thanks much,
Mo
How many open book tests will he have? Few teachers at my school give them. But if his do, then you and he need to make sure he’s very familiar with the book. Many students hear open book and believe they don’t have to read the book ahead of time. Big mistake.
What if it were a closed book test? It concerns me that he needs to guess at the answers. That suggests that he isn’t familiar with the material as well as having trouble finding answers in the book.
First, I’d make sure the book is getting read and read thoroughly. Have him prepare as if it’s a closed book test. Make up sample tests and have him take them. Go over the material and ask him the questions at the end of the chapter.
If he can do that, he should be able to do well on the test ,open book or not. If you want to spend time over the summer, find out what next year’s science book will be. You can order a copy from the publisher to keep at home and have him read it over the summer.