help with letter to teachers

Parents Forum Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD
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<p>Well-we decided to keep my daughter in all her assigned classes- rather than try and change- since so many kids have even more issues ( I worked in the counseling office all day yesterday assisting kids who didn't even have classes, let alone the "right" classes)</p>

<p>So she has the math teacher that she didnt like before, but he is teaching a different math program, one that she had last year, and even though it has gotten some bad reviews nationally, for her, it seems to be much better than the way math was taught in her elementary and middle school as well as in 9th grade.</p>

<p>So that is good-everything is relatively under control so far- of course they have just had two days of school ( and it feels like I didn't even have * summer* mom!) I know how she feels :(</p>

<p>She has a 504, which is fairly new, just written last year, although, we never had a meeting with teachers ( that they showed up to anyway), but some of them did have to make adjustments in grading and working with her. ( by grading I just meant that - testing is usually about 30% of the grade, and she often does very badly on tests- )</p>

<p>So I am trying to write an introductory letter to teachers- and since I haven't done this formally before- ( it has been more email contact about specific issues) I am trying to include what might be helpful even though most of what I have learned, has been through doing searches of what others who seem to have similar issues have tried.</p>

<p>I am not sure whether to include a copy of the 504, or just the letter.
The 504 is based on psych testing that we had to pay for, since the school psych didn't think she needed it. ( even though she had, had an IEP for years, and was only removed because it wasn't legal/useful).</p>

<p>I don't want to give way too much information, and some may already be making adjustments in their teaching that accomodate different learning styles. Older Ds school for example, actually all her schools from K-through college, had lots of accomodations built into curriculum. ( extended time- open book tests- allow use of a prepared note- when appropriate not in every situation), but I dont think she had been in a classroom of above 15 till she got to college and had lectures. Her sisters schools have had the maximum of 32 in a class, and I expect not all of them were quiet about not wanting to be there.</p>

<p>I also am very conscious of sounding like one of these parents who is trying to make excuses for their kid- although I admit I may be hyper sensitive about that.
For example- she needs time to process questions, answering verbally to something she isnt prepared for , even though she is paying attention, can make her shut down- and her response is to act like she doesn't care, even though she does care very much.
But the more I think about writing to the teachers "dont call on my daughter", I even sound like to myself the parents who say "don't make my kid do the work, they are * special*"
But her main issues are dyslexia - including in math( which you can't call dyslexia because the Seattle school district doesn't recognize it , so they don't have a way to deal with it) , sensory intergration problems- as well as ADD/Anxiety
Its interesting, they have quite a few programs that are specifically for Aspergers/Autistic students, but dyslexic students seem to be mainstreamed and it is up to the parents to get support going.</p>

<p>I would love to hear ways of wording things to teachers, that can help me express that I understand that they have 32 kids in their class- but also that my daughter only has two years left in the district, and I really don't want either the teacher or her, to have to stay till 10:30 pm retaking math tests like she did last year. :(</p>

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<p>Hi Kitty,</p>

<p>Given your GC situation, this is probably too much to ask for, but it would probably be more effective if the letter to teachers came from the GC. Have you been able to sit down with the new GC? Maybe you could provide her with a very understandable outline with bullet points of what you'd like the teachers to know. If there is another school in the district with written protocols for accomodating students with dyslexia and sensory integration problems, it might be good to get ahold of this and possibly attach it so the GC/teachers could see that what you are requesting is reasonable and pretty standard. </p>

<p>It's really painful to see you, the parent, on the defensive, trying to figure out how not to offend the school in getting your daughter the accomodations she legitimately needs and to which she is legally entitiled. Seattle is not exactly a backwater of civilization -- shame on your school. </p>

<p>Another thought I had was that maybe you could talk to an LD person in the Education or Ed Psych Dept. at the U of W to get some help and support in dealing with your school. Both of these departments may be placing students in various schools in your district as student teachers and and psych. interns, and the faculty might have more of an inside scoop and a broader perspective across schools. Also, they might be able to point you to guidelines that schools use to help LD students; having some simple, written material from an "expert" source might be more meaningful to your school than a request from a parent. </p>

<p>Another thought is to find an organization that advocates for LD kids and let them guide and support you. It might take a few phone calls to track them down the right place, but when I've wanted referrals related to LD, my first phone call has been to the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley. Their target population seems to be people with physical challenges, but they have staff knowledgable in other areas, and might be able to refer you to the right people in your state. (They gave me some good referrals in my state that lead to various groups in D.C., but this was a few years ago and I can't find my list.) </p>

<p>Finally, your older D's school sounds like a much more hospitable environment. I realize that the school year has already started, but only just. Is there any way your younger D could transfer over? Would she want to? I mean, 10:30 at night retaking tests and the school still doesn't have a written plan in place that they implement yearly?!? I hope I don't sound incredibly naive and emotional here, I know we all have to deal with anxiety-provoking issues with our kid's schools, but are other people on this board going through what Kitty is having to deal with? It just sounds as if this school is taking no responsibility whatsoever for providing an appropriate education, with year to year continuity, for her daughter.</p>