Is school a daily struggle?

Is your child having difficulty with school?
Are you confused by the special education process?

Find out more to help your child.

Is your child having difficulty with school?
Every child learns differently. Some children have to see something before they can learn it. Others are hands-on learners and have to hold something, like five buttons to understand what “five” is. Learning style isn’t usually noticeable until after a child starts school. By grade one or two, your child is expected to keep up with 20 or so other students in a class. If your child can’t follow what the teacher is teaching, he or she will fall behind the other students.

Is school a daily struggle?
As a parent, you may be the first to see that there is something wrong. You have known your child for his or her entire life and are more likely to notice changes in behaviour.

Things to watch for are:

• an unwillingness to go to school
• numerous minor illnesses that prevent your child from attending school
• problems understanding and doing homework
• difficulty understanding and following instructions
• problems organizing work
• difficulty remaining on task

These are just some of the behaviours that may indicate that your child is having difficulty with school.

All right, so you have noticed some of these signs. Now what?
If you think something is wrong, the first person to talk to is your child’s teacher. Schedule a meeting, or a telephone call if that is more convenient, to discuss your concerns. Calmly share the things that you have noticed and see if the teacher knows anything that may explain what you have observed.

The teacher may suggest some additional in-class attention or some work for you and your child to do at home. This may be enough to resolve the situation.
If there is no improvement or if you both agree that your child is experiencing more serious difficulty, the teacher will likely ask you to agree to some form of testing that will identify specific areas that need extra work.

At this time, you can ask to meet with the school’s Learning Support Teacher or LST (resource teacher) who will give your child the tests or educational assessments. The LST will explain the process to you. Ask questions to make sure that you understand. You may also bring a friend or family member with you for moral support and to pick up on comments you may have missed.

But your child is so well-behaved …
It is possible that the teacher hasn’t noticed that your child is having any difficulty. This is especially true if your child is quiet and well-behaved in class. These pupils may be overlooked, especially in a group of very active children. If, after your meeting, the teacher still doesn’t agree that a problem exists and you still have concerns, you may have to discuss the matter with each of the following people, in this order, to get help for your child:

• the LST
• the school principal
• the principal of special education
• the superintendent of special education

If you are really worried, follow up on your concerns. Persistence does pay off.

Your child is having problems.
There is, of course, another way that you may learn that your child is having difficulty. Over the school term, you may have had several meetings or conversations with the teacher, and perhaps the principal, about problems your child has been having at school. These may include:

• failure to understand class work
• not listening to teachers
• fighting with other children
• not completing homework

Any, and all, of these may indicate potential learning problems. Finally, there is the call from the teacher asking you to come to a case conference, to discuss your child. In attendance will probably be:

• the teacher
• the principal
• the LST
• the school psychologist.

It may be a little intimidating to be faced with four professionals, so bring a family member or a friend with you, both for moral support and so that you have someone else who can listen to what is said and can discuss it with you after the meeting.

At this meeting, staff will likely raise the possibility that your child has problems learning. This may be particularly difficult for you to accept, especially if your child does not show any behavioural problems at home. The important thing is to listen and to remember that everyone is on the same side --- you all want your child to succeed.

Staff will likely recommend an educational assessment to discover your child’s strengths and weaknesses. This will assist them in determining the way your child learns and the best strategies to help him or her succeed. Your signature is required before any testing can be done. It is your right to ask whatever questions you feel necessary to understand this assessment process and why it may be helpful. It is perfectly acceptable to take the form away, and to discuss it with others such as your family doctor, friends, or family members before you decide whether to sign.

You can refuse to agree to an assessment, if you choose, but think about what is in your child’s best interest. Remember --- the earlier the area of difficulty is dealt with, the greater the likelihood of success.

Usually, there is a long time to wait between the time a parent agrees to an assessment and when the assessment is actually done. If you have some type of insurance that will pay for a private assessment, staff may suggest that, in the interests of time, you arrange to have your child’s assessment done privately.

Once the educational assessment has been completed, you will be asked to attend another meeting at the school. At this meeting, the test results will be discussed with you, and staff may recommend the development of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that will build on your child’s strengths and identify learning strategies to assist in problem areas.

Throughout this process it is important to remember that there is nothing “wrong” with your child. He or she just learns differently and needs some additional support to reach full potential. Emphasize your child’s strengths and celebrate successes. Maintain close contact with the teacher and the LST. You are all working together to ensure the best future for your child.