[Becki_in_IN]

Well, I need some words of wisdom. Our youngest dd had a great teacher in the Resource Room last year. She went at least once a day sometimes twice. Today was the end of the nine weeks. Other than the state test, she has been to the Resource Room once all year. The IEP says she must get 30 minutes a week in the Resource Room. She sees the School OT occasionally and is suppose to see her 30 minutes a month. Obviously, her IEP is NOT being followed. Her Resource teacher this year is not known as being particularly helpful. How do I handle this? One of the ladies at church who happens to be a teacher in a neighboring school system says we should threaten a lawsuit. That's not exactly my style. If I don't handle this right, the Resource Room teacher will be offended, and I'm afraid Brittany will pay for it in the long run. They are saying that she has to ask to go. She won't ever ask. I'm afraid I found their loophole. It says as needed. What should I do?

[teachbear]

Send in and mail a written note for an IEP meeting, they are required to respond with in 10 calender days. This would be the most diplomatic way to express your concerns and make changes to the IEP, such as a certian day she will check in with the teacher. Make sure and bring a friend or family memember to help you make all of your points.

[lazshay]

I have a few questions. How old is your daughter? Is she passing her classes?

[AudreyE]

I agree. Call an IEP meeting. Odds are all that's needed is a little "peer" pressure from whomever attends for the resource teacher to get back into gear.

If that doesn't work in a few months, then a letter stating you will initiate legal proceedings if your concerns aren't met should do the trick. Unless they are really stupid, they won't let it get that far...

Audrey

[Becki_in_IN]

Originally Posted by lazshay

I have a few questions. How old is your daughter? Is she passing her classes?

She will be 10 next week. She's in 3rd grade though a year behind where she should be. Yes, she is passing her classes (C's and B's).

She is suppose to be getting a reduced spelling list. Instead they give her four spellings of each word and she must circle the right answer. She gets 100s on this, but the child cannot spell. She has an A in spelling. That is ludicrous. If she were required to write the word out, she would get it wrong. The teacher had her write her dictation sentences on unlined paper. This child has dysgraphia. Most of the words were misspelled, and it was illegible, but she got a C-. I am clueless. I'm beginning to think they don't really want to give her the additional help and are trying to pad her grades so they don't have to.

[lazshay]

I'm not trying to stick up for the teacher because I know as well as anyone that their are good and bad. We've often done spelling tests this way because that is how students are tested on standardized test. They just have to be able to recognize a word is misspelled. In this day and age with spell checker proper spelling lessons are going out the window. Sounds to me like they need to be teaching her how to use a word processor or other technology to write compositions. Seems to me this would address the spelling issue as well as dysgraphia. In my opinion they could work and work forever and not correct these issues.

I think it's probably a good idea to ask for an ard meeting to address your concerns and at least hear their explanation. There is a big push with "No Child Left Behind" to limit the time students are in resource and keep them exposed to grade level materials. You might ask if there is technology available to help your daughter.