Identifying areas of exceptionality?

Question

What can i do for a student who is functioning more than three years below grade level in all subjects. Often absent and when he does attend, he has difficulties with new concepts. He also exhibits behaviors far below his chronological age.

Is he mentally retarded? How do I accomodate? What problems do you see in the future?

Answer 1

First check the child's cummulative folder to see if he has ever been tested before and what the results were. If you are not comfortable with going through the folder alone, get assistance from your guidance counselor, a special education teacher, or one of your administrators. If he has not been tested before, submit his name to the Child Study Team or the person who is in charge of making sure he gets tested. In the meantime, contact the parent and explain that you are trying to find help for him within the school and ask them what has been done before. Use the Title 1 teachers to work with him. Give him his work in a folder that allows him to chose assignments that he can get through. Make sure you do not signal him out from the rest, but allow him to have success in your class by meeting him where he is and building from there. I hope this helps. If you cannot get the assistance within your building, talk with some in the central office of your school district for support for this student.

Answer 2

The answer I think depends on the age and grade-level of the student, and the extent of the absentee situation. Is the absense the reason for the 3-yr below-grade, or is the absence BECAUSE the grade-level work is too hard and too frusatrating?

Is there a way to get some form of Special Ed/Psychological evaluation done?

Answer 3

Get the student diagnosed by experts , have the M team determine which accomodations are appropriate, You , as a teacher are not qualified or legally supposed to diagnose or even suggest retardation.