My child's school

[crocmommy]

Had a meeting at the school for my oldest daughter. Why ask me to be there at 7.30 if we aren't going to start until after 7.45. Felt like I was at a doctors office. And they had the principal, counselor, and 2 teachers at this meeting. Felt a bit ganged up on...

[glenn/dallas]

to be continued ?

[crocmommy]

Not really. They are going to "test" her now. I've been wanting this for 3 years. Does anyone else have experience dealing schools when your child has trouble learning for whatever reasons?

[Red Oak]

With a Grand Daughter, typical Government Worker attitude.

If I could perform one magic act in life, it would be to take Education out of the Government and return it to the Community.

[ann jusko]

We were so blessed. We transferred our kids to Rains ISD when the kids were very young. One hadn't started school, yet. The oldest was in third grade. I will be forever grateful for that. One child had hearing and eye problems. We had a very rough year when he was in third grade. We toughed it out and his fourth grade teacher was wonderful. It was so amazing. We did have him tested at Collier but his eardrum was like a washboard. At that time there was nothing they could do for him. We also took him to a pediatric eye doctor. We waited 11 months for that appointment, but it was worth it. What a change in a child. In third grade he would get off the school bus dejected every day. In 4th grade, even his posture changed as he got off the school bus. He was optimistic due to that teacher.

[Fitzroy]

You might consider going outside of the system for some independent assessment.

The Learning Center of North Texas in Fort Worth helped us get to the bottom of why our son did poorly on standardized tests. We presented the results of that to the school and they approved the recommended accommodation.

[crocmommy]

I don't really care for Aliza's reading teacher. If I want to find out anything I have to contact her to which I usually get a short and curt response. It just doesn't encourage any further communication which is too bad. But, I tell my husband that if I had to deal with a room full of 4th graders day in and day out that I probably wouldn't be the nicest person in the world either.

[Fitzroy]

My sister was in special ed for a local ISD and did assessments. It's become a horrible legalized process and the people across the table from you don't like how it works any better than you did.

It sounds like the lack of help from the reading teacher caused you to get thrown into this process.

All that aside, if there's a reading problem, that'll impact your daughter in a lot of ways. Good testing will tell you a lot. We wish we'd gotten on top of our son's much earlier than we did.

[jellowrestling]

My sister was in special ed for a local ISD and did assessments. It's become a horrible legalized process and the people across the table from you don't like how it works any better than you did.

It sounds like the lack of help from the reading teacher caused you to get thrown into this process.

All that aside, if there's a reading problem, that'll impact your daughter in a lot of ways. Good testing will tell you a lot. We wish we'd gotten on top of our son's much earlier than we did.

I had a longer response, but lost internet connection and the post, so I'm re-posting, but don't have much time.

The meeting you described is basically the minimum required to have it. If you felt ganged-up on, then they didn't do a good job of making you at ease with the process. I've been in meetings (rarely)with more than 20 people.

[crocmommy]

My sister was in special ed for a local ISD and did assessments. It's become a horrible legalized process and the people across the table from you don't like how it works any better than you did.

It sounds like the lack of help from the reading teacher caused you to get thrown into this process.

All that aside, if there's a reading problem, that'll impact your daughter in a lot of ways. Good testing will tell you a lot. We wish we'd gotten on top of our son's much earlier than we did.

I had a longer response, but lost internet connection and the post, so I'm re-posting, but don't have much time.

The meeting you described is basically the minimum required to have it. If you felt ganged-up on, then they didn't do a good job of making you at ease with the process. I've been in meetings (rarely)with more than 20 people.

Thanks. It started out with the counselor asking ME how I thought my child was doing. Felt like a trick question. I'm here so you all can tell me how she's doing was what I was thinking....

[jellowrestling]

My sister was in special ed for a local ISD and did assessments. It's become a horrible legalized process and the people across the table from you don't like how it works any better than you did.

It sounds like the lack of help from the reading teacher caused you to get thrown into this process.

All that aside, if there's a reading problem, that'll impact your daughter in a lot of ways. Good testing will tell you a lot. We wish we'd gotten on top of our son's much earlier than we did.

I had a longer response, but lost internet connection and the post, so I'm re-posting, but don't have much time.

The meeting you described is basically the minimum required to have it. If you felt ganged-up on, then they didn't do a good job of making you at ease with the process. I've been in meetings (rarely)with more than 20 people.

Thanks. It started out with the counselor asking ME how I thought my child was doing. Felt like a trick question. I'm here so you all can tell me how she's doing was what I was thinking....

I'm guessing that the counselor didn't want to come out and say that they had some concerns, and then identify those concerns. They (or she) wanted first for you to say what your concerns are. She/they could then say, "We are seeing the same things; we have also noticed such and such." Sometimes, a clear problem and solution emerges, but sometimes things are more complex. When the team isn't sure, they are more likely to deflect, because no one wants to say, "This is what we think the problem is", and then be proven wrong; that tends to negatively impact your confidence in them. The more information they can get, the better chance they can properly identify the source of the problem, and ultimately, a useful plan to address it. They certainly could have used a more direct approach, but that question also suggests they were trying to gauge your expectations for your daughter.

[LibraryLady]

I have never actually sat in one of these meetings.
However, legally certain people MUST be in the meeting--and that is why so many of the professionals are in there. I can appreciate that the parent would really feel ganged up on. If she goes into a program or several programs (reading, speech) then all the teachers involved have to participate. (just so you know)
Since she will be tested, the psychologist or whoever does the testing will be added to the group....along with the home room teacher and principal (or VP).

The opening question--I think it is presented to see if you are a parent who says, "Yes, she has some problems. That's why I have been asking for help."
Or if you are the parent who says, "I see no problem and am annoyed that you want me down here. It is your fault that she has not learned the information."

[crocmommy]

Thanks. It started out with the counselor asking ME how I thought my child was doing. Felt like a trick question. I'm here so you all can tell me how she's doing was what I was thinking....[/quote]
I'm guessing that the counselor didn't want to come out and say that they had some concerns, and then identify those concerns. They (or she) wanted first for you to say what your concerns are. She/they could then say, "We are seeing the same things; we have also noticed such and such." Sometimes, a clear problem and solution emerges, but sometimes things are more complex. When the team isn't sure, they are more likely to deflect, because no one wants to say, "This is what we think the problem is", and then be proven wrong; that tends to negatively impact your confidence in them. The more information they can get, the better chance they can properly identify the source of the problem, and ultimately, a useful plan to address it. They certainly could have used a more direct approach, but that question also suggests they were trying to gauge your expectations for your daughter.[/quote][/quote]

Are you a teacher Jellow? I have a question if you are.

[LibraryLady]

Jellow is a teacher --or at least he has taught in the past.

[jellowrestling]

Jellow is a teacher --or at least he has taught in the past.

I am a high school counselor. My wife is a special education teacher.

[GRANDPA]

My granddaughter Alyssa has just been diagnosed this week with dyslexia. She's really been struggling this year (2nd grade) in school. Some of the kids in her class think she's stupid, so she just shuts down when she's in a group. Absolutely heartbreaking. She does so much better in a one to one setting.