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Third grade started smoothly. I had left the afternoon part time job with Kids In Christ, (Christian Latchkey program) so I would have plenty of time to work with Booboo. The battle soon began. It was hard not to be frustrated. Her mistakes seemed so ridiculous. And careless. I was losing patience fast.
My husband happened to notice an add in a semi local newspaper offering tutoring. I spoke to the tutor extensively on the phone that day. She had taught for 30+ years, had her masters degree and had worked in special ed. We hired her to tutor an hour, 2-3 times per week in reading.
She seemed to improve in that she at least didn't HATE to read. She enjoyed the tutor and the extra attention. Her tutor almost became like a surogate grandmother. Firm, but very loving type.
During this time we took Booboo for an eye exam to rule out the possibility of eyesight causing her problems. Her eyesight was perfect, but the doctor noticed some other problems, namely, tracking/eye teaming, and the right left confusion which is termed a "laterality/directionality" problem. At 8.5 years old she was a year behind on her visual skills and 2 years behind on lat and dir. The doctor recommended vision therapy.
During the 2 months of vision therapy we had to let the tutor go. Total cost of Vision therapy was going to run over $800, (not covered by insurance) so the $60 -$90 a WEEK we were paying for the tutor had to go.
I was present at each and every tutoring session. I was confident that I could continue the work on my own. Looking back, I'm not sure that the tutoring "fixed" any problems, but Booboo did seem to do better with one on one instruction, just as she had with the Reading Recovery teacher.
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Second grade was NOT a breeze. It seemed in the week's time between the end of tutoring and the beginning of school, she forgot everything. Reading was giving her problems, spelling was even worse, and it seemed that she could retain nothing.
We'd had enough. After researching Auditory Processing Disorder, I thought maybe this could be her problem. Afterall, she could not follow oral directions, seemed to get everything turned around, and complained that she hear "snow" in the background at school.
At the parent teacher conference that September I brought up my concerns to Booboo's teacher. "I'm so surprised to hear all this. She's doing just fine. It's certainly your perogative as her parent to pursue the matter, but I don't see any problems."
Ho boy, I had no idea what I was up against.
I set up a meeting with the school's principal, Psychologist, Special ed. teacher, Speech Pathologist, a social worker, and Booboo's 2nd grade teacher. Her teacher was adamant that this was a waste of time. I still don't understand why she seemed so AGAINST any kind of investigation of Booboo's abilities.
It was agreed there could be some sort of problem since Hayley complained of the "snow" among other things, and her state testing scores were in conflict with the B's and C's she had brought home on her report card. (State scores were lower) They offered to do auditory processing testing over the next month or so and reschedule another meeting when complete.
At the second meeting Booboo's teacher and the Special ed teacher were not present. Her teacher was out for back surgery and recovery, and they said there was no need for the special ed teacher to be present. I was told she did very well on all the auditory processing tests. When I asked for results on particular parts of the tests, the reply was always, "We're not equipped to test that specifically. But we can refer you to someone on your own if you'd like."
In the end, they concluded that Booboo was doing just fine. The School psychologist even commented that many parents would be estatic if their kids brought home B's & C's on their report card. True enough. Would those same parents still be so estatic if their child was pulling those grades and still couldn't read at grade level or spell???
I suspect they were throwing me a bone and trying to save themselves the hassles of dealing with me by putting Booboo in speech therapy a year earlier than usual to clear up the way she pronounced her 'r' sound. What normally takes two years to correct, she overcame in less than one school year. Done a year early to boot.
Feeling some satisfaction over her success in speech therapy, I did give up on the school. She made it through 2nd grade with no report card grade lower than a C. She was ready for school to be over and frankly, so was I.
Stay tuned for 3rd grade
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Today has been a very frustrating day. The doctor that was so eager to refer us for ld testing for my youngest daughter, and provide helpful information has had a complete memory lapse! (Mental Note: Never let your doctor put his notes into his shirt pocket!) He came back from vacation today with no recollection of our conversation. His nurse gave me the phone number to a place in St. Louis. Last week doctor specifically said he preferred the doctors in Springfield and would provide a referral to one of these over St. Louis.
I've spent the better part of the afternoon speaking to this St. Louis clinic, insurance company, mental health provider, and searching online for a nearby educational psychologist qualified to do the testing I would like done on my daughter. I am still at square one.
I suppose this would be the time to explain how my youngest daughter's situation is leading me in the direction to homeschool.
Booboo, who is about to enter 4th grade has been struggling with reading and spelling since the beginning. In fact, I always thought it strange that while my two oldest daughters were singing their abc's nearly as soon as they could talk, Booboo never seemed interested, and in fact was in Kindergarten before she could sing the song all the way through.
Though she loved being read to, even in preschool she showed no interest in learning to read herself.
Booboo made it through Kindergarten. In first grade the reading problems really began to show up. She was sent to "Reading Club" for extra help at school, and shortly after that moved to "Reading Recovery" which was a similar program but done one on one rather than as a group.
She did make improvements in her reading, though mostly through context and picture clues, memorizing words, etc...She had not improved any in her phonemic awareness.
Her teacher, who was an old friend of my husband's warned us that she would have a harder time in second grade if she did not work at it over the summer. On that note, we hired the Reading Recovery teacher to privately tutor our daughter all summer. Hayley was really coming along with her reading. 2nd Grade would be a breeze the teacher/tutor told us.
I hate to leave you hanging on the edge of your seat, but....I'll have to pick this up again later. Almost dinner time!
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This begins my first attempt at blogging.
About me: I am a mother of 3 beautiful, yet completely different daughters ages 12, 10, & 9.
I have been married to my wonderful (mostly wonderful!
Since the kids came along I have been a stay at home mom. I've taken on a few part time jobs here and there over the years, but nothing very time consuming. Two years ago I decided to go back to school myself so that when the time comes to pay for three colleges educations, three cars, and three weddings, we'll have some extra income to hopefully keep from drowning in debt! I figure I should have my 2 year associates degree in about 6 more years, just about the time my oldest is ready for college.
My husband and I are Sunday School teachers for 5th & 6th graders as well as leaders of a "tween" youth group at our church. My last part time job was for our church's afterschool latchkey program this spring.
I enjoy reading, shopping, church activities, and surfing. Internet surfing that is!
That's me in a nutshell. Next time I will give the details on the kiddos, and why I am testing the waters for homeschooling. |
) husband, for 18 years.