I've had to do it

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Home : 2005 : October : 12

I've had to do it
By Gloria

First. Thank you for caring enough about the child to think that there may be a cause for his/her learning problem.

I would check with old teacher's to see if they had any of the same problems and if they had talked
to the parents about it.

If not, call the parents in, discuss your concern, show proof and what you have done to help the child find success. Then discuss that you think that the child may have a possible learning problem. DO NOT say Learning Disability then you are making the diagnosis.

Explain that you hope that you are wrong but you would like to have the child

tested to see if there are any learning problems. Have a plan of what you are going to do until you can get a diagnosis.

Is is just reading or math or both? Do you see dysgraphia, speech, or motor skills fine or gross? Behavior problems? IF so, get other input from the teachers. Does the child get any Title services or anything like that. If so get input from that person too. Ask art and p.e. especially since they see the motor skills as well.

Keep calm, expect the worse :Yelling at you, walking out, etc.

Again have your plan, have paperwork to have parents sign so that you can start the official paperwork. Document, Document, Document!
Tell them you are in this with them and that you will do what is needed to help their child find success. Reassure them that NO you are not pushing medications on the child but looking for a reason on why their child is have such a difficult time learning.

Use phrases that are posivice about the child peppered in with the problems. Good luck. You are a professional. Take a deep breath before going in. You are doing this for the child not to make your life easier. It will actually make your job more difficult.