Trying not to be miffed at teacher..Mainstream Classroom Question

[Guest guest]

Hi, Again

Guess I'm on a roll with Questions, of late. We just found out today that Ian's regular classroom teacher isn't envolving him in reading the "harder" book that the other students are reading. He does get the two simpler books, and he does fine with them. If they send them home, I've been reworking them so the font is bolder and darker, so he can see them better. This seems to help him read the words easier than the fine line fonts. Well today, when DH took him to school and handed the reworked books to his aide, the teacher said we didn't have to do that. DH asked why and she said they just go over those once, and she sends the harder one (that they do in class) home for the other kids and Ian isn't envolved in with that one. DH was having to talk to the aide about some behavioral issues we're seeing with Ian, so didn't have time to talk to the teacher about this.

Now, why is Ian not involved with this harder book? Why is it not being sent home for him to practice with? What else is he not being included in? What is she including him in? What is he doing while he's in the regular classroom? These questions and many more come to mind. I am not amused....

Ian is doing well in math. He's doing addition and subtraction, with manipulatives. There really hasn't been anything else sent home to work on, except identifying more of one item, work with number lines, and a few things of this nature. He works on the spelling words from both the regular and resource classes, but they only grade him on the resource test. He does as good or better on the regular test, which is harder. He's doing great with the books that are being sent home, but I think he ought to be given the chance to read the harder ones, as well. He, at the very least, be involved during the class discussion and reading. If there are some behavioral issues, we should be made aware of them. I expect the time Ian spends in a regular classroom to be productive, not just free time.

Am I expecting too much? Are there other things I should be worried about? Ian's aide is wonderful, there are no concerns wit her, but what the teacher uses her for.

Donna K.