
So funny. I start out with just a few Show Notes and then, while I'm doing the show, I realize that there are other interesting things you may want to know. The list just grows and grows!
As a former 3rd grade teacher, I'm concerned. It's not just that she's in a class of super students, but that the teacher's perception is that she should be turning in a stronger performance.
Her daughter had a tough delivery and kids who struggled to get out of the womb in a timely fashion are vulnerable to learning problems and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
I recommended that Momma get her girl evaluated both through the public school and privately. School districts conduct very limited assessments because their goals are to determine eligibility for special ed services and to have enough information to craft the support plan.
While eligibility for a program and services might be proven, there's very little information to craft an effective support plan. A diagnostic evaluation is required to determine all areas of suspected disability (find out all of the problems). Only private psychologists can make diagnoses and have the luxury of collecting all of the data they need to craft a comprehensive plan.
And, private psychologists can tell you about every service, placement and resource that your child needs to remediate their weaknesses. School district personnel are allowed to tell you only about the services schools offer.
Here are two posts that will guide Momma to advocate effectively for her girl.
The Special Education Referral
The Special Education Assessment
Momma may want to consider enrolling her daughter in Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes services for the winter break. They will conduct an evaluation to determine where her daughter should begin remediation in their programmed instruction. It's a very well-researched and well-regarded remediation service.
In 24 years of private practice evaluating kids, teens and young adults, I saw a distinctive pattern of kids being referred. Many were in 3rd grade, 6th grade and 9th grade. During these grades, the curriculum picks up in both speed of production and the complexity in the kinds of thinking skills required to be successful.
Edward Hallowell, M.D., who wrote Driven to Distraction about adult ADHD and is, himself, impacted by both ADHD and dyslexia, wrote a book called When You Worry About the Child You Love. He also saw that we "lose kids" as early as the 3rd grade. It's a good read.
Oh, how blind we are to ourselves!! Here's the full article.
I really don't think it's his age that the girls are objecting to, but that's just me.
I "identify" as a 20-something super model, but no amount of legal petitioning is gonna make it "so"...hahaaa...I'm not telling the truth. Is my nose cold??
Just do the best you can,
Claudia
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