School for child with dysgraphia and anxiety

[Anonymous]

22:53, this is very helpful. Thank you. DC is currently in private with a plan to provide supports but the school lacks the resources to fully understand and accommodate. I don't want to say more here but we will pursue a few different avenues suggested by your post. Thank you very much!

[Anonymous]

If only disgraphia (in the writing sense) and anxiety, but academically a strong student, I would encourage you to look at St. Andrew's.

We had never heard of disgraphia, and a couple of teachers there suggested that we have one of our children formally tested -- so they are in tune at the middle/high school level. Many students there use computers to type in-class school work, tests, etc. On the anxiety front, we have a child ho rarely spoke up in class previously and has blossomed there academically with substantnial class participation /risk taking. They can take the kids pretty far academically if they are up for it (harder APs, etc.), but in a somewhat less stressful environment than in some academically more homogenious schools.

[Anonymous]

My son has dyslexia and dysgraphia and as accommodations uses an his own Ipad loaded with Dragon and also LearningAlly books. Despite his LDs my son is also gifted and very bright. My son is a student at Compass Academy in Halethorpe Maryland. Compass is able to work with him to leverage his strengths to help him work to overcome his LDs. Compass is a very supportive environment with small classes and teachers who develop an individual measurable academic plan (IMAP) for each and every student. Suggest that you check it out as from how you describe your DC (besides the fact that the drive to Compass may be a long commute) Compass sounds like an excellent fit.
http://compassacademymd.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son has dyslexia and dysgraphia and as accommodations uses an his own Ipad loaded with Dragon and also LearningAlly books. Despite his LDs my son is also gifted and very bright. My son is a student at Compass Academy in Halethorpe Maryland. Compass is able to work with him to leverage his strengths to help him work to overcome his LDs. Compass is a very supportive environment with small classes and teachers who develop an individual measurable academic plan (IMAP) for each and every student. Suggest that you check it out as from how you describe your DC (besides the fact that the drive to Compass may be a long commute) Compass sounds like an excellent fit.
http://compassacademymd.org/

What kinds of classes are offered in HS?

[Anonymous]

For poster at 15:56 asking about Compass Academy HS classes - As all students at Compass are on a diploma track Compass offers that classes that are required by the state of Maryland to graduate with a High School diploma.
• English Language Arts – four (4) credits
• Mathematics – three (3) credits
• Science – three (3) credits
• Social Studies – three (3) credits
• Physical Education – One (1) credit
• Health – One-half (1/2) credit
• Fine Arts – one (1) credit
• Technology – two (2) credits
• Foreign Language – two (2) credits
• Career- one (1) credit
• Electives – two (2) credits
By getting an individualized education with small class sizes which allows the teachers to work with each student based on his/her learning strengths and also weaknesses you are giving up a wide selection of electives that your child could have in their public school or other private school. For the needs of my child this trade off is for me a no-brainer.

Bottom line is if your child is successful in their private or public school setting and enjoying and doing great in all their diverse electives then ..... you probably are not seriously considering Compass Academy. BUT if your child is getting labeled as lazy, a behavior problem, is having getting poor grades due to executive functioning issues, is losing points because his/her teachers can;t read his/her work, is being called stupid by her/her classmates, has no friends due to poor social skills and choices, and/or is suffering from anxiety .... then having fewer elective choices - but experiencing academic success and getting a high school diploma (rather then dropping out or being shunted onto the "certificate of completion track") may be worth the trade off.

Don't take my word on the risks for an LD child read this article - http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2013/05/diplomas_elusive_for_many_stud.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For poster at 15:56 asking about Compass Academy HS classes - As all students at Compass are on a diploma track Compass offers that classes that are required by the state of Maryland to graduate with a High School diploma.
• English Language Arts – four (4) credits
• Mathematics – three (3) credits
• Science – three (3) credits
• Social Studies – three (3) credits
• Physical Education – One (1) credit
• Health – One-half (1/2) credit
• Fine Arts – one (1) credit
• Technology – two (2) credits
• Foreign Language – two (2) credits
• Career- one (1) credit
• Electives – two (2) credits
By getting an individualized education with small class sizes which allows the teachers to work with each student based on his/her learning strengths and also weaknesses you are giving up a wide selection of electives that your child could have in their public school or other private school. For the needs of my child this trade off is for me a no-brainer.

Bottom line is if your child is successful in their private or public school setting and enjoying and doing great in all their diverse electives then ..... you probably are not seriously considering Compass Academy. BUT if your child is getting labeled as lazy, a behavior problem, is having getting poor grades due to executive functioning issues, is losing points because his/her teachers can;t read his/her work, is being called stupid by her/her classmates, has no friends due to poor social skills and choices, and/or is suffering from anxiety .... then having fewer elective choices - but experiencing academic success and getting a high school diploma (rather then dropping out or being shunted onto the "certificate of completion track") may be worth the trade off.

Don't take my word on the risks for an LD child read this article - http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2013/05/diplomas_elusive_for_many_stud.html

That is not a list of the level of classes offered by Compass. Math could only go as high a Algebra II or Geometry. Science could be watered down to nothing......... I was looking for the level of rigor in the classes, not a generic state requirement for graduation.