I have Bun enrolled in a charter cyber school.  She has always struggled with math and reading since we started school.   She is in grade 3 but doing math and reading on a grade 2 level.  Actually reading is about grade 2.75.  She has really bounded ahead the last six months or so.  However math is terrible.  I would say she is barlely grade 2 in math.

The cyber school wants to have her tested for dyscalculia.  Which in as least words as possible is a learning disability that affects the way you understand, remember, or manipulate numbers or number facts.    Ususally this is a result from a damage of a specific area of the brain but not all the time.

Then there are different forms of dyscaluculia.   My dh and I signed for the testing.  And now are waiting to see what the results will be and what the reccomendations are for teaching her coping skills to learn math.

OK, we got thru the intiial guilt part of   "What did I do to her to bring this on?"   and feeling terrible that she may have a learning disability.  All irrational thoughts but thoughts a parent has. 

The schools social worker phoned yesterday and said "I just wanted to let you know the recommendation may be medication".     !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     I went pretty balistic.  Why an eight year old would need medication to learn math is beyond me.   I am praying that this won't be the recommendation after the testing because I think America is over medicated as it is.  

I didn't even mention that to my dh because he will go thru the roof.  

I am hoping that the form of dyscalculia if she has it is  pseudo-dyscalculia.  This type results from poor systematic math instruction--(Yes I will take the blame then it can be fixed!!)  , or it can develop from inattention when math lessons are presented, fear, anxiety, illness, which can cause a child to miss out on important processes taught.   Between my cancer and my brother's cancer and death I am really hoping this is the case.  So we can surmount it with no meds and labeling of Bun.

The fear I have is if they reccomend medication and we refuse it is that considered medical neglect?

So until we find out what is happening, we will do brain yoga everyday before math and I will also pray over her for God to help her and heal her and help me because when she wells up with tears when it is math time it breaks my heart.

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Posted by deedeeuk

Dear friend! Stop! Take a breath! I struggled with maths all the way through school. Just a few years ago I heard of Dyscalculia and read through the list of symptoms online. It was like someone was inside my head! I read the list to my Mom and she said she was sorry! She had no idea there was actually something 'wrong' with me, she just thought I wasn't trying hard enough.

The point is that no one did anything to me - and no one gave me any medication - and I am leading a full and productive life! I homeschool my own kids. I even sell math curriculum! LOL!

The other things I wanted to mention is that you might want to take a look at Math U See. I have several customers who have children with dyscalculia and they are all saying that MUS is the first maths course their children have understood.

Personally, I love teaching it to my kids because I'm finally (!!) starting to understand maths myself at thirty something! About time too! :o)

Just wanted to talk you down from the ledge a bit! Sorry we didn't manage to meet up while I was over. With Mom's arm and everything that was going on with family I couldn't figure out when to suggest. Then Dh wanted our outings away from family to be 'just us' if you know what I mean. He was on people overload! Sorry!!! I was really bummed about not meeting up. At least I have internet back now, so we can keep in touch again!

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