<p>Your idea of trying Sylvan might help. I homeschool, but my kids have taken classes at public school. It made a huge difference to my son to hear OTHER teachers saying the same things I'd been telling him for years (your handwriting needs to be legible, you need to get assignments done on time, you need to write cohesive, thoughtful essays, etc. etc.). Since my son really liked the teacher he had in the high school, he made a huge effort to meet the teacher's expectations, and he actually welcomed my help. This teacher had high expectations, however, and wouldn't just stamp an A on any old thing that got turned in. Since your son's teachers are NOT telling him when his work is substandard, it might help to try Sylvan, since they probably would tell your son the truth about the quality of his work. I do not have experience with Sylvan myself, but I know people who have used them and been pleased with the results.</p>
<p>OP: I will check with our PACE person about how to find a teacher in your area.</p>
<p>eg1 that was my thinking..maybe take H and I out of the picture (as the afterschool did help a little) regarding expectations. ADad thank you! nysmile, we know a psychologist locally that may be able to help.</p>
<p>Since his typing skills are better than his handwriting, I suggest you get him an inexpensive laptop and have him take his notes on it. This will improve his keyboard skills quickly and have a positive effect on his ability to do his homework, since he will be able to rerad the notes he took in class.</p>
<p>being dysgraphic should trigger a 504 and make him eligilble for services. Unfortunately some of the accomadations like using a lap top for notes will make him stand out in class and he'll probably resist them.
Can you work with the school about providing copies of all notes?<br>
You have my sincere sympathy and hopes for a good resolution.</p>
<p>As far as having books at home to study from, my experience has been that it is easy to get a copy of any school textbook on half.com We have two textbooks here that heavy and used so often that we bought an extra used copy to keep at home.</p>
<p>OT really does help with handwriting. Has he had an OT evaluation? Our insurance covered it and we got a 504 for our son so he got OT in school. Taking notes is still a problem. At a recent college tour the Livescribe Pulse pen was recommended by the head of the program for students with disabilities. She estimated it would solve the problem for 85% of the students her program serves. It essentially records the teacher and with a special notebook the pen can be placed at a point in the student's notes that the student wants to review and it will repeat that part of the lecture. It's sold at Costco and I'm getting my son one.</p>
<p>Did any of his testing include an IQ test? Were there significantly different scores on any of the "sections" of the test?</p>
<p>I am familiar with a student with horrible handwriting, poor note-taking skills, and poor standard test scores who did not qualify for an IEP but was given a 504 (keyboard use for all assignments and tests, extra time and redirect/refocus) based on the IQ test....which showed a huge discrepancy between very high scores in most areas, and low average scores on processing speed and visual/motor. These descrepancies did not quality student for an IEP, since they were above average (as was all other testing), but they meant that student could not perform to their potential without some accommodations.</p>
<p>OP - I have a friend with an adopted S with similar behavior. My heart goes out to you.</p>
<p>I think some of the behavior must be widespread. For instance, our middle school system posts all homework assignments on the school web page. Having the teacher(s) sign your S's handwritten assignment list is a good idea. But if your S is happy with his grades and belligerent with you, getting a signed off list may be a victory with little value. I heartily endorse the suggestion of counseling. It may be the best available way to bridge the chasm between his complacency and your frustration. Good luck with this. It would be wonderful if you could find a way to get through to the boy.</p>
<p>You mentioned he was evaluated as "oppositional defiant". I assumed this was the case before I finally read your later post. My son has used poor handwriting in a passive-aggressive sort of way. He's an excellent student, but makes everyone jump through hoops trying to read his work. Up through 8th. grade he'd simply tell his teachers his poor hand writing was a "genetic defect" and wasn't his fault. I think it's a safe way for an adolescent to control others.</p>
<p>parent56 in CA not having a textbook for each child in public schools is a violation of state law. Check out the laws in your state by contacting the state board of education to see if that is another angle to get your boy books.</p>
<p>Sorry to skip to the end but I'm not feeling well today.</p>
<p>In case it has not come up, if he cannot read his own handwriting, he needs to be using a laptop. Have you talked to his school about that?</p>
<p>An alternative to a laptop is an AlphaSmart. They're ruggedized and have nothing on them but word processing (making them seem less a bonus to the other kids).</p>
<p>The word processing is pretty basic, so the students don't get bogged down in fonts, colors, and making everything "pretty".</p>
<p>AlphaSmart</a>, a Renaissance Learning BrandThe Better Laptop for Schools and Writers
AlphaSmart</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>thank you so much everyone. principal wasnt available today to ask about laptop so will try again tomorrow. (will check out the alphasmart too)
streak..had to laugh when i read your post... my son's answer has always been..."it's my job to write it...it's their job to read it!"
to be honest, the testing has been done a few times at school and they come back and say he doesnt qualify for any service except speech .. i remember they said doesnt qualify for ot, dont remember anyone using the term 504 though
actually started a conversation re tutoring with him that went remarkable well..much better than i thought it would.... he has agreed in principle, we'll see what happens when it gets going but he had one DEMAND.... the tutor has to be "HOT" LOL</p>