I am likely going to get certified in Secondary Science, Biology and Chemistry. (I have a Ph.D. in biology). I have taught at the college level, but I am really drawn to teach high school. I have been a bit surprised that likely I will need to spend a year working on the certification, including student teaching, which seems excessive considering that I could walk into a college and teach outright. I am planning on spending this year investigating teaching by observations and some job shadows to make sure this is really what I want. I also will take our state certifying exams so I will be ready to apply when my family is ready. :-)

Thank you. This is helpful. To be reminded that this too shall pass, ds is growing up, and I can change my response to be more detatched. Today is already feeling better than yesterday. (and it also helped to read the thread about the sadness of kids moving out..snif!)

He is going to school in 2 blessed months. I gotcha!!!

Ok, you wise parents...Please, please, please tell me how to get along with 14 yo DS? Right now I am having fantasies of moving out into my own quiet, perfect studio apartment-- I would probably let dd come along, but then I would have to get a 1BR. Dh? Well, he could manage ds-- which seems fair as I have homeschooled (without much support/ input) for the past 8 years. Ds, he is 14. He seems to be quite lovely with other people-- funny, kind, helpful, motivated, cooperative. With me? He is surly, rude, unmotivated and self-centered. I KNOW this is the age, the gender, the age-old problem because I have read y'all's posts. So don't tell me that because I am dying!!!! Tell me how to get through this? (And reading back through this paragraph, I know one of your all's response would be that I have certainly cast ds in a negative light and I need to focus on his positive. Trust me! I have been doing that! Catching him when he is good, noticing positive traits, treating him with kindness, taking him to friends, rides, etc...) Today, he had a violent, rage-filled temper tantrum and broke one of his most beloved items. Why? Because his father told him that he had broken an agreed upon rule regarding his cell phone and ds flipped. I just want to escape. The lack of harmony, the rage on ds's part, feeling rather alone in trying to figure this out (dh likes to come up with ideal situations that don't reflect reality or platitudes..."we should treat each other respectfully" and he kind of likes to tell me how I should "be"..tougher-skinned, more respectful, more understanding....) So give me strategies. Give me hope. Tell me that it is a bad idea to move out (even though a modern, all white studio apartment is so perfect in my mind) Maybe, and most of all, can you just give me a little compassion when I am feeling pretty beat up by all of this?

And to add to the PP, kids on IEP often have lowered "passing" rates on standardized tests.

It sounds like you are wanting more help and understanding. So yes, I would seek an eval.

It helped ds learn all the sounds/ letter combos, but he never improved in his ability to read nonsense words...which implied to me that it had not effectively taught my son phonics. I am in the "spend your money on a good tutor" camp.

Because these changes were so dramatic and overnight, I would want a full neuropsychiatric evaluation.

The Dyslexic Advantage is helpful in the description of procedural difficulties related to dyslexia. If you haven't read this book, it is very helpful in understanding some of the giftedness that goes along with dyslexia.

I say that since you are feeling concerned you should investigate. Six is not too young to evaluate for dyslexia.

I think typing 20 WPM is perfectly fine. I also think looking at the keyboard is perfectly fine. In fact, I often do! As long as he knows the keyboard, I think he could just begin typing his work now, and he will improve. When I switched my ds to typing for his work he was typing 9 WPM. It was just using typing everyday for his work that helped him improve. Now he would rather type than dictate to the computer because that is just how he thinks!

What wonderful news! I am so happy to hear how well your son is doing!!! Congrats to him and you! As a matter of curiosity, what dyslexic math program is his tutor using? I would be interested to hear more about that....

Yes. Let her read it. You continue to work with her on decoding in a separate and systematic way, like Barton. Use controlled readers to map to the skill you are working on in Barton. But, yes, let her read whatever she wants! I would be so encouraged by her wanting to read chapter books! Great work getting her to that point!!!

I love stories like this! Congrats to you all!!!! Dyslexic kids ABSOLUTELY can learn! Keep up the great work!!!

Also meant to say that you can do the same thing on a Mac (latest OS)..... don't even need a mobile device. You can just do it as you are word processing!

If using latest iOS on iPhone or iPad,you can use Dictionary App and dictate word through Siri, then you can highlight the definition and select "Speak".

I know ABSOLUTELY nothing about this type of diagnosis. I am just wondering if there are other underlying deficiencies that could be pulling the IQ scores down. For example expressive/ receptive language could pull the score down (and in fact, this very same thing happened to a friend of mine...her son was diagnosed with mild MR but it was an expressive/ receptive language issue for her son). Are there any large discrepancies between scores (processing speed maybe?) I wish you all the best as you research this...

OK...I am going to respond since no one else has. Disclaimer: I have an dyslexic/ dysgraphic 8th grader (not a high schooler). Extra disclaimer....I apologize if I say something that is too controversial... First, since you have concerns about your child's writing ability, I would deal with that outside of a grade...Remedial programs, tutors etc... It sounds like you know you need to get your child up to grade level, independent work. As far as grading, etc...I would probably consider accomodations but not reduction of what you consider a high school level composition especially if you are assigning a high school level credit/ grade ( since you are assigning grades that may go toward a college transcript).. So accomodations would be extra time, using word processor/ spell check etc...However, by high school I want my high schooler doing high school level work. I am not sure I would ever accomodate my student out of writing (that is my controversial statement...sorry). Thus, If he needs tutoring to reach that, then I would do writing tutoring. If you need an objective eye at what a high school level composition is, I would look into various services or input of high school level teachers. But, I think remediation needs to be separated from grading....

What is it going to gain having additional neuropsych reports? Are the OT/PT unwilling to do therapy without further diagnosis?

Can you call another meeting with the psychologist who performed the tests to be present to explain results. If the the scores are as low as the SP is suggesting, then it seems she should qualify for an IEP. Frankly, at this stage in the game, with school coming to an end, I would be less concerned about what is going on in the classroom right now, and more focused on coming up with a plan toward remediation and support...wherever that will be, which it sounds like you will be doing in June.

This is what I would have suggested. You can also have groups of pictures or objects. Which one starts with /b/ which starts with /t/ etc.... You can also make games, jump to the sounds of cat..../k/.../a/..../t/ Look around for phonemic awareness games....

I am liking the idea of getting her back to the place where her friends are, and then remediating. Perhaps she could do half a day at the school with her friends, and then work on remediating the other half? That way you could develop buy in and respect her need to be with friends. There will be no productive learning if your daughter is angry, depressed and feeling lonely. That said, I would want to understand VERY CLEARLY from the school how far behind she is, what tests she would need to pass for graduation, and I would want the school's help in figuring out a pathway within that environment (just so you know what would be required now and in the future in that environment). I think you may also want to seek an indep. evaluation as this may be able to reveal more areas, or use different tests, that could be helpful to qualify your daughter for an IEP. Finally, I would ask to establish a 504.

Is this a public school where you are at now? What does your dd want to do? What is the school suggesting, considering they have informed you that she is failing?

Have you tried an e-Reader (Kindle, iPad, Nook, Android tablet, etc..) and increased the font, line spacing and margins. This has helped my ds (as well as the other kids I tutor) tremendously.

I like Cdwise's suggestions. I would add: alternative to written response (ie she verbally demonstrates knowledge or can turn in an alternative...perhaps a mind map) allow to keyboard with spellcheck