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Confidence Problem or Learning Disability?
Q: My daughter is in third grade and struggles with reading. Her teacher feels she needs to be tested for learning disabilities due to her scores on the off-level CMTs. I don't feel she has a disability, just that she doesn't have confidence. Is there a place or a site that I can go to where I could get DRPs to work with her at home?
A: Check with a teacher supply store for materials you can use to work with your daughter. If there is not one near your home, your daughter's school will have catalogs of materials that you can order. You might also want to check with a store that sells tutoring software. Your daughter's teacher can suggest the skills on which she needs to work.
If your daughter continues to struggle, consider giving your consent for the testing. Although the testing may indicate a need for exceptional children's services, you will be asked for your consent for that placement. Often the test results do not show that a child qualifies for placement, but instead give information about the child's strengths and areas of need.
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Barbara Potts has worked as an elementary school counselor for many years. She has a BA in psychology from Wake Forest University, and an M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
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