Hello.
I am a military wife and mother to three wonderful children. The eldest is an “under-achieving” gifted child who was held back in 1st grade in Atlanta only due to her writing skills. I had just given birth to a very sick child and did not have the strength to fight the system. I did force them to test her and she came out with an IQ of 138. They still held her back. No summer school suggested. I paid hundreds of dollars for a writing summer course and they said that she was on target. Still, she did 1st grade twice and I feel as though I failed her.
Her brother, born that year, has Down. He is high functioning and doing very well. I DO plan to retain him in K, even though the school in Maryland does not think that is necessary. His fine motor skills are very delayed and he tests about age 3.5yrs. He is 6 and small for his age.
During all of this learning, my lovely middle child, 3rd grade, has not made the progress in reading/spelling that she should. Her comprehension tests grade 7. Her math is grade 5. The school has suggested Global LD. The school psychologist said she is classic for Dyslexic spectrum. I have taken her to the pediatrician and asked for referrals for psych. and neurology to rule out any other underlying problems that may show up.
I home schooled all of my children until March of last year when the eldest children asked if they could go try it out. Their brother was going to return to a feeding clinic and the girls did NOT want to homeschool at the hospital again, as they had to the year previous for 4 months. It was rough but they did well. All 3 children are now going to be behind in school by one grade level per their ages due to changes in our curriculum, etc.
I need to know that I am doing all that I am able to for my middle child, who is more than likely dyslexic. I am bothered a bit by her SB5 test and her IQ score since there was a 20 point difference between the verbal and nonverbal scores. She is average intelligence according to the test and that may be correct. But I wonder how correct it could be with the huge differences in scores. Also, she seems to be very high on comprehension (7th grade) and in math (5th grade). If she has a LD, how do we get an accurate score?
My concern is that her current score and an LD label will follow her throughout her school year and it COULD effect how much is expected from her. I also worry that with all of the different learning styles that I stay on top of all 3 kids and their needs and am feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point.
Thank you for letting me talk.
Kiersten
