At my DD daycare there is a child who is 5-years-old as of last November. He is currently in a private preschool part of the day. Both of his parents have college degrees, but evidently don't think it's their responsibility to teach him. (Which I personally find very sad.) He is also adopted, which is probably where the problems stem from, not knowing what the birth mother was doing while pregnant - or just bad genes in general.
But this kid can not retain information. Based on many conversations with DCP over last 6 months or so. It's like his short term memory is severely damaged. DCP will go over 3 letters with him again, and again, and again and then will ask him what the letter she is pointing at is and he will give her some letter they were not even doing. She has him now recognizing 6 letters - that's it. She will tell him not to do some thing and he will stop, a while later he will start doing that activity again and ask him what she said about it and he just gives her a blank stare like he didn't know what she was talking about. (Not the oops - I shouldn't be doing that look.) He rarely is able to remember what he did earlier in the day and if the DCP says they had steak and mashed potatoes for lunch he will say they did and that it was really good. Even if what they had was chicken nuggets and apple slices. (Very impressionable.)
But DCP was asking me yesterday if I had any ideas on how to help him remember things. I said it sounded like he had a learning disability. And I don't know a whole lot about this area. I did suggest that she try calling the school district and ask to talk to a special ed teacher and see if they have any ideas. Because they are going to have to deal with him next year when he starts Kindergarten. The one thing I do know is that if he does have a learning disability - and it really does sound like he does - the sooner he gets help with it the better off he will be.
So anyone with more knowledge in this area have ideas for what the problem might be? And/or how to deal / work with it? Because the only thing I can think of is repetition, repetition, repetition.
I agree with the repetition, repetition, repetition.
what about early intervention? has anyone tried that? it could be worth a call. The DCP can place the initial call I believe, I don't think it HAS to be the parent, BUT obviously they should be aware and in agreement
I agree with the repetition, repetition, repetition.
what about early intervention? has anyone tried that? it could be worth a call. The DCP can place the initial call I believe, I don't think it HAS to be the parent, BUT obviously they should be aware and in agreement
I was doing some reading today, and I do think the DCP could do a referral, I'll have to mention that to her next week, but at this point in time, the parents have to actually act on it I think. Because he's not in the school system YET. But Federal law says they have to teach all children between the ages of 3-21 if they have disabilities. But I think first the parents need to realize their child has a problem. And they don't seem to want to. Which of course does not help the child at all. Because if the Parents and DCP and his Pre-school knew what the problem was (assuming they could figure it out) then everyone could start working with him in more effective ways to help him learn.
I am not an ESE (special ed) teacher, so I can't really give any expert advice. But I agree with the DCP trying to make a referral, or why doesn't his "preschool" make the referral. What are they doing to help? Maybe she should talk with them too.
I am not an ESE (special ed) teacher, so I can't really give any expert advice. But I agree with the DCP trying to make a referral, or why doesn't his "preschool" make the referral. What are they doing to help? Maybe she should talk with them too.
I don't know - he goes to a pre-school in a Lutheran Church in the area. I don't know how much time he spends their each week. It is possible they have mentioned something to the parents and the parents just don't want to admit there is a problem.
01-11-2008, 03:45 PM
Learning Disability
