Hi there, friends! I'm Norma Jean, the founder of Time to Shine Teaching. Today I’m going to talk about how to be an advocate for your child with a learning difference.
As a mom and a teacher, I understand how tough it can be to watch your child struggle in school. I have personally witnessed my own sons feeling like they're failing in school. My oldest son had high anxiety and lacked confidence because he didn't understand the things he was being taught, and my youngest son attended school with such apathy; he just didn't see the point in even trying. However, I am so grateful that I took action to help them, and you can do the same for your child.
Let's talk about some of the services that are available within the school system, but before we dive in, I want to tell you about my downloadable toolkit for parents and educators. It's called "How to Help Your Child Feel Confident in Their Reading and Spelling,". This toolkit will teach you about how our body connects with our brain, the different ways we learn and explain to you why many kids are not thriving in the classroom setting. More importantly, it includes a complete lesson to teach your child about their super brains. This is the same lesson that I use when I first meet a child! It's so important that both you as a parent and your child understand that there is nothing wrong with them. I feel so strongly about this that I'm giving it to you for free! I'll put the link below.
Now, let's talk about some of the resources available within the public school system. There are a lot of resources that can help kids with learning differences. For example, some schools have speech pathologists who work with children who have language or communication disorders. Occupational therapists are sometimes also available for consultation on ways to help with physical challenges, such as improving fine or gross motor skills, providing pencil grips and printing exercises, and ways to improve low muscle tone. There may also be learning assistance teachers or education assistants who can work one-on-one with your child to provide extra support in areas such as reading, writing, and math.
It's important to know that your child may be eligible for accommodations and modifications in the classroom to help them succeed. Accommodations are changes to the learning environment or instruction that don't alter the content or standard of the curriculum. For example, your child may be eligible for extended time on tests, fewer questions or expectations for written output, preferential seating in the classroom, or access to assistive technology such as text-to-speech software.
On the other hand, modifications are changes to the content or standard of the curriculum. These are only used when your child is significantly below grade level and can't access the curriculum without them. This means your child will be doing a completely different curriculum than what the rest of the class is doing.
But, be careful with modifications! They can sometimes have unintended consequences. While they may help your child feel more comfortable in the short term or be exactly what they need to feel success, they may also limit their opportunities to learn and grow in the long term. That's why it's essential to work with your child's teacher and school staff to thoughtfully find the best solutions for your child's unique needs.
As a parent, you have the right to request an assessment of your child to determine their eligibility for special education services. If your child is found to be eligible, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be developed to outline their specific learning goals and accommodations. The IEP is reviewed and updated typically at the beginning and end of each school year to ensure that your child's needs are being met.
Advocating for your child with a learning difference can be overwhelming, but it's an important role that parents and caregivers play. And remember that you are not alone. There are many resources available within the school system and beyond. It's important to be informed about your child's rights and the services available to them. Don't be afraid to ask questions and advocate for your child's needs. With the right support, your child can succeed in school and beyond.
Thank you for joining me today and for taking the time to learn more about advocating for your child with a learning difference. Remember to check out my downloadable toolkit and my Time to Shine Teaching YouTube channel for more information on supporting your child's learning journey.
You'll find the parent/teacher toolkit here:
Here's my YouTube channel in case you missed my Facebook Lives:
Comments