Child | ESE Education

Ways Around A Rambunctious Child

One of the most well known problems with a child who has a learning disability is that they may have problems sitting still while class is going on. Having a hard time grasping a subject for a small child can usually lead to becoming disinterested, bored and restless while class is going on. While they may not act out to the level where they are actually interrupting class or being totally disruptive there are other ways to cause a problem and one of those is constantly fidgeting in their seats.

Of course when the child is moving around as often as some of them will, the standard school desks will constantly creak and crack and even screatch across the classroom floor from time to time. Parents of special needs children should work closely with the childâ€™s teachers to see what kind of solutions can be made to at the very least avoid as much noise as possible. One way to avoid the kind of creaking and cracking is to put a seat cushion down. A seat cushion that comes in the standard â€˜Oâ€ shape can actually help because the child will think they are getting quite a bit of motion while in fact they arenâ€™t moving that much.

Another technique that can be tried is to use a different kind of desk, one that is separate from the chair can work wonders in cutting down the noise because the one piece desks are notorious for creating more noise. Of course either one of these solves should only be used if the teacher and the schoolâ€™s administration is 100 percent on board with the idea. There are going to be students who will resent the student who gets a more comfortable or different seat and that may cause more problems for the teacher than the noise that the fidgeting was making.

Filed Under: Education, Specialty Schools, Students Tagged With: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Child, Classroom, Desk, Education, Parent, Student, Teacher

Understanding The ESE Student

When parents are first dealing with what has recently been diagnosed as an ESE student they can feels somewhat adrift. They do not really know what the next step is in getting their child help and they donâ€™t really understand what having an ESE child really means. First thing is first. ESE stands for Exceptional Student Education and any child who special education or any sort of related services who is also enrolled in a public school system. At times it can be hard for a family to accept that their child might need some extra attention or a separate lesson plan than the other kids in his or her class.

What parents of an ESE student need to understand is that being labeled as such does not mean a lifetime of agony and sadness for their child. In actuality there is a chance that in the long run an ESE student could actually have a happier life because their learning problems have been diagnosed and can be treated.

It is important to note that ESE students do not want to be treated as though there is something wrong with them or that they are in some way radioactive. This diagnosis is not a time to make it worse by acting as though they cannot still do things that other kids are able to do simply because they need different accommodations in the classroom. Parents of ESE students need to fight the urge to over indulge the draw to somehow drastically change the home life in a negative way because of a new diagnosis that can be uncomfortable to deal with in the beginning. Families of ESE students should make sure that while their children are undergoing a different type of education they are going through some counseling or therapy of their own as a way to make the transition easier for everyone.

Filed Under: Education, ESE Classrooms Tagged With: Child, Diagnosis, Education, Family, Home, Lesson plan, Parent, Special education

Diagnosing Dyslexia In a Young Child

Arriving at a diagnosis for a learning disability like dyslexia is never easy. There are many different problems that could be leading to the child’s underperforming at their grade level and rarely does a school, a teacher, or a parent want to hand a stigma like a learning disorder over to a child. Few people realize just how liberating being diagnosed with a disease that is every bit as treatable as a real virus can be. Once the child and its parents know what the problem is the long journey of treatment can begin. It is at this point that everyone involved will admit they can actually see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Diagnosing dyslexia in children from kindergarten until about fourth grade can actually be a fairly simply process of noticing when the child is having an especially hard time with one task or another. For the most part, younger children’s symptoms will actually pop up as a bit more obvious because everyone is just learning how to do, say, write and read new words. When one child is lagging behind all the others in the first couple of years of their education, it becomes a little clearer where the problem lies. For most kids in this age group, there are some specific symptoms to look out for. In the area of mathematics, one of the bigger signs that there may be a problem beyond lack of interest is when a child is constantly confusing the various symbols (+, -, =, x, /). In the area of reading and writing the problem will usually present itself as a juxtaposition of certain letters and words. The letter “m” might often be confused for “w” or the word “pot” might be used when the child meant to write “top.” Of course in order for any of these to count as symptoms there has to be a pattern emerging.

Filed Under: Education, Students Tagged With: Child, Dyslexia, Education, Learning Disabilities, Learning disability, Reading, Special education, Whoopi Goldberg

Dealing With Dyslexia

One of the most common and recognized learning disability among the general population is dyslexia. While 30 to 40 years ago people with dyslexia were simply dismissed as being stupider than their peers, we now understand that intellect has absolutely nothing to do with it. Dyslexia is simply a condition in which the brain filters information such as how words are spelled in a completely different way than the norm. Millions upon millions of children are diagnosed with Dyslexia every year and despite all we know about the affliction it can still be hard to understand it and to really tell when it is present.

There are several warning signs that should be able to tip parents and teachers off about a student and whether or not they are dyslexic. Of course like every disability in this area it pays not to rush to judgment, but rather make sure that the child truly has a disability. Sometimes a student may actually just be taking longer to grasp something than the others, only to catch up later on in life. When looking for the most common signs of dyslexia in kindergartners to fourth graders there are a couple of general signs. If the child reverses the directions of certain letters on a consistent basis, such as substituting â€œbâ€ for â€œdâ€, â€œbogâ€ instead of â€œdogâ€ for instance, that could be a signal. Entire reversals of words can be another sign, in other word if the child is consistently writing top instead of pot warning bells should be going off.

In older students it can be even more difficult to diagnose because at this point they may simply have gotten used to struggling. This is where a great deal of students simply give up thanks to a lack of understanding or help from their teachers or parents.

Filed Under: Education, Students Tagged With: Child, Disability, Dyslexia, Education, Learning Disabilities, Learning disability, Special education, Student

Coping With A Learning Disability

When a student is first diagnosed with a learning disability there are two ways the reaction can usually go. The first is complete and total shock by the family (this is usually couple with denial), and the second is relief and complete acceptance. How the family reacts may seem to be a way to tell just how involved a certain family group is but that is not always the case either. Some families are just better equipped to handle the news that their child has a learning disability than others. Sometimes this is because of the fact that the child may not have been as adversely affected as others and therefore was able to still turn in good grades and modulate his outward behavior enough that no one was really onto him or her. There are of course instances where the learning disability was totally obvious and the family knew there had to be something more wrong than a simple bad attitude.

Once the news of a learning disability has settled in and is no longer brand new the next step is to decide what to do about it. For most families it is helpful to realize that children, to a large degree are incredibly resilient. This means that children, even more than adults are built to overcome challenges like this. Resiliency is the top trait to have if the child truly wants to deal with and overcome the problem. There are treatments out there for almost any type of learning disability but the only way any of the treatments will work is if the child and its parents practice resiliency. There is no quick, automatic fix to this particular set of problems but with hard work and a keen focus there is a long term solution to the problem.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Child, Disability, Disorders, Family, Health, Learning disability, Mental Health

Learning Disabilities And Early Warnings

Part of the thing that makes diagnosing a learning disability such a complicated task is that from time to time, every child is going to have some problems learning a new subject and controlling their behavior. When a child is having problems learning on a consistent basis or is constantly acting out, that is when it is time to take a closer look and make sure the behavior isnâ€™t something else.

Thanks in large part to an organization called the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) there is a checklist that can be used to help parents decide if their child might have a learning disorder. Of course the thing to keep in mind even using a checklist like this is that this list is not the end all and the be all for determining the problem. Because learning disabilities are neurological in nature there is rarely one set of criteria that must be met in order to be diagnosed. A good rule of thumb when trying to diagnose this yourself is to be completely fair and honest when using the criteria such as â€œhas trouble evaluating personal social strengths and challengesâ€ and trying to realize how often that is really true.

The bottom line is that most of the criteria that are on the checklist can be symptoms of something much less severe than a learning disability and even if you feel as though you have found the source of your child’s problem you should have them see a professional therapist or evaluator. Seeing a professional will not only set your mind at ease as far as knowing for sure one way or the other, but it also provides an impartial judge on the situation. Frequently loses place while readingâ€ is just vague enough that your child could either be flighty, or could have a disorder. A professional will better be able to tell the difference.

Filed Under: Education, Specialty Schools Tagged With: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Child, Child and Adolescent, Disorders, Health, Learning Disabilities, Learning disability, Mental Health

Tips For Helping Your Learning Disabled Child Conquer The Classroom

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Parents who have a learning disabled child may feel overwhelmed and stressed, especially in the period of time immediately following the diagnosis. However, there are several things that can be done to ensure that the learning disabled child is given every opportunity to succeed in the classroom alongside their peers.

Always remember that a diagnosis of a disability does not mean that your child does not have the same intellectual capacity as their classmates. Learning with a disability often simply means that concepts must be taught in an alternative way for best comprehension. Never underestimate your child’s abilities. When monitoring their progress, the only person you should be comparing them to is themselves. Resist the urge to compare them with their classmates.

Investigate to see if your hometown has any learning disability support groups for parents or children. These can often act as invaluable resources because they provide collective advice on common struggles and present options that you may not have considered yet on your own. Additionally, see if there are any other learning disabled students that would be willing to act as a mentor for your child. It is important for your child to be assured that their disability does not have to bring isolation with it. Often, interactions with a learning disabled student who is successful will be the most effective motivation for a fellow student, especially if they have just recently received their own learning disability diagnosis.

Finally, it is extremely important to be a constant and proactive force in your child’s educational experience. Find time to meet with teachers and discuss the learning process with them to ensure that your child is benefiting from their time in the classroom. It may be helpful to enlist the help of a tutor who is specially trained to teach children who are learning disabled.

Filed Under: ESE Classrooms, Specialty Schools Tagged With: Child, Classroom, Diagnosis, Disability, Education, Learning, Learning disability, Support group

The Three D’s of Learning Disabilities

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A child with a learning disability is not deficient in intelligence. These children have a neurological condition that causes them to process information differently than fellow students. Although many schools have programs that can assist a parent with a child’s disability, actual school curriculums are not designed to incorporate the needs of learners impacted by a learning disability. To ensure that your child is receiving the best education available it is important to become knowledgeable about learning disabilities.

Dyslexia is a learning disability that is well recognized by the general population. This condition impairs a person’s ability to read. Common characteristics of dyslexia include difficulty with phonics, spelling and verbal responses to visual material. Elementary school children who have problems learning the alphabet, rhyming and distinguishing between words with similar sounds may be showing symptoms of dyslexia.

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that is associated with mathematics. Individuals with dyscalculia are unable to perform math calculations and have difficulty remembering number facts. Symptoms of dyscalculia can include the inability to count change and problems with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Those diagnosed with dyscalculia may do well with solving problems that require logic but will not be able to work with problems that require a formula.

Dysgraphia is a disability that causes problems with writing. A person who suffers from dysgraphia may use a mixture of small and capital letters of irregular sizes and produce illegible writing. Many people with dysgraphia have a complain of pain when writing. A common solution for those who suffer from dysgraphia is to use a computer for writing.

Children with learning disabilities face the challenge of both learning and self esteem. Parents of the learning disabled must become proactive in identifying the programs available in thier school district that can address the needs of their child throughout the educational process.

Filed Under: Specialty Schools Tagged With: Child, Disability, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Education, Learning disability, Mathematics, Special education

Individuals with Disabilites Education Act

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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that was first enacted in 1990. This law ensures that children who have a disability are provided a public education that makes allowances and offers services for their specific disability. These special education services are designed to meet the needs of a child. Special education services may include instruction given individually or in small groups and modification of a child’s curriculum. To qualify for IDEA the child must meet the criteria in one of the qualifying disabilities.

The disabilities that qualify under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act include autism, mental retardation, blindness, emotional disturbance, speech and language impairments, orthopedic impairments, deafness or being hearing impaired and learning disabilities. IDEA entitles a child who is exhibiting symptoms of a disability to be tested at no cost to the parent. It it is determined that the child is disabled a Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be developed based on the needs for that disability. Students covered under an IEP will be re-evaluated every three years and the Individual Education Plan will be reviewed annually as a child transfers from one grade to the next.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act an educational plan designed to meet the specific needs of a student will be developed. A child will be provided with access to the general curriculum that will complement the unique process used for their schooling. These steps will be outlined in the IEP designed for the child. It is expected that the established plan will result in academic achievement for the disabled child. Additional services associated with IDEA that are available to the disabled are transportation and mobility assistance, physical therapy, therapeutic recreation and counseling services. It is important for parents to research the services that are available for their disabled child

Filed Under: Specialty Schools Tagged With: Child, Disability, Education, Free Appropriate Public Education, IEP, Individualized Education Program, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Special education

The Individualized Education Program

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The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). An IEP will be used to establish a program designed to meet the needs of a disabled child during the educational process. The IEP allows a student to participate in a regular classroom environment when they are able to versus automatically being placed in full time special education classes or a special school. This process limits educational intervention in the specific areas that are identified as a disability which requires allowances.

A completed IEP will address the disabled child’s current performance and establish annual educational goals to include details regarding how the goals will be met. The program will outline the accommodations and services that will be provided by the school district. A schedule will identify when the services will begin, how long they will last and the location of the services if outside the school setting. Regular reports will be provided to the parent and if the student successfully completes the goals outlined in the Individualized Education Program they will receive an IEP diploma at the end of twelfth grade.

The development of an Individualized Education Program begins with a team meeting of the individuals involved in the education of a disabled child. Team members will include parents, both a special education teacher and a general classrooom teacher, a representative of the school district and an individual who is knowledgable of the child’s disability. The plan outlined by the team will address the academic, functional and development needs of the disabled student. For children with behavioral difficulties the plan will address the types of support that will be used to work through incidents related to behavior. Once the IEP had been developed and agreed upon it must be implemented immediately. The planning team will review progress annually and when deficiencies are noted the plan will be revised.

Filed Under: Specialty Schools Tagged With: Child, Disability, Education, Individualized Education Program, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, School district, Special education, Student