when and how do I determine not making progress

Most new special ed. teachers are probably extremely overwhelmed on the eighth day of school! They are beginning to process just how much they were not taught in college! They probably have too many kids to serve and are having to learn the needs of each child. They are proabaly being told that the paaperwork better be done right, or else! This is reality…it will take her some time to get a feel for what she needs to be doing..no way around that. She may or may not have good materials and she may or may not be trained to use them. She may or may not yet have the expertise needed to teach diagnostically. I realize this will be no comfort to you, but please give the teacher some time. I always say it takes a year for a new teacher to learn the job. The next year should be better. However, how good she is will be dependent on whether she has a knowledgeable mentor. Most of the outstanding special educators on this site have had much supplemental training privately (like Lindamood-Bell, Orton- Gillingham, etc.).

Regarding the math, I would see nothing wrong with asking (in a note to give her time to think about a response) what materials she will be using to teach your child math this year and how she plans to assess levels of instruction, etc. That will give you a feel for whether she has any idea of what she is doing or not.

Regarding spelling words, if your child is having reading tutoring in something like Orton-Gillingham, I’d be asking the tutor for appropriate spelling words.

Janis

Thanks for your input.My child is using the “Spalding” method with the tutor for spelling and will be using it to help her with her school spelling words so I feel pretty good about that.I had also posted earlier about higher math learning skills which it sounded like they don’t want to attempt for some reason.My child does know the concept of addition,subtraction,multiplication, and division but is not fluent in it.I was told she scored low on test because of the time limitation.She has expressive language difficulty and terms on word problems might not be clear for her.Her goal is to meet the standard of the State Essential Learnings for 3rd grade math.Objectives -tell time,count by 2,3,5,&10 to 100,make change from $10.00,and solve story problems using bacic calcuations in addition,subtraction,multiplication,and division.Is there something else I should get included? I am kind of getting frustrated with the learning support first year was great and I am hoping that person will mentor the new teacher.The second grade learning support switched to teaching, the third grade learning support left for personal reasons,and now I get someone fresh out of school and I will probably get someone new next year.

Offer this person your support. Say, “I work alot with my child at home and am ready to do what it takes to help you, help her.” Honestly, I am at the point that as long as the teacher doesn’t destroy my child’s self esteem I will take her/him. Long story related to an issue at school. I would happily take a fresh new teacher as long as she genuinly cared for the students and was motivated to help.

I think some teachers are not used to parents who pitch in. I was surprised recently by a mom I know and like who told me she just couldn’t find the time to read with her child who was really struggling with reading. I found this amazing, she was just so complacent. Teachers need to know that parents are out there. Some may get threatened by a parent with alot of knowledge but usually it is all in the approach.