School Bell: Special Education?

Is your child constantly frustrated by school work?  

Now is the time of year to kind of step back and consider whether it is typical temporary frustration or whether the frustration reflects a significant struggle to learn and to demonstrate learning. Schools are required to provide instructional support for children who are struggling to learn and who are shown [by special testing] to have a qualifying learning disability, processing problem, emotional disability or other qualifying condition.

If your child is working hard but making little progress, or is steadily falling behind his/her peers this is a good time of year to consider request your child be tested to see if they need special support to succeed. This problem can emerge at any grade level, but is often noticed between 3rd and 5th grade.

Testing is done within the school day and does not cost parents anything.  The school is required to get your permission before they initiate testing and you will be asked to sign permission for each type of test they plan to conduct.

Schools are required to respond within a specific time frame if you make a written request for an evaluation. When testing is done they will schedule a meeting to review the testing, determine if your child qualifies, and [if so] make a support plan.

If your child has struggled this year, despite reaasonable efforts, it is better to get the evaluation done this year for several reasons. 1- If the child qualifies, information and support plans will be in place when they begin next year rather than if you wait for the evaluation to see how next year goes.  2- The evaluations and questionnaires will receive input from teachers who have worked with your child and know your child this year, rather than if you wait until the fall when the teachers won't yet know your child.

Act sooner rather than later, because the evaluation process takes time and scheduling the followups can sometimes be challenging as well.  If you wait until the last month of school there will not be time to complete the process.

Note: If you have any specific questions, feel free to send them in a comment and I will do my best to answer. After 32 years as a teachert I can probably either answer your question or point you where to find an answer.

Image credits and thanks to:  cassidycash.com, eduguide.org, mylot.com

School Bell: Put it behind you!

Are your kids overwhelmed by the amount of homework each night? Do they start fighting as soon as they see the stack of work to be done? Do they shut down after the first 15 minutes? This tip won't change the amount, but it may help manage the burden.  This time of year the homework load is often at its highest. Lower the stress your kids may feel. Help them take it one step at a time. Help them learn how to put it behind them.... literally!

Quick Homework Strategy...

Have your child stack their assignments and books behind them or under the table while they work. Take out a timer and the top-of-the-pile assignment and work for 15 minutes.  Then stop, put that assignment at the bottom of the pile and take out the new top assignment and work for 15 minutes. Continue until all assignments are done or homework time is used up. 

Advantages: 

1-Your child learns to stop getting frozen by the perceived enormity of what is to be done and learns to focus on one thing at a time, giving it his/her best.

2- Each teacher's or subject's assignment gets some work time.

3-The teacher will see what your child can accomplish in 15 minutes.
4-Your child learns the habit of breaking tough projects into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Hint- Talk to your child's teacher in advance and explain what you are doing and why.  Most teachers will support this approach whole heartedly. Just be sure that your child doesn't always leave their least favorite topic until last "conveniently" running out of time before getting to it.   


Image credit and thanks: visualphotos.com, chinatraderonline.com

School Bell: Television for Study Skills

We are entering the more intensive part of the school year now. While homework time and review work are still going to be the staples of your helping your kids, try changing it up a bit by using television to help them learn.  Today.... teaching them a basic learning technique crucial to studying:

Summarizing

Summarizing [rather than retelling every tiny detail] is a skill and it needs practice. It is basic to eventual notetaking, reports, etc.

Television is especially useful because the story plots are broken up into clear segments by the commercial breaks.  

Younger kids: 
Start with a half hour show. Even cartoons can work because they have pretty simple, straight line plots. During the first commercial break ask your child what has happened so far in the show.  Help them put it into a sentence. You could even write it down if that helps.  Do it at each break. At the end of the show ask them to pick which sentence tells the main idea of that episode. 

Older kids:

Point out that if they put together the "main idea" sentence for each segment, they have a great summary of the entire story and that this is similar to the "plot outline" that authors use and teachers often ask kids to identify.  Keep a TV notebook of the shows they watch where they/you write in the summary sentence for each segment and star the main idea when they are through. 

Later on you can compare the summaries and begin to identify the concept of "genres' and eventually the characteristics of each genre etc.

[Note:  Often the genre they prefer in television will give you a hint in picking out books they are more likely to enjoy... comedies/humor, crime shows/mysteries, etc. ]

Next month I will show more ways of teaching literature through television.

Image credits: parentsavvy.com,,davisd0714.blog.com

School Bell: History Help

Kids often complain that history classes and history itself are dull, boring, and too hard. Flashcards, outlines and charts may help them organize, cluster, and memorize information. But, if you own a television, a DVD player and a library membership you have another opportunity to get your kids involved.

Children who have grown up in the television era [not to mention computer age] will find it far easier to focus on a television screen than a textbook.  Your job is to find sources that have accurate information.  These DVDs [or older videos] also help kids who are visual learners and can retain information they have watched better than information they have to read. Some of you may be old enough to remember the days of filmstrips in school.  Even filmstrips were more fun to watch than reading the history book assigned chapter paragraph by paragraph each child around the class!

Look through your child's textbook to see what topics and people will be covered during the year. Then search for programs about those.

Go online and search for National Geographic, Biography, and History Channel specials.  National Geographic has an array of interesting programs on state parks, regions of the country, and other geography based topics.  The History Channel is your source for info on wars, historical eras, etc.  The Biography Channel will help bring historical figures alive with details and more.

Once you have found a program, check out your school library or your town library to see what they have available for sign out.  If there is a specific one you want, ask the librarian if it is available through inter-library loan. Plan a 'Desserts and DVDs' or 'Brownies and Biographies' night at the start of each unit.  Your child will have an introduction to the topic that will be a baseline to hook with the information they cover in class. This will not only build interest, but help them retain what they hear in class. Try it!

PS. These DVD programs also provide great idea starters for history projects. [Ex: The History Channels program on the Navajo Code Talkers really fired up one of my kiddos to get excited about his project!]


Image credits: japanprobe.com, mtrushmorenationalmemorial.com,kaboodle.com, vetsed.org

School Bell: Teacher / Student Encouragement

By Halloween most school systems have finished their fall parent conferences.  For many they will be positive, for others they will confirm that a child is struggling.  This can be an opportunity to encourage both your student and his or her teacher with a small light-hearted token.

For the teacher... 
-- a roll of paper towels for their help in "cleaning up" or "tackling" the problem.
-- a short thank you note for their help in coming up with a plan for improving things.

For the student... 
-- a box of paper clips or rubber bands because "together we're are going to hold it together"
-- a pad of cute sticky notes to help you "stick with it"

[If you used one of these earlier in the year, choose a different one now.] The point is just to let both your child and the teacher know that the issues you discussed at parent conference are remembered and that they can both count on you to follow-through and help resolve the problem. The child needs to know that you will be there to help, not just to nag or scold.  The teacher needs to know that you can handle bad news as well as good, that you will work with them and with your child.

As a veteran teacher I can assure you that the teacher wants every single child to succeed. Happy, successful children are easier, more fun, and more rewarding to be working with each day. Experiencing success and feeling hopeful creates a wonderful synergy of energy and achievement in a classroom, regardless of where each individual starts the year. Working together as a team helps make that happen.

School Bell: Parent Conference Tips

Last Monday I talked about assesing the start your children have made this year and encouraged conversation with his or her teacher.  So, we have already talked about the importance of sharing the home perspective with the teacher on school in general and on the homework front as well. Here are three key tips to keep in mind as you prepare for that conference.

Bring specific questions.

"How is he doing?" is less helpful than "What area does he need to work on?" "Who does she usually buddy up with for team projects?" instead of "Is she getting along with others okay?" These can help you be more effective helping your child with both studying and social concerns.

Prioritize and Make a list.

Having a list of key things you want to cover or questions you want answered is one of the best ways to be sure you don't get sidetracked during the conference or stuck talking in platitudes and generalities.  Most conferences are limited to around 20 minutes. The teacher will have information to share, so decide your top two priorities and write them down to make sure you cover them!

And....
If you can't get to everything, make an appointment to continue the discussion, chances are there is another parent waiting in the hallway for their 20 minutes.

Image credit: angelamaiers.com

School Bell: Let's Go Fishing Again!

On request I am repeating this post from last year.  People have had great luck with it and suggested I repost it. So... here you are.... Enjoy!

Try this trick for getting your reluctant child to do their homework or practice their spelling or math facts.

Let's Go Fishing!:  Buy a bag of goldfish type crackers. Make a construction paper fishing picture with a boat on water and an assortment of simple outline fish in the water.

You can put on peel and stick fish or draw your own using something like this coloring page of fish you can download and use as an idea starter. When they start their homework put a goldfish cracker on top of each fish on the paper. [You should have 8-15 fish depending on the project or the child's age.] For each question they answer, or each spelling word they get right, etc. they get to eat one of the goldfish crackers.

Let's Go on Safari! :
If goldfish aren't their style try using animal crackers.  Do a safari theme using a download like one of these!] and place the appropriate animal cracker on the pictures.  You can even just take a photo of the jungle and lay the crackers anywhere you want on the picture. Use your imagination. As with the fish, for each answer done they get to eat one of the animals.

The few crackers they eat make a relatively healthy after school snack and often motivate and reward the child for tackling that list of math problems or other dreaded work. Try it!

Image credit: qwickstep.com

School Bell: Teacher Introductions

Now is the perfect time to start building a spirit of cooperation and support with your child's teacher/school. Classrooms across the country are faced with increasing budget cuts.  This gives you a simple opening to make contact with your child's teacher.  Don't just show up at school and pump them with questions.  Arrive after school ends, and as any guest, bring a hostess gift.  No, you're not bribing them any more than a dinner guest is bribing their host.

Bring things that will help the teacher support your child and the rest of the class. Things that are never covered in a school budget but always needed to keep a classroom running smoothly. Any of these can be found at your local dollar store. Bring them as they are of tie them with a ribbon and a "Have a good year" tag. Hold the barrage of questions for later... the teacher will remember you as being helpful and thoughtful and the stage will be set for good communication. If there is a pressing concern, write it in a note and send it the next day or by email.

     1. extra pencils or pens

     2. cheeze/animal cracker snack bags.

     3. box of tissues [perfect for fall allergies & colds]

If your child is particularly challenging or had a rough start, one of these ideas might fit well:

     4. Roll or bag of life savers...
Note: "You were a real life saver these first few weeks for Johnny."

     5. Box of paper clips, rubber bands, whatever...
Note: "Thanks for helping Susie keep it together these first few weeks!"

     6. fun sticky notes or glue sticks
Note: "Thanks for sticking to it even on the tough days!"

Image credits:  123rf.com, ehow.com, childparenting.about.com

Focus on Fostering: Morning Routines ..2 ideas

Oh the pain of getting kids out the door in the morning!  They are supposed to be clean, reasonably dressed, fed, teeth brushed, backpacks in hand, homework in backpack, lunch or snack or money with them.... and on the list goes.  If you are at home when they leave you are exhausted as the door slams behind them.  If you are also trying to get yourself to work on time, you may arrive with one navy and one black shoe one of these days! Routines are especially comforting for kids new to your home, or who need the extra structure of a pattern.

Two words... No, not Calgon Bouquet!  Not peace and quiet.  and NOT boarding school... [however tempting].

Simplify and organize.

Anything you can do before the morning to simplify the process is time well spent... even if it is after 11 pm. Trust me, you will be grateful in the morning. Today's tip for simplifying is for those whose children eat cereal for breakfast.  Forget the pretty cereal bowls and buy some cute reusable food storage bowls with lids. Before bed, the cereal of choice is poured into the bowl, lid put on [so cereal stays crisp and safe from pets], and bowl with spoon are laid out at the table all ready for the morning rush. [This also sidesteps "S/He won't pass the box" spats.]

Organize the process into a pattern, a routine. This helps some of it eventually become automatic. True, the concept of teeth brushing as a morning priority or coordinated clothes as an asset may not become automatic until they are teens and have extra social motivation. But a routine helps. My younger kids never left the house without their snack... it was a big priority for them.  Our morning went much smoother when I gave each child a clipboard checklist [photos for younger gremlins] that they had to checkoff and hand to me to get their snack.  They would rush thru and check off the list item by item to be sure they got that snack in time for leaving.

Share some of your ideas?  We could all use help!

Image credits: faceliftphiladelphia.net, picture-book.com, tupperware.com

School Bell: Tree Science Craft

All joking of last weekend's Weather Rock put aside, there are other science activities that can sometimes capture the reluctant scientist.  Here are a few summer activities to try. [Be sure not to check out poison ivy or sumac or oak!]

Coloring/Rubbings:
Take a sheet of white paper and some crayons to a park or other place with different size, type of trees.  Place the paper on the tree bark and color the paper with a crayon, capturing images of the rough or smooth bark. Collect different kinds of bark rubbings. Older kids may want to label each rubbing with the kind of tree and where they found the tree [plus of course, like any good scientist keeping records.... add the date and their name!]

Tree/Plant Conversations:

Go for a walk in a place, neighborhood, or park with different kinds of trees.  Talk with your child about what they see. [If you have binoculars or a simple magnifying glass, bring it and show them how to use it.] Help them see the details that make different plants and trees individual.  Here are some ideas to start....Is it a tree or a plant?  A flower or bush?  Why?  Are there blossoms? [single or several on a stem, clusters? All same color or different shades?]

Are there needles? [Are the needles in groups or not? Are there cones? What shape?] Are there leaves? [Are the leaves pointed or rounded? What shape are the leaves? ] IS there bark? [Smooth or rough? Light or dark? Peeling? Vertical or Around?] Are the leaves sharp? smooth, scratchy, long or short?]

Photography Match:
        Beginners:
Help your child take pictures of different kinds of trees [or bushes or even flowers] that you see in your area, a park, or on a trip. Help them make a scrapbook of all the trees or plants they discovered.  They will learn observation of differences and similarities, especially if you've already helped them during tree conversations. 
        Intermediate:
Have your child take separate pictures of the tree trunks, the tree branches, and the leaves. Do this with several different kinds of trees.  Print the photos and mount on 3x5 or 4x6 index cards. Scramble and make a game of trying to match the right bark, branch pattern, and type of leaf . Go back to the original trees if you need to check your guesses.
        Advanced: 
Research online to determine the name of the kind of tree and put that on a fourth card. This makes sets of four for each type of tree.  Try to get enough different sets you can play card games like old maid with them by gathering sets of each tree's components and name.  [Maybe take a pic of a tree stump or dead tree for the old maid card?]

Keep a Tree Trunk Journal:
Pick a tree and follow it through the summer.  Observe and take notes about what you see. Date each visit.  Ideas of things to look for:  Insects on the bark. Changes in the bark.  Fungus or lichen or moss on the bark. Signs of birds or woodpeckers.  Signs of squirrels, chipmunks other animals. Signs of humans?

What kind of things are growing around the base of the tree trunk?  How tall are they now?  How tall are they in a month? Can you reach around the whole tree trunk?  How many people do you need to reach all around the whole tree trunk? Are there blossoms? leaves? seeds? cones? Do they change or disappear? What other things can you track?


Remember, the goal is to help them observe, think, and record..... and to have fun with you while doing it!

Parenting Tips: Movie School?

On Monday I promised another idea today that would help kids maintain their comfort with routines, accountability, and the school skills of observing, thinking, and recording.  Tonight I suggest making a routine of one night each week being Movie/Television Night with the family gathered around some very specially chosen DVDs or movies.

Parents.. your job is to enjoy the time with the kids but also posing questions that will challenge your kids to think, making comments that support their observations, and celebrating the excitement of their discoveries. Help them see the wonder, experience amazement, and feed their curiosity. Plus... it is great family time once a week. [Maybe even break out the popcorn or ice cream!]

For less than the price of going to a family cartoon movie, or the latest sequel.... you can purchase these DVDs to own.  But, check out your local library or video lending store. Find some non-story based, fact filled, visually stunning DVDs or videos.  Often you can check out a few episodes online to see what DVD works best for your family. Many can be downloaded for under $2 per episode. Here are a few examples that my kiddos have loved and learned while loving them.

from the Eyewitness series: Based on the amazing DK Eyewitness books, this series will fascinate the whole family... my kids started with the "Pond and River" DVD [under $10].

from television:  Try Discovery Channel's Time Warp Season 1- two DVDs [10 episodes on each]..$13. Each episode the hosts film common and uncommon actions in super slow motion and give us a peek at what happens too fast for the human eye to see.  Whether it is an arrow piercing and breaking a row of 3 water balloons, a simple drop of water, a pool shot, or any of the other ideas... this series is going to surprise everyone. If that doesn't sound like something your kids will like browse around...The Discovery Channel will have something else to entice even the most stubborn... "Mythbusters," "How Its Made" or "How Do They Do It?" are my kids' long-time favorites!

Try a travel series:  We got "South Africa" from Questar's Best of Travel series, but there are all kinds of travel DVDs so I suggest renting these before buying to be sure the narration style and degree of detail fits the age and interest of your children. [My kids loved replaying over and over the "Safari" section but would fast forward through some of the description of Cape Town]

Note: I got each of these for about $10 used, but even new they are between $15-$20.

Soapbox: Independence and Irony

Yesterday I had the chance to spend the morning talking with several social workers at a local family agency, who work particularly with youth and adults whose ability to live independently is or may be compromised.  I mentioned that I hadn't decided what to chat about today.  After seeing one of my long-held theories hit home for some I decided I had found my topic.  Not a more typical rant, but a sad, ironic observation and conclusion.

Observation: 
Is is a painful irony that in our American society those young people who are least prepared, least likely, and least able to be successful at living independently are forced to live independently two, four, or even six years sooner than those young people who are most prepared and most able.


This is true whether you are considering their intellectual ability, their emotional ability, their skills level, their instincts or anything else.  This is true whether you consider kids exiting foster care, kinship care,or adoptive and biological families.  Are there occasional exceptions, yes. But, they are occasional if not rare.

The most able of our young people do not have to live independently when they become legal adults at age 18. They move out of home and into a different kind of "supported transitional community"--- a two year community college or trade school, a four year college, some even extend their transition time to include graduate school. They don't face the challenges of independent living until they are in their twenties, sometimes their late twenties.

Image the difference in brain development, skill acquisition, street smarts, social skills, work skills, organizational ability, responsibility, trust, judgement etc etc etc between a 12 year old and an 18 year old.  Now consider the difference between an 18 year old and a 22-24 year old! Consider the illustration above [I couldn't find an image for 12-24 but there are lots of heavy scientific studies and even more plain language reports]:

And then there are finances.  These most able young people generally enter the job marketplace at income levels far about those of the 18 year olds entering the marketplace with a high school diploma at best.  This allows them the luxury of budget and spending mistakes with more opportunity to fix their mistakes than young people living check to check, often with no support system that comes close to the systems available to their older, more able counterparts.

Conclusion: 

If we are not willing and able to prepare these less able young people for successful independent living, or to support them more effectively through their transition to independence, we will end up supporting a large percentage of them through jails, shelters, welfare programs, and other less effective, more expensive bandaid, patchwork approaches. 

If we want the maximum number of people to become contributing members of our society the first step is enabling, training, educating, supporting all young people to be successful at living to the greatest possible degree of independence to which they are able. We need to make independent living skills as important to school curriculums as math, or science, or anything else. 

Image credits: bradstow.wandsworth.sch.uk, pps.k12.or.us, ehow.com

School Bell: Legible Handwriting?

One of the many school skills that tends to slip over the summer is handwriting.  Whether your child is at the printing stage or cursive [script] stage, finding ways to keep them using it during the summer is essential.  Many schools are reducing the time per week and the number of years of instruction that are given.  It is increasingly up to the student to take that instruction time and practice and improve on their own.

During the summer find any and every excuse to get your child writing or printing.  Here are a few ideas starting with very little writing and increasing for more skilled, older kiddos.

1. Have them make name cards for table places.

2. Have them make labels for objects in the room so they also learn to read and spell new words. [Ex: lamp, table, chair, desk, fan, door, window, etc.] If words are too hard, they can make a card with the starting letter for that object [Make a game of trying to find something in the house with each alphabet letter!]

3. Dictate [spelling aloud if needed] a short grocery list  to them before you head out.

4. Have them "help" you by writing a reminder for you on a sticky note.

3. Use a question/answer journal at least once a day... [ex: You write "What time do you want to go to bed tonight? or What would you like for supper sometime this week? or whatever.. and put the paper/journal on their bed.... Your child must read it, write their answer and leave the paper/journal on your bed when finished.

4. Allow them to work toward a special privilege by writing a postcard each day/week to a distant family member or friend. [Greeting, Closing, and 1-3 sentence content depending on age] Mail them!!

5. Do the same with longer letters for older kids.  Try to pick people who may answer as it will be more motivating if they get a response. [If you run out of relatives... politicians, especially state or national Senators and Congressmen, are fun options too.]

6. Have them keep a Summer of 2011 Journal.  Each day they are to write [or print] about their day.  Depending on their age you can adjust expectations... words, lists , sentences, paragraphs. You be the judge.

Last but not least... Remember that practice may not make perfect, but it does improve.  Don't hesitate to start with small, old-fashioned repetition work... I have one who is struggling with cursive. She can get first choice of where to sit at the dinner table each night that she has written her name in cursive 10 times that day.  It doesn't take her all that long, sometimes she spaces it out through the day, sometimes she does it all at once.  But she loves to get first dibs on seating... by doing this during a summer that otherwise she might not have to write her name in cursive even once.... she is willing and doing her name in cursive up to 70 times a week!

You know what motivates your child.  Change it up when needed.  But however small, do some!  Not only will they avoid losing as much ground over the summer, they may maintain their skill level, or maybe even make advances!


Image credits: faithwriters.com, ochandwriting.com, nt4kids.org, kiboomu.com

School Bell: Pesky Multiplication Facts

Do you have a child still struggling to learn those blasted multiplication tables before the end of the year?  Maybe your child is just  beginning to learn the tables. Maybe they are stuck on one or two of the sets, like the 7s or the 6s. Here is a tip that is not a cure, but IS a good way to sneak in some extra practice AND some extra togetherness in a fun, enjoyable way.

For beginners or to make it easier start with just the facts tables for 1-3. Go to a local craft store and buy two small wooden cubes [about 25¢ each]. Number each of the six sides with 1, 2, or 3, making a pair of 1-3 dice. 

Pick out your child's favorite board game.  Pick one with a long trail [like Parcheesi, Sorry, etc.]. Announce that this time when you roll the dice you won't move the total of the two dice, but the product of the two dice. 

So what would have been a move of 6 spaces can change into a move of 8 [2x4], 9 [3x3] or only 5 [5x1]. At first it may slow down the turns a bit while the child figures the math, they will move around the board faster too.  For real beginners you can make the move in sets [2x4 means moving 4 twice] to discover the total move [in that case 8], or allow a multiplication table or calculator. If you have only a bit of time, choose any trail game, disregard all other rules, and just see who is first to get one playing piece all the way around the board and back to the start. 

For intermediates use facts tables for 1-6. Use a pair of regular 1-6 dot dice and multiply the two numbers of each roll. Skip all the other rules and sidetracks and just make it a race once or twice around the board.  The range of random dice rolls that cam mean moving anywhere from 1 space [1x1] to 36 [6x6] will keep it moving and exciting. And, when a roll that might have been 12 [6+6] becomes a whopping 36 [6x6] it is always anyone's game to "win." 

To make it harder use one 1-6 die and one of your 1-3 dice so that the game will review the facts tables from 1-9. 

If you have a real math whiz, you can even challenge them to use both 1-6 dice and roll them twice for each turn [one for the first number and one for the second] so that they learn the mental math for 1-12 multiplication! For the not-so-whiz maybe you allow a calculator for the 11s and 12s. 


If you are targeting a specific table [like the 7s or 9s or whatever the child is stuck on] focus on just that table. Roll the dice only once and multiply that by the number you are practicing.

Remember, these are not magic cures, but they usually offer more practice, and happier shared time than flashcard drills.  


Image credits:  softpedia.com, gifted.uconn.edu, unit5.org, craftparts.com, edupics.com

School Bell: Nearing the Home Stretch

About a month ago, I recommended a mid-March check in with your child's teachers and setting of goals for the next month.  Well, the month is up, so guess what.... time to check in again and see how he or she did with their goals.  Did you see a difference at home with the homework time?  Did you see more papers coming home?, fewer assignments "left" at school?, better grades?, less stress?, less drama?  How did it go? In Maine we are rapidly approaching Spring break. Then comes the last 6-8 weeks of school. The home stretch.

NOW is the time to be sure your child is not in jeopardy of failing any subjects.  If they are you need to come up with a specific plan with the child and the teacher that includes frequent updates for you.It may not be a happy conference for your child, but chances are the child is already anxious about the situation. No one likes an F on a June report, especially if it comes as a surprise.  And if you wait until mid-May there might not be time to bring the grade up.  Most teachers will be more than willing to help you and your child work with them to come up with a plan.

Help your child by always focusing on this as a way OUT of a problem, rather than focusing on the fact that they are IN a problem. Same facts, different focus. Make a paper chain with a giant start at the end. Each link represents a step toward their goal. [Label them with assignments to be done, or 15-minute chunks spent studying, etc.]  Every few task links, put in a celebration link.  The celebrations can start out small and get bigger, the important thing is that you are celebrating every step toward progress that your child makes.  Every fifteen minutes of extra work, every makeup assignment completed.

NOTE: If you have a spring break coming up, meeting beforehand will give you a chance to jump start the catching up process during vacation by using mini-school sessions to work on back assignments with your child. If so: I recommend scheduling them for early in the day and having the completion earn afternoon privilege activities!

Image credits:  msnbs.msn.com, cpacinc.org, sites.google.com blogs.babycenter.com

School Bell: Special Ed? Learning Disability?

Many parents who know I am a former school teacher come to me when they are worried about a lack of progress by one of the kids. They wonder how to know when you need to have a child evaluated for possible special education needs. There are many reasons for receiving special education, but the one most people don't understand well is learning disabiities. Learning disabilities may start to show up at any time, but the the most common sign is that a gap develops between your child and the rest and the gap gets wider and wider and wider. There is no simple answer but here a few typical red flags:

• your child is working hard but making little progress
• your child does noticeably better in one area than another
[ex: struggles to read but does fine in math]
• when you help or teach your child something one night, your child does not seem to remember it the next
• your child makes a particular kind of mistake over and over
[ex: mixing ps and bs or ds or 6s and 9s]

Bottom line.... 
                     Trust your gut! 

And by the way, ...
if it is a teacher suggesting testing to you, trust your teacher's gut and have the testing done. They really do want your child to succeed.

If you decide you want testing:
Make your request in WRITING..



In your letter it is most important that you:
       1- Date the letter.
       2- Identify your child.
       3- Specifically request testing for special education.
       4- Give a few specific examples of how your child struggles.
       5- Provide contact information
       6- Ask who to follow up with later.


                                           SAMPLE LETTER

April xx, 201x

Dear Principal So and So,

My daughter, Sally Struggles is in the third grade in your school in Mr. Teacher’s class. She is having problems at school and I think she might need special help to succeed at school. I am writing to officially request the school test Sally to see if she needs and qualifies for special education services.

Sally works very hard on her homework every night, but just doesn’t seem to understand what she is supposed to do. She does ok in reading, but seems to be totally lost in math. I try to help her but even when she finally gets it, the next night it seems like she has forgotten all we did the night before.

How long will it take for Sally’s testing? Do you need my signature for anything regarding testing? Who should I talk to about some questions I have? Please call me in the next 10 days. You can reach me at home at 200-100-1234. Thank you for your help.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Struggles

Any other questions??   Remember that early intervention is best.  Good luck!!

Image credits: bryanking.net, autism-community.com