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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I teach writing and I’m a teacher in my twenties. I was also taught writing from elementary school through college. I attended public school. I don’t know why you don’t think your child hasn’t received any instruction in writing. I think it’s more likely that your child doesn’t enjoy it and doesn’t pay attention. At a fifth grade level he should be able to write a paragraph, yes. It seems like he needs some additional scaffolds, like a [b]graphic organizer[/b]. Some kids get overwhelmed and need help organizing their ideas. I would reach out to his teacher with some specific questions about his needs and possible supports (ex I noticed he has trouble coming up with a topic sentence, he doesn’t know how to maintain parallel structure, he doesn’t consistently write full sentences, etc). [/quote]
With all due respect, I am sick and tired of teachers throwing graphic organizers at him saying that's all he needs.  You should know as a teacher that [b]a graphic organizer will do nothing for him if he doesn't know basic sentence structure[/b] and spelling.  You are right that he doesn't enjoy it, but [b]one reason for that that he is really unsure of himself and doesn't know what to do.  Who would enjoy it in that case?  He is a hard worker, above-average reader, and great in math.  [/b]By all means, he should be able to write.  The school has failed him.[/quote]
+1  Former teacher here and PP is spot on.  I have seen this so many times.  Especially with boys, though not exclusively. Writing teacher in your twenties, when over half the class needs the supports you describe, it's a sign that the curriculum needed to do more explicit teaching in these areas.  [/quote]
I teach special education so of course they need supports-you don’t need to be snarky about it. It does sound like your son has some kind of issue if he’s so unsure that he can’t even write a sentence as a fifth grader. I wasn’t aware it was that much of a problem from your original post. Perhaps you should have him evaluated for dysgraphia. I thought you were saying he has trouble organizing ideas in a longer piece of writing. Writing a single word or sentence should not be such a labor at that age, to be frank. 
I gave you honest advice-there’s a reason teachers roll their eyes at you when you ask for something. You should probably teach him to ask for help instead of being rude to other people. A little respect goes a long way. [/quote]

What are you even talking about?  I suggest you listen to the parents when they are telling you things are not working.  Do you think this is the first time I'm asking for help for him?  I have been offered graphic organizers for him since 2nd grade. Quite frankly, giving him a sheet of paper and saying "good luck" is a lot easier than teaching him.   Do you not think I've been brushed off by many 20-year olds who just started to teach and think they have the answers to everything.  Let me know when you gain some experience teaching and then we can have a real conversation.

I am stating the facts.  Schools are failing our children. I'm not saying it's your fault as a teacher.  You do what your district tells you to do. You follow the rules.  I get it.  I also know what I got as a child at school and what my child is not getting today.  [/quote]
Actually, it isn’t a fact that schools are failing children. Your child should be evaluated if he can’t write a word or a sentence at ten or eleven years old. That is a fact. As someone who works with students with disabilities and has a degree in it, it sounds like you want to blame the school system for a cognitive issue with your child. [/quote]

Right, half of his class has cognitive issues. Are you always this literal? Because if you are I could totally see how my saying “he can’t write a sentence” would go over your head. Of course what I meant is that he can’t write a sentence that is not a run on sentence without spelling and grammatical mistakes.  Of course he can write a sentence.  Yes, I will stand by my statements. Apparently many on this thread agree with me. They are not teaching them the basics. There are no spelling tests in DCPS, they are not given any lessons on sentence structure or parts of speech (or at least not nearly enough). So, yes, the school has failed them. [/quote]

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