Should Dyslexic children be put into bottom sets at school even..........?

Question

if their level of intelligence is higher than some in the highest of sets?
My daughter has just began high school andhas been put in the lower groups with most of the trouble makers that don't want to learn..
When she was 9 yrs old her IQ was double her age, she gets bored in the lessons she is in now as she is beyond their level in learning... she struggles with literacy only, reading and writing... Is this fair?

Answer 1

I suspect that your daughter is not labeled dyslexic, but with Specific Learning Disability. We don't use that term is schools. Dyslexia is a medical term.

Here are some suggestions as to what you might do:
1. Check your daughter's IEP and see what kind of time she is supposed to get extra help from the Resource teacher. Make sure she is getting it.
2. Check the accommodations that she is supposed to be getting and make sure she is getting them.
3. Check her grades and make sure she is making progress.
4. Ask for a meeting with the principal after you have gathered this information. Tell them that your daughter is not receiving some of the services called for on the IEP and tell him which ones. Tell him that given Resource help and accommodations, your daughter would be able to function in a higher level class. Be aware that class placement is not an IEP team decision. Usually, unless your daughter is failing badly, these requests will be honored.
5. If the IEP, in your opinion, does not have enough supports so that your daughter can be maintained in a higher class placement, call an IEP meeting so that these can be put in place on her IEP.
6. Contact your district's gifted department and ask that she receive gifted services. Children with SLD are entitled to gifted services if they meet the criteria, which are not based on school performance entirely. They may want to test her again to see her current ability if the testing is too old. Demand this!

Do not allow your daughter to be dumped into classes that do not meet her needs.

Answer 2

If she can do more than that class or if that class is holding her back from her potential, then no, it isnt fair,

Im dyslexic, and when I was diagnosed with it, my father, who is also dyslexic, refused to let the schools use it as an excuse to hold me back or for them to throw their hands up and say "I cant do anything, she is dyslexic" like they did with him.
I graduated high school with an A-B average, and my highest marks were in English (and Art;) ). I am currently going to college and my major is Special Education. I have aced all of my literature classes (though I had to take them one at a time with only one other class because of the extra time I needed to study) and I feel that the dyslexia has not held me back.
Most of my friends and none of my teachers even know I am dyslexic. I refuse to use it as a crutch, and I refuse to let them label me.

If you think she doesnt deserve being brought down, dont let her.

Answer 3

Make sure you pester the school to get your child "statemented", thus doing she will be tested for dyslexia and given support. Be very proactive and you will get results. Dyslexia is nothing to do with levels of intelligence, it is a consequence of the brain not being hard-wire correctly. You can actually pay for private specialist training which actually can "cure" dyslexia - however this is in the region of thousands. Great if you can afford it (I have actually attended the seminar on this cure - and yes - it works). Anyway plague the school for the best results.

Answer 4

It seems nothing is fair in the education system. Those with special needs are put in the same class as those with behavioural problems, which is a disgrace. School is supposed to be there for learning and if some children whatever their problems or needs are unable to do this without special attention, then they should go to an appropriate school where there are appropriate staff to help them.........

Answer 5

It might, It can, I doesn't have to, It can also be of great use! Having gone to Private School most of my life I can tell you first hand what effect and how it worked for us. I remember Middle School and High School the Best... Some of my teachers would pray for us before we began our classes. But believe it or not, MOST of my teachers didn't have us pray before our class. One of my teachers prayed (religiously) every start of class. I admired her for that, but other teachers would pray with us before a Testing us. But even that was rare. When you grow up with Prayer as part of your daily life, it's NOT a big deal and actually goes unnoticed and unaware because it's like hearing any regular conversations going on. That IS what it is, A conversation, not a Big Deal! ( No one gets bent out of shape to pray when it's common ).

Answer 6

this isn't fair and in the uk there is a similar problem !
my son is six and there is a history of dyslexia on my wifes side and in our anxiety we asked if he could be tested to ascertain if he had dyslexia or not !Not that it was a problem, the issue is something that can be dealt with but my problem was that children are not tested until they are 7 in the uk and if they do suffer then they have effectually wasted the first three years of their schooling and are having to start again , thankfully my son only exhibits apathy caused by distactions to do anywork much the same as any 6-7 year old little boy but should this had not been the case then i would be more than annoyed at being put on the back burner for 3 years and branded thick in the class!

Answer 7

No that's not fair. Dyslexic people are not stupid. I even heard Einstein was dyslexic. You should go and make a big deal of this at her school, because it is most definately not fair!

I know what the bottom sets at schools are like. The teachers do not even attempt to teach them as they assume the students are too stupid or disruptive, which is not fair as they do not know the child's full potential. And especially in your daughter's case, it is especially unfair as she probably has a very high potential and they are not allowing her to fulfil this.

I really suggest you go to her school and talk to the head teacher and make sure she is moved up to a higher set and don't take no for an answer.

Good luck!

Roya

Answer 8

No! she should be put in a group where she can maintain the level of work, she should be given extra help for her dyslexia!

For far too long Britain has been letting down kids suffering from dyslexia, if I was you I'd be speaking to the head and trying to reach a compromise, I'd also be paying for private tuition!

Answer 9

the education system, like many other thing's in this country has gone to the dog's, if this matter is'nt dealt with your daughter is just going to give up on education, due to boredom, she should be in lesson's like everyone else, & recieve some extra help for her dyslexia, but of course the school would probably say oh no that's not possible, we don't have enough fund's to give special treatment. could you find out if there is somewhere, that your daughter could go after school to get extra help for her dyslexia, it maddens me my son-in law is dyslexic, but he has a wide knowledge of thing's just difficulty writing it down. good luck & take care.

Answer 10

This is not the slightest bit fair I'm sick of hearing about bright children with difficulties being held back cos the teachers can't be bothered to help them. When I was at school my teachers would have to spend their whole lesson running around after disruptive or lazy children and if anyone asked for help when they genuinely needed it they would just get all narky with them.