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Post by camismom on Oct 6, 2005 14:13:49 GMT -5
children!!  teachers!! I rec'd this email today..of course when it is too late for me to do anything: Mrs. XXXXXXX,
I just wanted to let you know that Cami did not turn in an essay in Language Arts class. She had almost 1 week to complete this 5 paragraph essay. We worked on the prewriting and rough draft in class. She was to revise and edit her rough draft, and then write the final copy.
I finished grading her classes' papers and realized that she did not turn one in. Yesterday I gave her another chance to complete this paper. I told her to finish it last night and turn it in today.
When I asked for it today, she said that she forgot. I just wanted you to know about this.
Thanks,
teacherOn the one hand, I'm mad as heck at Cami because she knew she needed to do this and didn't. On the other hand, I'm betting I know why she didn't do it and it makes me mad with the school. Handwriting is a MAJOR difficulty with her and it has been in her 504 for the last couple years that she be allowed to type writing assignments...but in her recent SST meeting her LA teacher mentioned the need for this accommodation to be dropped due to some writing test 8th graders are given every year. I truly though don't understand what a writing test has to do with a child typing or handwriting a story??? Authors "write" books all the time and do it on computers now....surely my child isn't the only 8th grader in this school with handwriting struggles.  At any rate, typing or no typing, this essay was assigned a while back and she has had time to get it done and didn't do it. I just want to get something done about why I feel she didn't so it won't happen again! |
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Post by AnneM on Oct 6, 2005 15:39:26 GMT -5
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Post by StrugglingAgain on Oct 6, 2005 15:49:48 GMT -5
This is yet another one who's attempting to make our ADHD children have some responsibility. It saddens me. Right now, our children CANNOT have that kind of responsibility....period. My son would have done exactly the same thing if I'd not known about it. It would make me angry, too. Right now he has a book report due that has LOTS of writing. She knows he struggles with his penmanship, so I'm going to let him do it on the computer. I'm gonna MAKE her tell me it isn't acceptable....then I'm going to ask why. It seems to me that "content" should be much more important. Sorry Cami is going to get a zero, but maybe she'll learn to TELL you so you can help her next time.
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Post by milesofsmiles on Oct 6, 2005 16:03:32 GMT -5
I could not agree with the above responses more. Nate also hates to write. In class when they have a journaling assignment, he often will just sit there. Not that he does not have ideas (well some of that too) but mostly because the connection between the brain and the pen are not there. He had OT for years, and they discontinued it this year because his handwriting improved significantly. He will sit at the computer and write some very interesting stories. So if he does not get it done in class we will work on it on the weekend on the computer. He is a wiz at it, at the age of 8 he can insert photo's change the text color and size. When I was 8 I could not even operate a calculator. But the key in getting it done is having the teacher letting us know what needs to be done. I am all for responsibility, don't get me wrong. But some people just need that extra prompt from the right people to get things done. Hang in there, I know you will get your point across. Miles  |
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Post by tridlette on Oct 6, 2005 17:57:47 GMT -5
 Don't get me started... OOPS... too late! If the teacher is soooooo worried about her not writing on her state test... :-*try TEACHING her how! I think it is a far better idea to get the thoughts onto paper, regardless of whether it is typed or handwritten. Suggestion for a 504 that the teacher SHOULDN'T be able to change... Cami will WRITE one paragraph by hand, and then complete the story in a manner that works best for her... This still encourages the physical act of moving a pen across the paper, while giving her the confidence to put her ideas onto the paper! It shouldn't take a rocket~scientist's wife to see the obvious... but apparently the teacher is half blind The LA teacher needs to define the desired outcomes and they must be agreed upon by all parties involved. I think that Cami would be much more willing to do a creative writing assignment if she wasn't worried about it's "artist" appeal (as in... legible!)  for Cami... and for Mom for having to deal with an ignorant LA teacher who is putting more effort on the Arts part than on the LANGUAGE part.
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Post by Linda on Oct 6, 2005 18:07:10 GMT -5
:(Get going with it Christy The teacher is NOT following the 504....she should have been allowed to type the essay. Tell Cami to go to her counselor and advocate for herself.  The teacher obviously will be of no help!!
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Post by finnmom on Oct 6, 2005 23:12:46 GMT -5
I agree whit all the other´s, look´s like the theacher has loosed the main idea of LA, wich is, imho, the writing part and not the perfect handwriting I like Trid´s idea of one paragraph handwritten and the rest by the best way I would press this, it´s not Cami´s or theacher´s benefit if she fail´s to return assignment´s because she ahs to write them by hand and that´s too much for her. There has to be a better way |
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Post by camismom on Oct 7, 2005 7:24:48 GMT -5
Well, dang it all...GRRRRRR!...she STILL didn't get the paper done last night! I called the school..got them to get her to the phone..told her to make sure she brought home all her L.A. folder. She did, and the rough draft wasn't in it! She said she had already looked thru it when she got it out of her locker and didn't see it, so she rummaged thru her locker and other folder hurriedly and couldn't find it. She then just quickly "threw" all her other folders in her bookbag hoping it would be in the mess and took off barely making the bus. Then, of course, the rough draft wasn't in any of the stuff she grabbed. Another sore spot of mine..her poor organization! and something else the 504 touched on that hasn't been followed thru. "Working with counselor on organization skills." Anyway, I then told her to just start from scratch and write a new one. Even if it didn't match the rough draft, it was better than nothing and even if all she got was a 50, thast was better than a 0. Well, whining ensued along with claims that she couldn't remember the complete subject of the paper. They were to touch on two different things and she could only remember one. Whining, whining, " Do I HAVE to?", etc., etc. until I finally just said screw it, she can get a dang zero! Her progress report grade in this subject was a C...it won't take much to drop that C to an F. They don't hae D's in her school. Soooo, if she gets an F, she gets an F! Maybe then she'll learn to do the assignments when they are assigned! Regardless of writing difficulties, she had several nights she could have done this. Five paragraphs broken into several nights wouldn't have been too much to ask of her. It would be different if the teacher expected it all in one night. This just boils down to her defiance and Wayne (her dad) thinking..."ignore the problem and it will go away." Even though it doesn't! I told her last night that the swimteam has a policy if the swimmers can't keep up their grades they are dropped from the team...an F on her report card would definitely bring that on! This is what she looked like...  . Report cards come out next week....so stay tuned! |
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Post by TexasMom on Oct 7, 2005 7:54:19 GMT -5
Steven also has a writting test this year on the state tests. He's going to type it on a word processor, and the inclusion teacher is going to transcribe it to handwritting (don't try to figure it out). They will keep all mistakes, but he can use the keyboard. It's in his iep. Can this be done for Cami?
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Post by camismom on Oct 7, 2005 8:01:10 GMT -5
Steven also has a writting test this year on the state tests. He's going to type it on a word processor, and the inclusion teacher is going to transcribe it to handwritting (don't try to figure it out). They will keep all mistakes, but he can use the keyboard. It's in his iep. Can this be done for Cami? I doubt it...she doesn't have an IEP. What I still don't get though is what exacty this writing test is? What is it testing..the ability to "write" or the handwriting itself? I mean, I know lots of adults that have poor penmanship, but have doctorates in education...I am trying in vain to get more info on this test and what all it involves them doing while taking it. |
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Post by AnneM on Oct 7, 2005 18:31:34 GMT -5
Lots of Good Luck on finding out more about this test Christy!! Gulp!! It sounds like this lack of assignment could cost her dearly !! ... ESPECIALLY I would imagine the potential swimming team standpoint!!  Oh its tough though and so frustrating isn't it to see our kids struggle over something like this!! |
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Post by camismom on Oct 7, 2005 19:56:54 GMT -5
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mothercat
Member Emeritus
With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
Posts: 1,468
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Post by mothercat on Oct 7, 2005 22:56:19 GMT -5
Christi... Sorry to see the teachers and Cami are giving you grief over homework. It seems to be going around. Sometimes I wander if there are actually drugs in those concerta pills Jared is taking this year ;D ;D I no longer have to ask to go to Jareds locker...he forgets stuff daily. Jared types all his written work but there is still alot that he cant type and teachers sometimes arent very forgiving . We started letting him have his after school kicker ritalin at 12:30 because he needed it. I couldn't imagine them wanting to grade his handwriting. I hope you find out what the testing consists of...I agree that she should type her work regardless. I would insist on another sst meeting and make note that the changes have caused a backslide in her performance. I mean it seems to me that one teachers opinion is just that and maybe the change wasnt so good of an idea. good luck what ever you do ..... |
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Post by camismom on Oct 10, 2005 9:00:17 GMT -5
Christi... Sorry to see the teachers and Cami are giving you grief over homework. It seems to be going around. Sometimes I wander if there are actually drugs in those concerta pills Jared is taking this year ;D ;D I no longer have to ask to go to Jareds locker...he forgets stuff daily. Jared types all his written work but there is still alot that he cant type and teachers sometimes arent very forgiving . We started letting him have his after school kicker ritalin at 12:30 because he needed it. I couldn't imagine them wanting to grade his handwriting. I hope you find out what the testing consists of...I agree that she should type her work regardless. I would insist on another sst meeting and make note that the changes have caused a backslide in her performance. I mean it seems to me that one teachers opinion is just that and maybe the change wasnt so good of an idea. good luck what ever you do ..... Thanks M/C! |
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Post by mskris on Oct 10, 2005 12:01:20 GMT -5
Does Cami's 504 call for an assignment book? If so, someone should be checking to ensure all assignments are recorded with due dates. You can also state that someone check her book bag to ensure she has all necessary materials to complete the night's homework.
We always know when Taylor's long-term (ie, more than one night) assignments are due and we keep on him to get them done. I insisted he finish a book report poster over the weekend (it's due Wed), so he wouldn't have that on top of regular nightly homework... he did complete it with some help. We also have him type most of his written assignments (not worksheets or journal, but reports). In fact, some of the assignments insist on typing.
Good luck. I remember being that way in middle school, but I didn't have ADHD to compound it. Is she depressed? Sometimes the emotional takes it's toll on the motivation, KWIM?
Kris
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