Fwd: Re: How to handle teachers (chris)

[Guest guest]

Hope this isn't a repeat, I sent it before the other's, but it never came to

me, so sent it again.

Hi

The Dr that just recently tested him for learning disabilities may have

tested him for dysgraphia, I'm just not aware yet. After the testing his

comment

was that Micah has severe OCD, and that we would discuss the findings of the

other tests Dec 1.

This particular teacher complained about having to help Micah, as she has to

lead him step by step. There's another teacher in the school who's son also

has TS, so I mentioned this to her, and she suggested having his teacher make

a list of the steps on paper for him to keep at his desk, that way he can

mark off each step as he completes it.

I thought it was a great idea, so I emailed the suggestion to her, but she

never responded, and she never did it. Too much effort I guess, don't get me

wrong, I know she has 20 kids in her class, but are we supposed to let him

fail because helping him is too much work? That's why I made the suggestion, I

was trying to make things easier for both of them.

I also asked her to watch " I have TS but TS doesn't have me " , and again, no

response.

She agreed to not grade him on neatness but didn't follow through, that's

what really burns me, she said she wouldn't and she did. And an F no less, for

his artwork!

I do believe he has dysgraphia, but I think part is OCD. He keeps tracing

and retracing his letters, if it doesn't " feel " right when he writes them he

erases and starts again, over and over.

All the kids had to use pen for the project, but for Micah that wont work,

since he " needs " to retrace, and if he makes a mistake, and he will, he would

scribble it out. Then she would really think its messy. If he had to start

over every time he made a mistake, he would never finish. When he's writing, he

thinks one letter and writes another. It frustrates him so much.

he has also started doing the same with his sentences...repeating part of it

over and over again. I don't know if that's TS or OCD.

His other teacher's great, its this one that's giving me fits. The others I

don't bother with, i.e. art, music, pe.

I think she's one of those people that think OCD is a behavioral/attitude

problem.

I wrote the school counselor, I was upset when I sent it. But, I'm so

peeved, it doesn't bother me if the teacher gets her nose out of joint...unless

she

takes it out on him. But if she didn't intend to keep her word, then she

shouldn't have given it.

I read it to my husband, and couldn't even get through it without crying.

it has become very obvious to me that a 504 or IEP are absolutely necessary.

if you're interested in the letter I sent the school counselor Ill

send it to you off list.

Thanks so much for the suggestions, and just listening!!

In a message dated 11/22/2008 8:57:22 A.M. Central Standard Time,

@... writes:

, could his doctor - whoever diagnosed the OCD and TS - also

give him a dysgraphia diagnosis? had this dx too and it

made a difference for school. When his OCD began his writing really

worsened. With the writing, I actually worried he'd had some type

stroke or something that might have affected him, seemed so sudden.

So took him to a neurologist to rule that type thing out. The neuro

gave him the dysgraphia dx, so I'm not sure just " who " can give that

type diagnosis.

Quick definition of dysgraphia: People with this disorder have

difficulty with handwriting. Their writing is usually not legible and

not written at an age-appropriate speed. Problems might be seen in

the motor patterns used during writing, as well as difficulties with

spelling and written composition.

( was an A+ speller, ignore that part)

Anyway, we also had in his school 504 Plan that he couldn't get

graded on neatness. His writing was unreadable, but bless some of

those teachers who could read it because I couldn't. I don't know if

the school helped with this BECAUSE he had that diagnosis, or they

would have helped anyway without it. And they also couldn't grade

him on class notes, etc.

By the way, I also got a bit peeved when a teacher wrote a note about

neatness too and was going to go up to the school if I saw another

note about it.

But for the most part, the school was great. If a teacher couldn't

read it, they could just ask one who could I guess, but somehow his

work was accepted with no points off. The end-of-grade state writing

test where they had a prompt/topic and then had to write a story:

His teacher copied his story over again, exactly as he wrote it to

turn in.

So in your case I think I would call the school for a meeting. If he

doesn't have any type plan now, a 504 or an IEP, request that you

would like him to have one, what is the process, etc. I really would

get a Plan set up as this will follow him from teacher-to-teacher,

grade-to-grade.

So set up a meeting with his guidance counselor and teachers and go

over the messy writing problem (and any other stuff). Bring some of

those papers with you. If you feel he does better with a pencil, get

an accommodation that he can use a pencil and not have to use a pen.

(I wonder did they think using a pen would cut down on the erasing

problem??? it was worth a try) Maybe you can get those 30 points

back.

You might also request an OT evaluation by them if they want his

writing to improve, get them to test his fine & gross motor skills.

Quick thoughts this a.m.

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[Guest guest]

P.S. , yes you can send me that letter, probably similar to one

I've written over the years. Advocating for our kids is hard work!

>

> Hope this isn't a repeat, I sent it before the other's, but it never

came to

> me, so sent it again.

> if you're interested in the letter I sent the school counselor

Ill

> send it to you off list.

> Thanks so much for the suggestions, and just listening!!

>

>

>