How can I help my children who are struggling with school work? Feel like a let down

meritaten

you keep doing just what you have been doing OP! its the teacher who needs educating here - not you! and why are YOU providing aids if your son has been diagnosed with dyslexia? the school should be doing that! YOU are doing everything right and the teacher needs a swift 'readjustment of her/his methods'! to throw any childs work in the bin and especially in front of them isnt professional behaviour! a complaint may be in order here. in writing, and to the head teacher.

pupsicola

The school should have carried out a dyslexia screening test.

From this they will have clear knowledge of his difficulties and how to impliment the help he needs.

For example, high quality, regular reading sessions, with books at the right level that would help him develop and reinforce phonic knowledge.

Dyslexic children often have problems with phonic knowledge, letter formation, focus, concentration and listening skills.

They would also pick up from this test how he learns best. For instance some children learn best when activities are related but varied, multisensory, short and engaging.

Dyslexic children can appear distracted, disconnected and passive. They need to see that they are making progress and be reminded of this wherever possible if they are to improve their motivation and enthusiasm for learning. His current teachers behaviour goes completely against this and is destructive.

rinroo

Thank you for all the responses.

The school did carry out a screening test after much begging on my part, but as he isnt classes as having "High Level" dyslexia, I feel as if his lower level dyslexia isn't as important when in actual fact it is.

I will make an appointment with the head, as several meetings with the senco and teacher have fallen on deaf ears. All I get in response from the school is 'we are aiming for a dyslexic friendly award' - that may well be the case but they are doing naff all to help those all ready struggling with dyslexia. Apparently the school dont have to provide TA assistance we are classed as being "lucky" because we have it, nothing is ever one on one, its always group work with other children which have varying needs.

My son was there when she threw his work in the bin, the teacher knows he needs longer than the other kids to complete tasks set, she made him redo written work which they had to copy from a white board, whilst doing that she rubbed it clean so he didn't have chance to finish, for which he was told off again, wheres the sense in that?

He's a bright boy, he's got a lot in his head, he just struggles getting it from his head out of his mouth or onto paper. He has lots of enthusiasm with work he just sometimes gets frustrated, it pulls at my heart strings to see him struggle so much.

But when you get comments from said teacher saying she cant understand what he says, or she cant read his writing makes me question her ability as a teacher.

I feel at that particular school, the teachers look out for each other and stick together and wonder where a complaint would get me. I've considered moving them but finding a school which can take both boys in different year groups is proving tricky.

pupsicola

I have never worked with a teacher who would treat a child in such a disgusting way as your sons teacher does. Please do complain and if the head refuses to help take it further. All very well them sticking together but they are answerable here and cant fob everyone off.

GEEGEE8

Practice as much as you can from home... I used to copy books into my own writing, this helped with all sorts of literacy! and was fun too

soupdragon10

As an ex teacher I am truely disgusted by the actions of this teacher. If you don't get any further after a meeting with the head teacher it would be worth writing to the Local Education Authority, outlining your concerns and asking if your son could be seen by an educational psychologist for an assessment (if this hasn't already happened).

This would hopefully allow someone from outside the school to meet with your son and assess his needs and give them clear guidance about working with your son to help him to reach his full potential.

I have worked with many dyslexic students, many of whom have been put off learning by negative early experiences, so I think you are doing the right thing by trying to get this sorted out as soon as possible.

xxdeebeexx

I feel really sad about the teachers awful behaviour. Thank goodness your children have you as their mum.

Dx

kingfisherblue

If you put your complaint in writing, the headteacher has a duty to investigate and reply within a certain amount of time, which should be stated int he Complaints Procedure (available from the school office or on the website if they have one). My son's school has a time limit of ten working days, but I don't know if this is a national limit or specific to the school.

Mojisola

Lots of good advice above. Please don't let this go. My son is dyslexic and was treated very badly at school. He came to the brink of switching off from learning altogether because of the way he was treated.

A child with special needs may not achieve the same level of work as the average child. At one meeting, I asked my son's class teacher if she would insist that a child in a wheelchair got out of it and joined in the PE class because that what she was doing when she tried to force my dyslexic son to achieve the same literacy levels as his class mates. It sounds as if your son's teacher is doing the same.

Dyslexic brains may not cope with the written word very well but they usually excel other areas. Just have a google for famous dyslexics!

I will be very surprised if your school doesn't have stuff in its prospectus about "individual treatment" and "each child's needs", etc. Force them to put their words into action. My son has a very high IQ and I did get an apology from the Headteacher eventually for the way my son was treated.

serena

I think there's been some very good advice on here.

I would recommend a meeting with the SENCO again, and be politely persistent. There should be an IEP in place.

I just wanted to add that there should be one of the Governors on the Governing Body who has responsibility for Special (or Additional) Educational Needs, and you could consider contacting them. Governors have clout.:D