Tawlas Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Sorry, guys, I'm sure you get plagued by stories and questions such as mine, but I'm not really sure who else to talk to. I have a public school teacher as a mother in law, but she's decidedly not 'classical education' friendly (although quite supportive in her own way) so I'm reluctant to bring this to her. So I've been plodding along with my 8 1/2 year old step daughter in reading. I've only homeschooled her for a year and a half and while she's made good, steady progress, I just keep feeling like something isn't quite right. She's gone up an entire grade level since last year but is still a solid grade level behind where she would be in PS. I'm not sure how much I care about grade levels, but due to an anti-homeschooling ex, I think I want to proceed on to some testing to rule out physiological problems just so I can prove I'm doing what I can/need to do to get the job done. I feel like she and I have worked so hard this past year (she tested at 1.7 grade level at the end of last year in a first grade test - not second grade where she would normally have been placed due to her age) and I'm a little discouraged I guess. I don't know that she is, but if there's something I can do to make this easier for her, I'd like to know what it is. So. Suggestions? I'm in Canada, British Columbia to be specific. Small, northern town. Where do I start? What kind of places can help? I'm completely clueless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I don't know about Canada, but there are Canadians that post here so hopefully someone will mention specifics that are useful. In the States I would recommend seeking out a Neuropsychologist, if possible. That way you could get a bigger picture, strengths as well as weaknesses. You might skim through other posts on the Learning Challenges board and see if any prior posts might be helpful. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Hang in there. You have obviously really stepped up to the plate and she is making progress. There is time. She is young. Best wishes. ETA, you might read a book like The Mislabeled Child by Brock and Fernette Eide. Also, Homeschooling Your Struggling Learner by Kathy Kuhl. The Learning Abled Kids website might help. ElizabethB, who posts on TWTM, has a great website and tons of useful resources for helping with reading. You might do a search for her name here and see if you can find a link. I can't link right now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Also, if you have not done so, be sure she has annual eye exams (optometrist, not pediatrician screening), and if possible, even an exam with a COVD optometrist (developmental optometrist). I'm surprised at how many people don't do this regularly or at all. (I know people who have upper elementary kids that have never seen an eye doctor.) The COVD doctor would check for eye tracking, eye teaming, etc. that most optometrists are either not trained to do or might dismiss. My son's vision is catching up a bit, but we were "late" getting him in to an optometrist. By age 4, when he got his first pair of glasses, he was already showing signs of incomplete visual development. I now know that some optometrists can detect and treat vision issues from infancy, and my son would have been a kid who needed it. His astigmatism is bad enough that even tiny changes in his prescription make a big difference in his school work. He's on his second prescription change this year, actually, and it made a significant difference in his reading to get new lenses. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssavings Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 We couldn't get into an neuropsych for over a year, but a good eval by an SLP gave us somewhere to start! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tawlas Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 Thanks everyone. I found a COVD 2 1/2 hours away (could be worse). Nearest neuropsychologist is more than 7 hours away . . . I'm considering enrolling her in a very liberal DL school to use their services next year. Although they may have to be through skype and ours is unreliable at best all the way out here. My Ker could use the services of an SLP but they are few and far between up here but perhaps I'll dig further and see what I can find. And I'm always up for more books :) I appreciate the support! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Hugs and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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