Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Should I Put My Daughter Back In First Grade?
Dear Guidance Guy,
I'm a parent of an elementry school student in second grade she is having trouble inreading and the teacher wants to put her back in first grade. But she can do the math and other work. She just has trouble with some reading. She gets some of the reading math problems right but she has problems with others. Do you think that I should put her back? They say she is more advanced then the first graders but she doesn't have the level of reading she needs for second grade. I need an outside opinion. She also has ADHD and ODD. Please, your opinion would help.
Yours Truly,
Melissa
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Dear Melissa,
My opinion on your daughter would be of very limited value, since I haven't met her. I think it's important to know whose opinion this is and why they think your daughter should be put back into first grade. Has she been referred for special education services? I'm assuming she has been seen by a professional who can make diagnoses like ADHD (attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder) and ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). Only a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist can make that determination. Truthfully, unless she has been observed and evaluated very carefully, I'm suspicious of such labels, especially on very young kids. Once they find out they aren't "normal" they tend to act like their label. Please be careful not to use those terms around her. They can be very hurtful.
If your daughter's main problem is reading below grade level there are many things that can be done without moving her to first grade. A reading tutor can help her catch up, whether it's during class time or in an after school program. A special education teacher working with your daughter intensely for part of the day may also be an option. Some parents will even hire a tutor to work with children on nights and weekends.
But a low reading level isn't the only thing going on here. The fact that she's been given the ADHD and ODD labels is probably part of the reason the school would like to bring her back to first grade. I would ask for a formal meeting and have a qualified special education teacher or administrator state the reasons why a move back to first grade would be in your daughter's best interests. You also need to get clear on what YOU think is best for her. If more than just a reading problem is going on, retaining her may be your best option. You want to know all of your choices, and then come together as a team and make the best decision for your daughter.
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
I'm a parent of an elementry school student in second grade she is having trouble inreading and the teacher wants to put her back in first grade. But she can do the math and other work. She just has trouble with some reading. She gets some of the reading math problems right but she has problems with others. Do you think that I should put her back? They say she is more advanced then the first graders but she doesn't have the level of reading she needs for second grade. I need an outside opinion. She also has ADHD and ODD. Please, your opinion would help.
Yours Truly,
Melissa
*** *** ***
Dear Melissa,
My opinion on your daughter would be of very limited value, since I haven't met her. I think it's important to know whose opinion this is and why they think your daughter should be put back into first grade. Has she been referred for special education services? I'm assuming she has been seen by a professional who can make diagnoses like ADHD (attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder) and ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). Only a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist can make that determination. Truthfully, unless she has been observed and evaluated very carefully, I'm suspicious of such labels, especially on very young kids. Once they find out they aren't "normal" they tend to act like their label. Please be careful not to use those terms around her. They can be very hurtful.
If your daughter's main problem is reading below grade level there are many things that can be done without moving her to first grade. A reading tutor can help her catch up, whether it's during class time or in an after school program. A special education teacher working with your daughter intensely for part of the day may also be an option. Some parents will even hire a tutor to work with children on nights and weekends.
But a low reading level isn't the only thing going on here. The fact that she's been given the ADHD and ODD labels is probably part of the reason the school would like to bring her back to first grade. I would ask for a formal meeting and have a qualified special education teacher or administrator state the reasons why a move back to first grade would be in your daughter's best interests. You also need to get clear on what YOU think is best for her. If more than just a reading problem is going on, retaining her may be your best option. You want to know all of your choices, and then come together as a team and make the best decision for your daughter.
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
# posted by Larry Hochman : 2:12 PM
