First School Report

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Oh My Gosh!! ! I just spent most the day helping J with his first report! He's in 3rd grade and doesn't have a clue on even how to write a complete sentence, much less write a whole report. He decided he wanted to do a report on Sir Winston Churchill. I didn't know much about Winston Churchill, but I do now. Plus, he had to do a poster, and next week he has to dress up as Winston Churchill and every time a person pushes some imaginary button, he has to act like him and tell them all about him in first person. I'm hanging my head in sorrow because I just don't know how he is going to make it through school writing wise. He's good at everything else but writing and reading.

Do any of you think he will get to a point where he can write a report on his own?

Probably.

Maybe his "not doing well" at reading and writing stems from being forced to do it. (Whenever I didn't "do well" at a subject, it was because I DISLIKED IT.) Or maybe he just doesn't understand right now and will take a little longer to catch on. He is just in third grade. Everyone is different and everyone learns differently and at different speeds.

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't even check to see what forum this was in before I replied. I probably came across as rude--it was not my intention. I couldn't imagine an assignment like this NOW in college, let alone 3rd grade. Good luck to your son.

Last edited by dexkaden on 03 Mar 2006, 11:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm sorry. I'm a bit under the weather and don't quiet remember J's situation. Is he mainstreamed all day or some special ed?

First off, this is a horranece assignment for a third grader. Did they start out with sentains and build up to paragraphs? In any case, he will need to go back and start with the basics and then build forward.

If he's in special ed, ask what writing program they use. Kansas Learning Stratiegies is the best, from what I hear, but not often used as its expensive. If you get a name, we can discuss how to check it out.

If he's mainstreamed full time you'll probably have to teach him yourself. There are tools and programs that can help. We can discuss those too.

Could he dictate a report? My son understands, now that its been explisively explained to him, what a sentaince is. He understands how main sentainces usually start a paraghagh and what supporting sentainces are. And how paragraphs are grouped into reports. But his school didn't really do much of this until 4th and really 5th grade. My son could never write a report but he now can dictate it to our computer using a voice recognition program.

With tools, J will learn how to do it. Its just a question of how to get the tools into his hands.

BeeBee
(Excuse the mistakes this morning, my dylexia is really acting up)

I'm sorry you're not feeling well, BeeBee. J just got over the stomach flu, so you have my symphathies.

J is mainstream with science and social studies. He goes to Resource/Special Ed for math, reading, writing and spelling. He is in the third grade, but is at the second grade level for reading and writing.

Yes, I believe they started with sentence building and have been working on paragraph building, but I don't think they have gotten very far in Resource.



I'm not sure was writing program they use.



He can dictate sentences, but he cannot formulate something as complicated as a paragraph.

I guess what I don't understand is why he is having to do a report for a mainstream class when he has language arts in Resource??? I don't see how the teacher can expect this level of ability out of him. He has difficulty just saying a complete thought without getting side tracked and stuttering somewhat.

Anyhow, you can definitely tell I helped him out a lot with the project! I don't like giving him that much help, but if I sat him down and told him to write the report he would start to cry and not know where to begin. So yes, I feel like I am the one who is having to teach him how to do this....which I guess I don't mind doing, but his work will never look like he did it on his own.

have you tried talking to the resource teacher about this ?

Not yet, but I don't think they would have much say in the matter, as all the other children in Resource that are in the third grade had to do this assignment as well. I do plan to speak with his Resource teacher though to see what type of program they use and if they can suggest one we can use at home.

guess i didn't explain myself very well...i meant that the resource teacher might have, well, resources that you could use to assist your son...she also might be able to assist him with certain elements of the report.

He doesn't have any undiagnosed form of dyslexia does he? (Some of them can be pretty subtle.)

Ster~ That's okay, I understand now. It's too late for this report, but she might be able to offer some help on the next one.

Sophist~ I don't think he has dyslexia. He has always written his letters correctly, although they are very sloppy. I have some friends in J's school who's sons were dx'd with dyslexia. The school caught it very early for them. If they had noticed it in J, I sure I would have heard something from them by now. J and I are extremely lucky to have this school. It's a public elementary, and they are very sensative to the needs of disabilities and have bent over backward for me in the past.

I still think this project was too difficult for J, though.

have you thought about irlen syndrome. I believe it is quite common amoung dyslexic and aspies. Easy to fix as well.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had not heard of it, but will check it out.

Sounds frustrating but in time Im sure he will get better so dont lose hope with him, I wasnt good at writing papers at first either but now Im probably one of the better writers in school (as long as its social sciences and not naturals sciences.)

There's different kinds of dyslexia. But it could potentially be worth it to consult someone who's very experienced in the identification of it. As I said, some forms can be very subtle and some kids can go undiagnosed. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try to find out. If he doesn't have a form of dyslexia, then it'll be something else to be happy about. But still, if reading and/or writing is a problem area for your son, one of the first things would be to check for any form of dyslexia or dysgraphia.

And if he's very bad at math as well as spatial stuff, I'd check out Nonverbal Learning Disorder, too. It's frequently comorbid with AS (about 40-60% of the time). It's not an official dx as yet, but one which has made it's way out into the professional community over the years. Though it would be hard finding a professional who's advertised as being an "expert" in it, since it's not technically a dx according to the DSM.

But just having the knowledge can help you be more aware of your son's difficulties and help him in those areas.

This has been the worst experience! I am trying to get J ready for his school's open house, which is tonight, where he will do the second half of his assignment. This is the part where he has to dress like Winston Churchill and give a speech about himself everytime someone touches a button on his hand... J has fought me EVERY step of the way. Plus, my husband is out of town this whole week, we had an extra soccer game on Tuesday, and changed a practice to Wednesday, so J's whole schedule is messed up! Plus, I work full time an hour's drive away from our home! I feel like I need to be posting on the Haven Forum!! !

hang in there...it's only 1 night~although i'm sure it will seem like 100.