A portion of the verdict is in…
The psychologist called late last night (as requested) and said the IQ portions are done.
Our daughter is testing at an early 3rd grade level, “…and that is being generous. It’s more second grade.” Although I am not surprised, as that was my assessment when we started homeschooling in the fall, I am feeling over whelmed.
(Note: She is 11 years old; in the 5th grade ~ we started kindergarten at 6 years because we didn’t feel she was ready, so she was already technically a year behind her peers!)
My main question to veteran homeschoolers is this: Do you re-adjust the curriculum to meet the child where she is? I mean, after all, how can she do the 5th grade stuff if she doesn’t have the 3rd and 4th grade skills? I know that seems like an obvious question, but...
if that is what we decide to do… what about those end of the year assessments?
If I am doing 3rd grade curriculum with my 5th grader, the 5th grade assessment is ridiculous to even administer, right? And if she gets the ‘below proficiency ‘ (which by the way is what she got last year while IN PUBLIC school!!) on the 5th grade exams, will the district and State of Ohio see that as me not doing my job with this kid homeschooling?
The psychologist explained the only way to put her back into the school system is if they got her an IEP for a severe Learning Delay (haven’t got all the formal diagnosis yet). And with this IEP they put her in a ‘Resource Room’.
Okay, so this is my next issue….
I have ‘issues’ (okay I have big issues) with the resource rooms… even for her sibling who has infantile autism!! It is seclusive, has a stigma, and I want her around peer models (which I know she isn’t getting at home either)!! This child’s emotional well-being is fragile, and this would destroy her!! (No, I am not over reacting, in case that popped into your head!!) This is a child who has been mainstreamed for her entire academic career up until now and…
So I know I already answered THAT question… no resource room for her!
That puts us back at homeschooling… AAARRRGGGHHH!! Apparently, I take this more seriously than then the “professionals” who said at the end of the school year that she was within the ‘norm’ (whatever that means!!) and denied any testing. Not only did they deny the MFE, they said even if they saw challenges in let's say math... they don't offer math intervention. Yes, I know they are totally out of line. I have been raising cain since the 2nd grade and this particular school district has done nothing! I am rightfully upset!! But, my main concern is my daughter right now.... I will deal with the district later.
As a mother what do you do? Your child’s school days and progress mold their future… how do I help this child????
Okay, to be continued after we get the diagnosis in….
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I hear your frustration. Our children are so precious to us.
ReplyDeleteOn assessment---According to HSLDA, Ohio does not require annual testing for homeschool students, it is one of three different options: http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/ohio.pdf
Apparently, you can opt for having a portfolio review by a licensed and certified teacher. The portfolio has to show that the student has improved over the year according to her ability, not according to grade-level.
I am not a lawyer, nor do I homeschool in Ohio, so do your own research and look into this.
I want to offer you some reassurance. Your goal is to help your daughter to succeed, which will mean meeting her where she is now, offering some challenge, so she grow developmentally. If you try to teach her at a level 2 grades above her ability, she probably will not succeed and may become dispirited continually attempting work beyond her capabilities.
But, and this is really really important, just because she is 2 grades "behind" now, does not mean she will always be 2 grades behind. With the right support (and you'll find out more about what that is once you have all your reports), there's no reason to suspect that she cannot overcome her particular obstacles, whatever they are, and excel. But excelling isn't the same for everyone.
Children have their own rate of development and their own profile of areas in which they are behind or are ahead. I learned the hard way that working beyond where my daughter was developmentally was a huge mistake that ended in tears and frustration. She has both autism and aphasia. No matter what educational setting she is in, she will be delayed because of her obstacles. Right now, she is 21 years old. She is doing pre-algebra for math (and we had to find the right program for that). She is reading books at about a 5th grade level. She is learning Spanish as a second language because half her family speaks Spanish while is refining her first language. She is vibrant. She is curious. She asks questions and wants to know more. She thinks and asks questions that show the thought behind it.
ReplyDeleteThe other issue we all face are state standards, which are OUT OF LINE of typical development. I have a typical son and we followed a more developmentally appropriate style of education (Charlotte Mason). He did not do any creative writing until after fourth grade because children need time to learn storytelling and mechanics. We did almost everything delayed according to standards. We never even gave him a standardized test in his life.
Today, he is a A/AB honor roll senior in public school. He easily passed the exit exam. He has been accepted in his college of choice The Citadel. His teachers love him because he cares about what he is learning. He doesn't just stop at a good enough grade. He asks the teachers what he did wrong to learn from his mistakes!
Homeschooling is the road less traveled but we can be shoved off it if we let fear drive our decisions.
Great questions to seek out answers about traditional Homeschooling. I can't fathom if you are teaching at child's cognitive level, that anyone would be accountable for material at a different level. Pure logic.
ReplyDeleteWish I knew someone in OH that does HS.
You do have a challenge with the school district you are in. I live in Georgia and I have not had much trouble with my son's special needs for testing. They work with him on every possible weakness. However my son is diagnosed with Asperger's and has never had severe academic challenges. This year we are finding spelling and math to be very hard for him but in part I know he is being a bit lazy with it because he likes it least so I have to work at finding ways to motivate him and ways to get it to stick.
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