Teachers - should I be asking for outside help?

[Anonymous]

OP, I’m in a similar situation with my child. Can you share any tutors with me? And also let me know what you ended up doing? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

You really need to also figure out the IEP process for your school and likely pay for some kind of private testing so you have something that shows that there's a problem. Yes, the school is supposed to test, but often they don't want to find problems. The school should be providing pull out services to help your child learn to read and write, AND you should find a private tutor. A private tutor who is OG trained or trained in a similar program like Wilson is expensive and hard to find someone or get your kid to do it 5 days a week. If you're also getting school-based services, it's better. It's great that you're working to help your child instead of taking the school's word for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, but every time I say something or ask what we can be doing to help him, the teacher just says "he's fine, he's progressing quickly, he'll be caught up in no time!" Do I need to go over the teacher's head to get the reading specialist?

You need to be more pushy. You're clearly not Jewish, huh? "He's NOT progressing quickly though, Katherine. He's still at the same level he was at in kindergarten. I would like a reading assessment done please. Do I have to put my request in writing or email someone else? What is the next step to get him assessed?"

PP I am Jewish and your response is offensive.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP of this thread, surprised to see it pop up. My child was last assessed in January, I think, at a DRA 16 and is reading Level J books in his reading group. His reading group is also working once a week with the reading specialist at our ES. He has been working with an OG-trained tutor once a week since the fall, really focusing on phonemic awareness, sight words, etc...

So. He's made a ton of progress, but is still almost a full year behind.

I stopped reaching out to his teacher because I got the same reaction every time (he's doing great!) Is it worth reaching out to the reading specialist to get her feedback since she's been working with his reading group? Should I ask for an assessment now that they are back in person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you teacher says he is fine, LISTEN. Be patient. Your teacher knows, as they are working with your son. Just ask the teacher what you can do to help and support your child with reading.

Totally disagree. I was dumb enough to think this when my son was in first. Then in second, he didn’t catch up, and he ended up with a long term sub. Then Covid, and here we are in fourth, and he can’t read a lot of the online material.

Agree. Teachers have 30 kids. How can they possibly know? Also. They are not invested in your child like you are, OP. Of course they’re not going to recommend you move earth to get him to be where he should be.

Mom knows best. Trust your instinct & advocate for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, but every time I say something or ask what we can be doing to help him, the teacher just says "he's fine, he's progressing quickly, he'll be caught up in no time!" Do I need to go over the teacher's head to get the reading specialist?

You need to be more pushy. You're clearly not Jewish, huh? "He's NOT progressing quickly though, Katherine. He's still at the same level he was at in kindergarten. I would like a reading assessment done please. Do I have to put my request in writing or email someone else? What is the next step to get him assessed?"

PP I am Jewish and your response is offensive.

Oh quit it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of this thread, surprised to see it pop up. My child was last assessed in January, I think, at a DRA 16 and is reading Level J books in his reading group. His reading group is also working once a week with the reading specialist at our ES. He has been working with an OG-trained tutor once a week since the fall, really focusing on phonemic awareness, sight words, etc...

So. He's made a ton of progress, but is still almost a full year behind.

I stopped reaching out to his teacher because I got the same reaction every time (he's doing great!) Is it worth reaching out to the reading specialist to get her feedback since she's been working with his reading group? Should I ask for an assessment now that they are back in person?

Oh, OP, I am a teacher. I am sorry to tell you this, but BECAUSE your child made progress due to your hiring a tutor, from the school's perspective now everything is fine. Your kid is making progress!!

The school won't help a child who is making progress and is only one year behind.

However, you did the right thing in getting the tutor. The very best thing you could do now, and I know it is expensive, but it would be to get the tutor twice a week or even for a brief period of time, more often, since it sounds like he or she is effective.

There is nothing more important educationally for your child then getting him decoding up to grade level in as fast a time as possible. It will prevent a world of hurt down the line.

If you cannot afford more tutoring (although I would raid or divert college savings if you have any, to pay for EFFECTIVE tutoring) I recommend you look at the materials from http://www.abcdrp.com and work with him yourself, as intensively as you can. They are simple, cheap and effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of this thread, surprised to see it pop up. My child was last assessed in January, I think, at a DRA 16 and is reading Level J books in his reading group. His reading group is also working once a week with the reading specialist at our ES. He has been working with an OG-trained tutor once a week since the fall, really focusing on phonemic awareness, sight words, etc...

So. He's made a ton of progress, but is still almost a full year behind.

I stopped reaching out to his teacher because I got the same reaction every time (he's doing great!) Is it worth reaching out to the reading specialist to get her feedback since she's been working with his reading group? Should I ask for an assessment now that they are back in person?

Oh, OP, I am a teacher. I am sorry to tell you this, but BECAUSE your child made progress due to your hiring a tutor, from the school's perspective now everything is fine. Your kid is making progress!!

The school won't help a child who is making progress and is only one year behind.

However, you did the right thing in getting the tutor. The very best thing you could do now, and I know it is expensive, but it would be to get the tutor twice a week or even for a brief period of time, more often, since it sounds like he or she is effective.

There is nothing more important educationally for your child then getting him decoding up to grade level in as fast a time as possible. It will prevent a world of hurt down the line.

If you cannot afford more tutoring (although I would raid or divert college savings if you have any, to pay for EFFECTIVE tutoring) I recommend you look at the materials from http://www.abcdrp.com and work with him yourself, as intensively as you can. They are simple, cheap and effective.

OP here - no need to be sorry, I'm just glad he's made progress! We're definitely going to continue tutoring and will switch to two times a week this summer. My biggest question is -- the level he's at? Is it still very far behind or better?

[Anonymous]

I know this may sound cruel coming from an anonymous poster with text only and no tone but understand that this response comes from years of experience as a public school teacher turned independent specialist.

High quality education is something you pay for one way or another. And before anyone starts typing back about taxes that's a minimal investment. Doing what everyone else does entitles you to the same level of service as everyone else no more. There just aren't enough resources to go around. Even if your student has an IEP if there are many other IEPs/504s/children of parents who email a lot and cc admin... in the class students will only be getting what they need on paper. Teachers have large caseloads. Tutors and specialists work with small groups or individuals.

When I was a public school teacher and had a ridiculous caseload I did my best but I knew it was never enough. At the end of the day I needed to cut off my working hours around 50-60 per week and go home to my family. I'd say what I needed to say in meetings and do what I could on the classroom. In reality I never could offer the 1 to 1 time needed to make those goals happen as a public school teacher.

A private tutor or specialist is an investment that will pay off in the long run. If you invest your time and energy in fighting the system the most you'll get is paperwork that really just is a CYA for the teacher and school in reality. It's your child's future but go into this eyes wide open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of this thread, surprised to see it pop up. My child was last assessed in January, I think, at a DRA 16 and is reading Level J books in his reading group. His reading group is also working once a week with the reading specialist at our ES. He has been working with an OG-trained tutor once a week since the fall, really focusing on phonemic awareness, sight words, etc...

So. He's made a ton of progress, but is still almost a full year behind.

I stopped reaching out to his teacher because I got the same reaction every time (he's doing great!) Is it worth reaching out to the reading specialist to get her feedback since she's been working with his reading group? Should I ask for an assessment now that they are back in person?

Yes, you should reach out to the reading specialist but your child really needs an IEP. You should ask for a full evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of this thread, surprised to see it pop up. My child was last assessed in January, I think, at a DRA 16 and is reading Level J books in his reading group. His reading group is also working once a week with the reading specialist at our ES. He has been working with an OG-trained tutor once a week since the fall, really focusing on phonemic awareness, sight words, etc...

So. He's made a ton of progress, but is still almost a full year behind.

I stopped reaching out to his teacher because I got the same reaction every time (he's doing great!) Is it worth reaching out to the reading specialist to get her feedback since she's been working with his reading group? Should I ask for an assessment now that they are back in person?

Oh, OP, I am a teacher. I am sorry to tell you this, but BECAUSE your child made progress due to your hiring a tutor, from the school's perspective now everything is fine. Your kid is making progress!!

The school won't help a child who is making progress and is only one year behind.

However, you did the right thing in getting the tutor. The very best thing you could do now, and I know it is expensive, but it would be to get the tutor twice a week or even for a brief period of time, more often, since it sounds like he or she is effective.

There is nothing more important educationally for your child then getting him decoding up to grade level in as fast a time as possible. It will prevent a world of hurt down the line.

If you cannot afford more tutoring (although I would raid or divert college savings if you have any, to pay for EFFECTIVE tutoring) I recommend you look at the materials from http://www.abcdrp.com and work with him yourself, as intensively as you can. They are simple, cheap and effective.

OP here - no need to be sorry, I'm just glad he's made progress! We're definitely going to continue tutoring and will switch to two times a week this summer. My biggest question is -- the level he's at? Is it still very far behind or better?

It is definitely better!

[Anonymous]

A level J is considered the end of first grade in my district. I'd ask for an evaluation in writing. Send an email to the principal, assistant principal, teacher, and IEP chairperson. They are required to schedule a meeting. Now the problem could be that he wasn't taught phonics in kindergarten. I don't know how they expect kids to read without that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A level J is considered the end of first grade in my district. I'd ask for an evaluation in writing. Send an email to the principal, assistant principal, teacher, and IEP chairperson. They are required to schedule a meeting. Now the problem could be that he wasn't taught phonics in kindergarten. I don't know how they expect kids to read without that.

They are just going to say that he is improving, though. He's gone from level 6 at the start of the year to level 16 in January so that IS good improvement. It's just that he is still behind. IN second grade you really want him to end the year at level 28 minimum, and many of the kids in his class will be in the 30s and even 40s.

[Anonymous]

Good for them. I bet their parents are paying for tutors too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a 2nd grader who was assessed as a reading level 6, should the school be offering extra services? His teachers tell us every year that our son is "just fine, just a little behind, but doing great, he'll catch up soon!" but it turns o ut he's a second grader reading at the Kindergarten level! Is this normal? Do I need to talk to someone about getting him evaluated? Shouldn't they be offering to have the reading specialist work with him or at least give him some one on one time with his teacher? I'm very confused - is he just fine? Or is he two years behind where he should be? Why can't they just be straight with me?

Not a teacher. Our former ES had teachers identifying kids reading behind the expected level and formed small groups with the help of a dedicated Reading Specialist. To answer your question, OP, teachers should be offering interventional reading with the Reading Specialist. It would help to find a tutor as a backup.