Lillian, CG, and others...question

[katiekat]

I read this article written by a women who has her Masters in Education, is the founder of a Learning Center, and has been a special ed teacher for over 30 years.
It said that you can test your childs reading fluency with a simple test. You have your child read from a book that is on their grade level and time them for one minute. You are not to correct or stop them at all. When they are done you subtract the amount of words they read incorrectly. There is then a list of correct words per minute(CWM) that the child should be able to read. (I hope I explained this so it makes sense) Anyway, the CWM for a first grader are between 40-60 CWM and a 2nd grader 60-95 WPM.
I did this with Sean and his CWM was 19. This concerns me. Do you think that there is any validity to this?

[katiekat]

I can provide you with her site if you'd like to take a look at it, I just didn't want to post it because it's local.

[charliegirl]

I'll have to let Lillian answer that one. 40 WPM for a 1st grader sounds like a lot to me. I think it would depend on what part of the year the child was in also. A child in the first month of first grade wouldn't be able to read nearly as many words or as quickly as one in the last month.

Ok, now I'm curious. I remember struggling through Dick and Jane in 1st grade. There were about 10 different words in a story, 4 or 5 words to a page at the most and it was probably less than 10 pages total. It sure seemed like it took a lot of time to work through a book. No wonder kids today are having so much more trouble.

[katiekat]

I had him read a note his teacher wrote to him today. It was 3 sentences containing a total of 33 words. I thought it sounded like a lot too, but words add up fast I guess.

[lillian]

www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_first1fluency.html

The above link will give you a lot of great information.

In the 2004 revision of SPED law, reading fluency was added as a qualifying reading disability.

[charliegirl]

She is right then. 60 WPM at the end of first grade. That just seems like a lot to expect from a first grader. I need to get my head out of the sand I guess. I'm still thinking in terms of the dark ages when I was a kid. We didn't even start to learn words until 1st grade.

Should KK ask them to test Sean for a reading disability then?

[lillian]

Oh, I'm not even going there. I think Sean should have been tested by the school two years ago.

[katiekat]

Ok thanks guys.
On the 2nd day of 2nd grade of course I am already frustrated. Already he cannot do what is expected of him. You know the struggles I have had to get him what he needs. Why is it that no matter what I do it never works? I feel so incapable right now. I will ask a question here and get several good answers from people who know what they're talking about, but when I do it I get nothing from the school. I put everything in writing, document everything and have a huge binder of stuff regarding Sean but it means nothing. Same thing with the neuropsych. We decide that if we want help we will have pay for it. So we go to this ridiculously expensive appt. and they just ask us questions and talk to Sean. Then they say the next appt. is the eval. so I go to that expecting some kind of testing. But they dont do anything-just ask Sean and I a bunch of questions. And I tell the dr. that I was under the impression that this was a NEUROPSYCH EVALUATION. And he says it is and I say I expected some type of testing or something. And he says no-that was it. I am by no means a stupid person but I feel like a real fool.
I was wondering if one of you could write down for me, in step-by-step instructions exactly what I need to do to get this kid evaluated. After I make the request in writing and then they say no whats next?? Thanks so much for your help and please dont think Im an idiot but nothing I do ever works out in this situation. When I worked at the middle school I knew 7th graders that couldnt read and I wondered how that happened. Now I know-I am seeing it unfold firsthand.

[charliegirl]

I really think at this point you need to talk to an advocate. Sunday nights at 9 pm your time, Gina is at Nethaven. She is an advocate and can help you so you get everything right this time.

www.net-haven.net/ You don't have to register. Just click on the Next Chat button and enter your name, then click login.

[katiekat]

In your opinion WHY do you think they refuse to evaluate? Why do they treat me like I am making a huge deal over nothing and that Sean is at an acceptable place academically? Last year his teacher told them at the I&RS meeting that he needed help and he would not make it through 2nd grade. They blew her off. I can understand they may think I am a hysterical parent or something but she is a tenured teacher...why would they ignore her recommendations? Is all this really over money?

Also something I have heard from moms of 2 kids now that are friends with Joe. They struggled all through elementary school, parents begged for help. They never got it. Until 5th grade. Then they start the evaluation process and when the kids started 6th grade at the middle school they stuck them in special ed. classes. Why? Doesnt it make more sense to start out getting the help you need and work TOWARD mainstreaming the child? I know that was the goal in the district I worked in. I am assuming this is their plan for Sean but I just dont get it.