my niece is 7 and struggling in school? what to do?

Question

The teacher my niece has for 1st grade has said that my sister kid is struggling with the 1st grade curclium and now they are trying this other thing to have her work in a group with a adult that helps her 3 times a week. If this doesn't work, what will happen , she has no progress this school year and she behind in school, what you think about this and what help should someone ask for my niece to get, and what do you think the teacher will do if this doesn't work? She is 7 years old. Could there be any problems or something like special needs and the teacher hasn't called my niece mom in for a conference yet.

Answer 1

When you say your niece is struggling and that she has shown no progress first you should look for commonly skipped clues. You should have your niece's vision and hearing tested because these things often get overlooked. Maybe your niece can not see as clearly in class, or she can not hear sharply. Ask your niece how she feels about school, maybe she just doesn't want to be there or she is unmotivated. Sometimes the work can be too easy for students that they get bored and teachers want to send students to special ed. Your teacher should have contacted your niece's parents. So how do you know that there is a problem?

Answer 2

I recently found out that anytime a Teacher tells you that your child has a learning disability the school has to foot the bill for taking care of that disability. My son was just diagnosed with ADHD but when i approached the his Teacher on her opinion about it she wasn't allowed to give me a straight up answer because of this. Perhaps the Teacher sees something in your Niece but is afraid to speak up because the school doesn't want to have to pay to have her tested. I would go with yours and your sisters gut instinct. If you think there is possibly a learning disability start making phone calls till you find the place you need to get her tested. Maybe shes just struggling and while Sylvan is a great tutoring place. Extra help at home can be just as helpful and alot cheaper. Whatever your sister decides I hope she gets answers. Good Luck.

Answer 3

First of all, my oldest son was not reading in 1st grade as most of the class. The teacher told me she was not worried about it YET as some kids just 'pop' and get it. She said if Spring Break rolled around and he had not got it yet, we would worry. He was reading at a level 4 at Winter Break and 14 by Spring Break. He did just as she thought he may. My youngest son on the other hand is struggling in 2nd grade as he has all the way up. He is in speech, participated in Reading Recovery, has an intervention specialist he sees daily, a tutor and attended summer school. At conferences his teacher recommended we not have him tested for any problems (which would allow for additional services) until the 3rd grade. After much consideration we went to the principal and asked that he be tested now. What I have found to be true for us is we had to demand it. Make sure your family knows your rights which can be found on the internet for your state. All involved predict he is not enough behind to qualify for services, but it seems the more information we have the better off we will be, which I assume would be similar in your families case. Good luck.

Answer 4

It sounds like it is Mom who should call an immediate conference. She should ask for specifics as to what your niece is having difficulty with and exactly how far behind she is. Also, you should find out what type of things the teacher has done to help her in class already and who the adult is that is working with your niece.
I strongly recommend that your sister write a letter to the school requesting a FULL evaluation. This should include an academic evaluation and psychological evaluation (a psychological is key in determining the potential of your nieces ability to learn). It should also address any other areas they feel are in need of development. Your sister needs to do this right away, it takes time to complete all the testing and determine results.
I know that others have recommended paying for tutoring, that is an option, but its expensive. The school department can and must help you and your family. They must complete the testing in a timely manner and it is free of charge.
Good luck!

Answer 5

Well I would talk to your sister ask her to meet with her daughter's teacher and find out about subjects the child's struggling in and try to find out a way to help the child suceed through extra help like a private tutor the teacher might tutor the child.

But if that doesn't work I would have another meeting with the teacher to a arrange possibly I.Q testing to determine wheather or not the child has learning disabilities and she might need to be placed in a special ed classes room to assist her learning challenges.....Being special ed isn't the worst thing ever I was in special ed classes since second grade and that help me so much with my academics challenges!!!! I just hope your sister won't deny her child of a sucessful education by holding her back and not excepting her challenges by not allowing her to take special ed classes!!!! cuz the only she will be hurting is her daughter!!!!

Well if the teacher has called back have your sister call again and have her wait for about a week and if no response has transpirer then have her call the principal of the school.

Answer 6

Mom and dad should be requesting a conference with the teacher to find out what interventions, other than the aid, are being used with their daughter. The classroom teacher should be keeping track of those things in preparation for a possible referral to special education. Classroom interventions must be tried before the child is tested for a learning disability. If there are documented interventions that are not working, then the parents can insist that their child be tested.
My question is this: you are obviously concerned about your neice and are trying to help, but what are her parents doing? THEY can request a conference with the teacher and do not need to wait for her to ask for one. THEY should be asking these questions of the school personnel.

Answer 7

The problems could be physical. Have her hearing and vision checked thoroughly, by doctors. She may have excellent reading skill but poor comprehension (she understands each word quickly but cannot understand sentences). Also, she may have an extremely HIGH level of intelligence and simply be bored by the stuff she gets in school. A kid that age cannot articulate such things well but will simply stop doing the work. She may not like her teacher, the classroom, or a student or students around her. It is also possible that she is one of the MANY people who need to be alone, to work. If you need more help, e-mail me.

Answer 8

I suggest a private tutor with a lot of practice. I tutor a 2nd grader that came to me failing at the time and after having him for 2 hours a day he now reads at 3rd grade level and his math skills are the best in his class. Make learning fun. Most after school programs just put them on a computer and expect them to learn that way. I DO NOT suggest sylvan I have heard horrible things about them and 2nd they are expensive.

Answer 9

I work with Resource kids everyday. I would suggest you march to your school, request a conference with your principal, 1st grade teacher, and Special Ed. teacher. (no, it is NOT the teacher for 'retarded' kids....it is the resource teacher for kids who need extra help)
When you have all of them in a conference, ask them about getting your neice in an IEP ..... Getting the extra help for kids like your niece is very scary for you, but wonderful for her. I teach a wide range of special needs....some can't concentrate, some need comprehension help, some have reading levels below the average....
good luck and don't forget :

IEP :
"Individualized Educational Programs"

Here is a web page that can give you some insight to what that is:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm

Answer 10

I have come across several very intelligent children..with well educated parents who have a child who has difficulty at school
the first question I ask is "is your child left handed"
they say YES.....WHY?
basically they have different brain wiring...often superior (genius)
but need special teaching methods
all the people I know who have a stutter are left handed
it is a very grey area, not black and white but
gifted children often struggle with every day schoolwork because they have different ways of learning