ok at a meeting last month we talked about ordering writing without tears,because me and the regular ed teacher talked about concerns with her writing. So I was let known of the next meeting so I asked if they have placed that on order because they have talked about ordering it for her. Well I get an email from the special ed lady stating that she doesnt want to order it because she is not famliar with it. She says that she needs to get to know my dd more and what she is capable of doing before she orders anything for her classroom. She was in regular ed class the whole time with a parapro as her help and now we have her going in to special ed 1hour a day.
I guess what i am asking do I have to have her permission to have something like that ordered? She writes some of her letters backwards and she doesnt have the concept to write some of her letters small. Also for those parents that have children that are having a hard time reading that are in school is there any programs that your school is offering your child? These are two big things that I feel we need to get a handle on if she is going to do 1st grade next year.
If the program is going to be ordered through the school then someone there has to agree to buy it. Did they put anything about this program in the IEP? Did they put anything in the IEP about getting a handwriting program? If they did then the district doesn't have any choice but get the program or a handwriting program, depending on what is stated. Otherwise, if they don't want to order it, there is nothing you can do but continue to ask them. Teachers get state money, although I don't know all the rules in every state. In my state, we have guidelines to follow about what can and can not be purchased but other than that, no one can tell us exactly what we have to buy and what we don't. So I doubt that the sp ed teacher would spend her money on it. She can't spend any other money without the ok of the district lady and her money. does that make sense?
I will tell you that the handwriting issues you are speaking of are not normally addressed until after 1st grade. Everything your daughter is doing right now is developmentally appropriate. It's true that not all children experience this, but most of them do and it's normal. Later down the road, you would expect something put into place if this handwriting issues don't work themselves out.
Who mentioned Writing W/O Tears in the first place? I happen to think that the district lady is correct in the fact that your daughter's needs should be paired with the right program, not just any program. But at the same time, she is probably trying to use that as an excuse not to spend the money on it too.
I would suggest that you put into writing that your daughter be evaluated by the district lady and the sp ed teacher and the OT and decide what her handwriting needs are and for the team to make recommendations about those needs. Since you are a part of that team, you also state your concerns and what your recommendations are. All you can do is ask, ask, ask. Nothing says they have to do it. They do have to address those needs, but nothing says they have to address it with any certain program. This is how they get away with things like this. I am willing to bet though that they tell you your concerns are premature unless OT sees a need for some intervention. I wouldn't worry too much about her reversing letters or anything written at this point.
As far as a reading curriculum goes, No Child Left Behind and IDEA says that children have to have instruction in a research based reading program. Meaning that the teachers have to have some curriculum that is explicit in it's method and follows a strategy that the teacher has to model precisely. There are tons of these out there. Read Well, Open Court, Reading Mastery, Direct Instruction. You can google "research based reading programs" and probably get a ton of sites.
I would find out from the regular ed teacher what reading curriculum they use. Find out some information about it and make sure that your daughter is getting that kind of instruction just like her peers are. There should be many times during the day that she is working on reading skills at her level if this program is being implemented correctly.
By the way, this only applies to ages 5 and up. I couldn't remember if your daughter is in K now or still Pre-K.
Handwriting Without Tears is the CLASSIC handwriting approach for kids with OT problems. WHo is the "lady" you are talking about? Is your daughter getting Occupational Therapy? If not, request a full OT eval IN WRITING. The school district HAS to have an OT do a formal eval and have the OT interventions, should they be deemed necessary by the IEP Team based on the OT's report, IN PLACE within 60 days. If your child is being seen by an OT who has never heard of Handwriting Without Tears, that is an incompetent OT. Call an IEP meeting now to discuss the issue and bring the formal, written request for the OT eval with you.GA Mom I don't know if you're interested but buying the workbook only (xeroxable) is about 8 bucks. I just bought it myself and have the ABA therapists do the sheets with him the way it shows to do them.