How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

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(EDITED: PIC TOO SMALL)
This is from DS' 2nd marking period report card. I don't have a pic of his scoring, but he declined in a couple areas.

Troy continues to make progress with the third grade curriculum and is on or slightly below grade level in all academic areas. Troy is very capable but as we have discussed there is a lack of motivation on his part. Reading and writing are two areas of weakness for Troy. He really needs to read more to build comprehension, decoding skills and fluency. Troy needs more volume and independence with his writing. He needs much encouragement in writing to expand his ideas using more details and evidence to support his thinking. Troy really needs to concentrate to use his best handwriting in all areas. He often has trouble reading what he has written. In math Troy has a good understanding of all concepts taught thus far. He is a wonderful and caring boy.


Am I wrong to wonder what MORE I can do?? I try to sit with him or be near him when he is doing homework - lately, most nights he doesn't get ipad or tv - he is reading for 30-15min or more. I ask him to read ingredients to me, we're going away next week, I had him Google and read about where we are going.

Regarding penmanship/handwriting - he had an OT assessment last week (to determine if a full eval is needed). I knew they were doing the assessment - in fact, on 2/10 at a meeting with the school, I told them he needed a full eval as well as other testing/evals to determine what the learning/comprehension.etc issue(s) is/are. They just agreed to do an assessment. His teacher emailed me yesterday "Also, I believe Troy is getting a full evaluation for OT have you heard anything?"

I have not.

She also said "Yesterday I noticed that Troy was often off task and needed many reminders to engage back into the lesson. Today so far has been better"

How are all of these things NOT red flags?????

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Message edited 3/17/2016 9:15:20 AM.

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Well they are red flags, and it seems like they are trying to address them by starting with the OT eval?

Does he get pulled out for reading? If not, I would request that. What letter is his reading level? Does he have access to the website Raz Kids outside of school? Ask the teacher about it if you aren't sure. Our classes have accounts. I think it helps if they are struggling. You can choose read aloud, read independently, they have comprehension questions, etc. and it's all set up by reading level. It's actually part of our required homework.

Have you ever had him evaluated by your doctor for possible ADHD (not necessarily the H part, but not being able to stay on task)?

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Yes, he has been briefly evaluated for ADD/ADHD by pediatrician (based on my filling out of the "sometimes-always-never" questionaire - same with from the school) But nothing more than that.

He does have RazKids on his ipad - he uses it sometimes.

He does NOT get pulled out for reading - I asked about that - I pointed out that he obviously has a difficulty with comprehension - and I gave a few examples and his teacher said that when she went over things with him in class, he had no issues.

It became apparent that he "gets" things at school and then "plays dumb" at home -

I think he's just DONE by the time he is home and doing homework.

And about the need for more detail and description - my issue with that is he is a SIMPLE EIGHT YEAR OLD BOY. I try to talk to him and get more details - he just "can't" do it.

Message edited 3/17/2016 10:19:09 AM.

How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

AJ Loves RAZ Kids and it helps a lot but I found she reads better and more when its things she WANTS to read.

I hated reading. Seriously you put a book in front of me and I would physically melt in despair. I felt my brain go blank. I just turned 'off'. I was otherwise doing very well in school but I just hated reading. I excelled in science, math and spelling but just hated to read. It was only when I got stuff I WANTED to read (like science stuff) that I did well. That was the trick.

Still it wasn't until 7th grade that I fell in love with reading itself and I was unstoppable after that.

Luckily AJ doesn't loathe reading but she is often bored with it and since she learned to properly read I see her skimming it and not taking the time to absorb it. So her comprehension 'skills' suffer. But again, if it something she WANTS to read she can tell you everything in detail.

I just posted that AJ has the same focus issues as well but she's a grade behind yours. This time of year seems to ALWAYS be the issue for her. She just zones out. Currently it's driving her teacher mad.

Red flags? maybe but it also sounds like a lot of kids. I think you're on the right track with OT and extra time with him. Raz Kids is a great help too. AJ loves building and buying stuff for her spaceship by reading more stories on the app.

I also let her read comics and things she enjoys just so to keep her reading.

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

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Message edited 3/20/2016 9:24:51 PM.

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Message edited 3/17/2016 10:39:37 AM.

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

I think that this is a standard thing to have on a third grade boy's report card, and you're doing what you should to encourage reading, OT eval, etc.

I will strongly disagree with RazKids. I truly feel it masked my son's learning disability for a long time. I also think that kids should read books. Too much screen time is just that, too much screen time.

I wouldn't really stress it if I were you. To some degree the teacher is also CYA.

Did you have a conference with her? I always feel those go better.

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Okay. I'm not clear on if you have an issue with the comments not being accurate, or you think he needs the help, or your issue is with the teacher saying he was fine last month, but not this month? If you are looking for more help from the school, I would start with reading group, get OT in place for the handwriting, and ask for a behavior intervention plan (BIP) to try and keep him on task if his off task behavior is really interfering with his ability to succeed in the classroom.

I just briefly read your linked post, and is there anyway you can have him stay for aftercare AT the school instead of going to his friend's house? IME if homework isn't done as soon as we get home, it takes so much longer to do because they are "out of the element" so to speak. I know in our school they require the kids to do the homework in aftercare, then they have fun after. I'm sure he's having fun with his friend, and then having to reel him back in for homework is hard!

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Message edited 3/17/2016 12:10:01 PM.

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

I think my biggest struggle is I dont know what to ask for.

I have friends tell me I just need to walk into the school and demand results but I work full time and it's hard for me to get off from work to goto the school for answers

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Keep in mind that even though he is not officially "on" grade level, the teacher may have several students struggling even more than your son, and that is who she referred. You should push for a full referral not just for OT.

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

My son who is also in third grade could have received this report card. At this point I would take him for an independent evaluation for the neuro developmental specialist. My son is also in third grade and his handwriting is bad. I've had his handwriting evaluated, and part of it is laziness and he also was diagnosed with dyslexia. The evaluation cost us 1000 out of pocket when all was said and done, but since having a diagnosis and getting the proper classes, it has made an enormous difference. At the beginning of the year my son could barely read on a kindergarten level and now he is at a mid fourth grade reading level. He has made enormous progress. I do think some of the attention is age based. He is young for his class. In math he has always excelled too.

How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

mikayla's handwriting is awful as well, she is in 3rd grade - I try to show her when her graded work is sent home, that her teacher is deducting points for going below the lines when writing, etc but she just gets annoyed - good thing she wants to be a Vet - bad handwriting is almost expected - haha

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

My 3rd grader has great grades but his comment section is similar. His handwriting is horrible and he needs to add more details in writing. I'm not saying it's not a red flag but it may be something many kids (or boys) need to work on in 3rd grade. As for reading services, if you feel he needs them push for them. My son qualified this year. It was in a group setting and the specialist told me they work mainly on fluency. They do not work on comprehension. It was frustrating becsuse comprehension is his weak spot.

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

Posted by Straightarrow

Posted by TiggerBounce

I think my biggest struggle is I dont know what to ask for.

I have friends tell me I just need to walk into the school and demand results but I work full time and it's hard for me to get off from work to goto the school for answers

I don't think honestly that would help.

Call the school social worker (I work full time too, I've done everything over the phone except IEP meetings) and ask for an evaluation if that's what you want. They had me send a letter in and that began the process.

Personally I feel one gets more flies with honey, so I don't really believe in walking and 'demanding answers'

Re: How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

The school must evaluate the kids if you request it and many will drag their feet so you have to keep emailing and calling pretty much demanding in a nice way it gets done. He's in 2nd grade how much detail can they possibly expect it's so ridiculous I as an educator feel like these expectations these schools are putting on these little kids is so upsetting. Keep doing what your doing and keep encouraging him my sons handwriting stinks but so does mine so genetics does play a role just keep building him up so he doesn't get discouraged. It would really bother me that the teacher told you he was reading on grade level and then puts he's not. Ask to see his running record and see what questions answers he didn't do well on that way you have some idea what skills (inference,main idea, details etc) he needs help with. Running records are done wrong by so many teachers are so subjective. If you ask for the running record you can see if it was done correctly, you can even do one yourself if you need any help pm me and I will walk you through it!

How would you react to this? (edited: pic too small-typed the text)

I am a third grade teacher in Florida. I wish we had narratives to go with our report card in addition to grades. Obviously you know about your child's struggles/weaknesses, but it seems a little harsh in writing. Talk to your pediatrician. Perhaps she is thinking there is an attention issue. (ADHD). Also, if he is struggling, what additional interventions is the school providing? Student who are struggling receive extra interventions through the RTI process. If they do not improve with interventions, then the school looks to find out the reason. They could do a psychological evaluation to determine if there is a learning disability. Hope this helps you. I would talk with the teacher about next steps.

Message edited 3/26/2016 5:20:39 PM.