learning disabilities

[sylvia]

Hi
I have a 7yr old daughter that is in second grade privte school
She occaionally reverses her b and d and the 6 she is a little slower at math on the timed test that are given(45 add. problems in 2 min.) than the some of the other children, also reads smoothly but when it comes to the big  words has to stop to sound them out.She has good reading comp. but stays behind some of the children . My question is should I suspect a learning problem at this age.
the curriculum that is taught at this school is abecca which is very fast paced, alot of timing the ones that aren't done are counted wrong she knows her math she just doesn't have enough time to do it in Should she be expected to be at the same level as the other bright children in her class. I feel as if this second grader is getting stressed out.
your answer will be greatly appreciated.

sylvia

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Sylvia,

It's possible that your daughter displays some form of learning disability, but if she does it does not seem to be of a severe sort. If she seems happy with her school, it does not make sense to change the arrangement, even if she is somewhat pressed to keep up with the pace. On the other hand, if the stress is resulting in unhappiness, you might want to consider if the school is the best 'match' for your daughter.

[Christine]

Sylvia,
From what you have described, your daughter sounds VERY normal to me.  My daughter is 8 years old and is in 3rd grade and experiences much the same things your daughter does.  She has timed math drills for 7 minutes in which she has to do 100 subtraction problems such as 14-9 or 16-7, etc.  She cannot finish these problems.  I have intervened to show her "tricks" and that has helped her times.  Also, her reading level is at what is deemed an upper 3rd grade level or early 4th grade level.  This sounds good; however, there are many children in her class that are at the 6th grade level and are whizzes in math.  When I see these children it is very hard for me not to wonder why my daughter doesn't do as well.  I am very convinced that there are no problems, that she is just a very average student (maybe slightly higher average) but not a genius or whiz kid (and there seems to be a good number of those too).  My daughter's school habits are a lot like mine were according to my mother.  I was good in language arts, struggled a bit in math, and had VERY sloppy handwriting!!  The teachers would tell my mom that I didn't do as well in math but that there was no problem, it just didn't come easy.  And that sounds about how your daughter is.  As long as she is happy in school and not under too much pressure so that school is no longer fun, then you're doing ok!
Christine

[DE]

Abecca is very much "fill in the blanks" type curriculum, and I don't feel it is a good one for fostering creativity in a child.  If you want one that fits into the "cookie cutter mold" then abecca is the curriculum for young children.  Homeschooling would not place your daughter somewhere where she is "diagnosed" when she needs to be running around outside and learning from nature, and books when she is ready.  Like the Moore's say, (leaders in homeschooling), try and find their book Better Late Than Early, and you may be convinced a classroom, especially the type you mention, is not the best place for a young child.  Also, they pass catch up and pass up if they learn when they are ready.