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Post by catseye on Jan 29, 2004 10:31:26 GMT -5
I have a problem, any help or suggestions is very appreciated... Before I became involved with my sd (6 years ago), I had never really been around children much... I didnt know sd was so behind other children both phsycally, mentally, educationally.... This is her second year in first grade  ... And from what I am seeing she is improving tremendously!! But I dont know how she relates to other children comparitavely... I am really impressed with her math skills, and since she is "labeled" as autistic that would be normal for that dissorder... But maybe they arent as great as I think they are comparitavely?? Dont get me wrong she isnt doing it in her head, but on a scrap piece of paper she draws circles, then knows (after I read the question to her) weather to add more circle, or cross them off.... She is right around 95% of the time or more... Story problems, seem to be an exceptional area for her... *I* have to read it to her, (since reading is not her strong suit) but all I do is read it, she does the circles, and the math on her own... Is this normal for first grader? Maybe I just have too low expectations for her?? Her reading has also improved this year, but I believe she is still behind... Sd REFUSES to attempt to sound anything out (this could be related to her hearing problems though??), sd guesses unless it is a word she has studied, and knows... Any insight on how to compare our children accademically to other children?? Will the school give me that information without nameing names? Gosh do I even really want to know! LOL Of course I want to hear that sd is excelling, but I am scared I just dont know what the expectations SHOULD be for her age, and grade... cat |
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Post by Dad2Brooke on Jan 29, 2004 11:47:14 GMT -5
Brooke is behind in both math and reading.
Addition and subtraction she can do, but she doesn't seem to want to, so she will come up with any excuse not to. When I make her do it she can, but she often doesn't look at the sign and winds up adding when she should have subtracted and vice versa.
They racently started on fractions 1/2 1/3 1/4 and she nailed all of that. As well as spatial math. like rectangles, cubes and the like.
Reading is another area she has problems with. She will always pick the easiest book to read, never wants to spell a word or sound it out. She works with a reading specialist and is doing a lot better. Talked to the teacher the other day and she is now at the level of reading that she should have been at the beginning of the year.
She even mentioned retention. (ie failing)
I had a big talk with Brooke about it and how she really had to try harder and that I know she can do it (cause she can, she just doesn't want to) and she is trying harder. She is trying to sound out words now instead of waiting on me to tell her what it is (which I used to do, but quit, when I wasn't really helping her)
errr.... I typed all of that and then realized I didn't really answer your question.
Ask sd's teacher, they can easily tell you (without naming names) where you child stands in comparison wiht others. Also, they can give you guidence on what to do to help sd improve.
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Post by catseye on Jan 29, 2004 12:19:49 GMT -5
Is brooke in first grade?? Sorry I forget... If she is and doing fractions  Then sd is definately not up to speed... I guess I am too afraid to ask... Last year was such a disaster I am just happy the school isnt calling my work every other day, and that sd hasnt had any bad behavior referrals all year!!! (well one that I overlooked LOL)... cat |
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Post by Honeysmom on Jan 29, 2004 12:26:28 GMT -5
I would also ask the teacher. I also would not sweat it that Brooke is doing fractions and sd is not b/c they are at differnt schools and they may teach things in a differnt order.
D2B, as far as being held back, my sister (ADD) was not held back, but my Brother was. For year teachers encouraged my parents to keep her back and they refused. My mom said that was the biggest educational mistake she ever made. One extra year made all of the diference for my brother. He had one full year to mature and his grades showed it. As a result, my sister is working a minimum wage job she hates and can't get into college b/c of bad grades and my brother is in pre-dental college. Something to think about.
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Post by jdmom on Jan 30, 2004 12:23:05 GMT -5
Jarrett is in 1st grade. He is reading wonderfully. The whole entire family are bookworms, however. So I think that just came natural. He always saw one of us with a book in our hands, so he saw reading as an enjoyable thing and not "work".
In math, they are doing addition, subtraction, counting by 2, 5, 10, etc. Jarrett likes math and is having no problems except for the word equations. He doesn't take the time to read the entire sentence. For example: There are two black horses and two brown horses. How many are there in all? Draw the horses.
He will write the number 4, but he will not draw the horses.
They are starting to introduce them to multiplication in a way. They are just incorporating the idea of it with the skip counting. Example: 2,4,6,8. 1x2=2 ,2x2=4, 3x2=6.
They are working on telling time.
They have not gone anywhere near fractions or decimals.
Jarrett will also guess before he will sound a word out. I just figured that he was being lazy.
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Post by rosyred45 on Jan 30, 2004 19:03:24 GMT -5
I have a boy in our program that was having a hard time reading, so I would read with him. We would follow along word for word and tap each word as he read it. Does your sd wear glasses? It makes all the difference in the world for Mikey. As I have said before he has my eyes. Big Fat Lazy Left eye. ;D (When I get tired, either my left eyelid closes and the right one is still open, or my left eye wanders on into the corner, wierd)
Any how, I would talk to the teacher and see what she thinks. The school should have a report card. It's a basic eveluation of how the schools compare in state. At least In New Jersey they do. It compares test scores, student/teacher ratios, administrative costs. A little bit of everything.
Hope to have helped
Kaiti
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Post by kellys4babies on Jan 31, 2004 12:47:33 GMT -5
I know are school give a list of what the kids should be doing after each semester. My son is in kindergarten this year and I recieded one but I have talk to other parent and they say the just needed to ask to received a list. This helps me keep on top of him at home. He just the past 2 weeks started doing more work at school then at home. God Luck to you little one. she sounds like she is trying in the areas she likes.
Kelly
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MomA
Member
Posts: 58
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Post by MomA on Jan 31, 2004 15:14:55 GMT -5
Cat, I've been coming back to this and starting to reply since you posted it, but I keep changing my mind about what I want to add.
My son's also in 1st grade and has no trouble with school work. He's better at math than I am and is progressing fine with his reading.
I see many of his friends really struggling still. But, while I'm proud of my son for all he can do, every time I get too proud I run into a child who blows me away with what they know. So, in the end, it all could be relative, but doesn't matter.
You know that she's improved tremendously, so she's probably improved tremendously and that's what learning is about. In the grand scheme, there is no deadline. Keep being proud of her!
Then, if you really can't resist a comparison, that's what report cards are for. The teacher should easily be able to tell you how she compares as well.
Darn report cards these days don't give the same kind of information they used to--at least around here--but that's another topic.
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Post by Dad2Brooke on Jan 31, 2004 15:41:46 GMT -5
Is Brooke in first grade?? Sorry I forget... If she is and doing fractions Then sd is definately not up to speed cat , yes she is in first grade. Like Honeysmom, said it is a different school system, so I wouldn't worry about that. It is all in what they are exposed to. D2B, as far as being held back, my sister (ADD) was not held back, but my Brother was. For year teachers encouraged my parents to keep her back and they refused. My mom said that was the biggest educational mistake she ever made. One extra year made all of the diference for my brother. He had one full year to mature and his grades showed it. As a result, my sister is working a minimum wage job she hates and can't get into college b/c of bad grades and my brother is in pre-dental college. Something to think about. , believe me I have thought about that. My problem is that she is an October baby, so she is already older that everyone in her class. Also, she is big for her age, and is the biggest kid in her class. Kids being kids, I am afraid what will happen if she repeats first grade. But, if she has to she has to and another year of maturity would not hurt her a bit. |
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Post by eaccae on Jan 31, 2004 17:18:54 GMT -5
Cat,
Expectations are hard because what are "normal" expectations? Each child seems to learn differently and at a different pace - and each school curriculum seems to differ so widely!
DS (now in 3rd grade) is two full grades ahead in reading. But - he went into 1st grade not reading anything. He started off the year so behind but he was caught up by the end of the year. He started of 2nd grade a little behind but he caught up by the end of the year. He started off 3rd way ahead. In 1st and half of 2nd I usually read the homework questions for him and he did the work. It isn't that unusual. Also - he is a "late bloomer" - he doesn't really start to show improvement until after Christmas break. But never fail - he seems to impvrove twice as fast as "normal" (whatever that means) once Christmas break has passed - this happens every year. Go figure! But boy is it hard explaining that to the teachers - luckily the principal usually does that.
An example of how different each child is - DS's cousin is 3 weeks younger. They both are extremely bright. DS could ONLY learn to read phoenetically (sp?) - I mean couldn't memorize sight words like "with" - his cousin could only read sight words and could not sound anything out. When she read aloud - it took her less time then DS and it sounded much more fluent but she would skip half of the words - and DS would take longer and it would sound sooooo painful but he would get every word. They were extremely competitive and would argue over who was a better reader - I told them that they were equal - one's strength was the other's weakness and vice versa - so they were even. Now they "sound" pretty much the same. I guess my point is that every child learns differently but it will all come together in the end.
Ralph is correct - the teachers do reading assessments and should be able to give you a comparison with others in your sds current grade level. And MomA is right - if you think she is improving - then she probably is!
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