I am meeting with dd's classroom teacher, braille teacher and school principal today to discuss whether or not dd should be held back in first grade.
Academically, she just isn't on par with the other students. Most of them are far ahead of her in reading skills, and I'm afraid that the second grade curriculum will just be too hard for her.
She's doing well in math, though, and she adores her classmates. Since she is blind, the social piece of this is even harder -- I don't know how well she'll make new friends, especially ones who understand her and enjoy playing with her (she had her first playdate at home this weekend, and it went great!).
Meeting with teachers is a good first step. I think if she is fine with the other academics and is doing great socially with her current peers then I would ask them about reading alternatives for next year. Example: My Ds is on the same page as his peers in other subjects except reading. Reading is hard and he learns it differently. He's half a grade behind the other first graders. After talking with his teachers we decided that it wasn't important to us if he stayed at the same pace as the other kids. It didn't fit him. So he has his own ciriculumn for reading that is set to his pace and made to work for his reading style. He'll still go to second grade next year but his reading will just continue from this year. But he started teh year as just part tiem pullout for reading and is now fulltime in special ed with pullout back to mainstream for things like music and gym. He'll have the same teacher through 3rd grade most likely.
From what my sister, a special education teacher, has told me is that it is unusual for a sn child to be left back. Usually modifications are made to where ever the child needs help. Therefore, it may be possible to have her rescource out for reading, but stay with the regular ed class for math and the rest, like recess, lunch, and the other subjects that she's not falling behind on.
I know a woman who wanted to hold her son back and the district (San Fransico) flat-out refused. Apparently their policy is to virtually never hold special education students back.
We are holding DS back. He will have another year of preschool before kindergarten. In my view the skill set he most needs help with is addressed in preschool, not usually in kindergarten (social skills, self-regulation, separating from mama). The school district strong discouraged us, but I went high enough up the ladder and we prevailed with an additional year of preschool.
If our only issue was reading, I'm not sure that we would have held him back.
I would consider whether it's her SN that are keeping her back in reading. If that's the case (which it sounds like it may be) I would absolutely NOT keep her back.
If it's NOT her sn then I might consider it, though in your dd's case it sounds like it would really be best for her to go with her peer group.
Alegna -- it's definitely her SN that are the issue with reading. She understands all the concepts (letter sounds, beginning/ending sounds, sentence structure, etc.), but she is having trouble with the tactile piece (braille). She's great with vocabulary, comprehension and simple spelling words. But she's actually only reading on her own at about a late-kindergarten, early-first grade level.
I'm going to stress to them that today's meeting is about gathering information. Hopefully dh will be able to come as well.
A lot of the reading I've been doing today seems to indicate that there are numerous drawbacks to retaining kids in elementary school and that it doesn't do much to promote learning. I'm thinking maybe we'll also need to discuss what types of strategies and instruction might be put into place to help her succeed in 2nd grade even if her reading is not on grade level.
On a side note, I really feel strongly that kids are being pushed incredibly hard at very young ages, and that any kid who doesn't meet the standardized-test benchmarks is considered a "problem child".
Originally Posted by snuggly mama
Alegna -- it's definitely her SN that are the issue with reading. She understands all the concepts (letter sounds, beginning/ending sounds, sentence structure, etc.), but she is having trouble with the tactile piece (braille). She's great with vocabulary, comprehension and simple spelling words. But she's actually only reading on her own at about a late-kindergarten, early-first grade level.
Oh, well in that case I would lay down a throw a hissy fit and absolutely FORBID them from holding her back.
Not even a chance. Not on the radar.
Totally absurd.
In fact, legally they are on shaking ground to even suggest it. If the "delays" are due to her (documented, legally protected, etc) special needs then they can't hold her back because of them.
I would let them know you're aware of the issue and are aware that it's BECAUSE of her special needs.
Then let them know it is not an option.
Don't let them bully you (sadly, they'll probably try...
I just see dd struggling so hard and I was worried about pushing her if she isn't ready.
We had a great meeting, and the principal is actually taking a very holistic view
She's going to work on setting up a schedule that would allow dd to spend most of her time in grade 2, since she's already learned many of the concepts, but to also be involved in grade 1 for reading groups and such.
I just see dd struggling so hard and I was worried about pushing her if she isn't ready.
We had a great meeting, and the principal is actually taking a very holistic view
She's going to work on setting up a schedule that would allow dd to spend most of her time in grade 2, since she's already learned many of the concepts, but to also be involved in grade 1 for reading groups and such.
Excellent! She needs an IEP set up so that she's NOT struggling. If that means 1st grade for reading or resource room for reading or a one on one aide. Whatever would make it work for her.
unless you think that she will actually catch up and be able to do 2nd grade in a year and continue on without blips, i would request accommodation in curriculum before i'd hold her back. she could continue to 2nd grade wtih her peers, they could modify her work, provide her with extra tutoring after school as well as ESY services to catch her up to peers.
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