WWYD? Call the school and inquire or let it be? UPDATE

[Disney1fan2002]

My DD started 6th grade this year. She struggled a bit in the lower grades, mainly because she is young for her grade. She has a July birthday with an August 31st cut off for K. So, While her peers started turning 6 in K, she was 5 the entire school year, and that is how it will always be. She will be 17 when she graduates, she'll turn 18 two month later.

I know she is not the only summer baby, but the trend that the teachers and I noticed was she would struggle until March or April, and then everything would seem to click. So we figured it really was all about her age, and maturity. Last year, in 5th grade, she seemed to be doing very well. She didn't seem to follow the trend of struggling, then catching on, she seemed to "get it" right away. She got good grades, and she really put a lot of effort into her projects. She is a slow reader, but reading comprehension has always been one of her strengths.

This year, she started middle school. New school, new teachers. I just found out, through her telling me who her teacher is, ect, that her language arts class is being taught by a SPED teacher. She is in a class with only 4 other kids. I am conflicted. While I think it is great that if she is behind her peers, she is in a small group setting, on the other hand, shouldn't the school have informed me?

My oldest son has an IEP, so I am no stranger to special education. My DD does not have an ED plan, I think this is where my confusion comes from. I had no idea she was so behind, that they have her seperated. Not that I am looking to change anything, but shouldn't thay have contacted me beforehand?

I honestly don't know if I should call the school and ask them about this, or just let it be. I really don't want to seem like a mother who doesn't agree with the placement. if she needs it, she needs it.

WWYD?

 

[KirstenB]

I'd definitely call for more information. It sounds like you want your daughter to be placed in a class that's a good fit for her needs, but you need more information. I'd want to know how does the curriculum compare to the other same-grade classes, etc. With such a small class, she should get a lot of extra support. Good luck.

 

[Pigeon]

I see no downside at all to calling to talk to her guidance couselor to find out more about this.

 

[Darcy03231]

I'd call the school and set up an appointment to see the teacher & guidance counselor, just to get more information.

 

[lucky978]

You should absolutely call and find out what it going on.

 

[HeatherC]

Of course you should call!! That's our job as parents.

By calling, you will also let the school know that you are interested in her education and take an active role in learning. Trust me....you'll be glad you called.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would also be calling the school asap to discuss the situation.

I am in contact with dd's school counselor and I find that she is very helpful getting info to me.

I wonder where the breakdown in communication is?

 

[wdwfan16]

My DD started 6th grade this year. She struggled a bit in the lower grades, mainly because she is young for her grade. She has a July birthday with an August 31st cut off for K. So, While her peers started turning 6 in K, she was 5 the entire school year, and that is how it will always be. She will be 17 when she graduates, she'll turn 18 two month later.

I know she is not the only summer baby, but the trend that the teachers and I noticed was she would struggle until March or April, and then everything would seem to click. So we figured it really was all about her age, and maturity. Last year, in 5th grade, she seemed to be doing very well. She didn't seem to follow the trend of struggling, then catching on, she seemed to "get it" right away. She got good grades, and she really put a lot of effort into her projects. She is a slow reader, but reading comprehension has always been one of her strengths.

This year, she started middle school. New school, new teachers. I just found out, through her telling me who her teacher is, ect, that her language arts class is being taught by a SPED teacher. She is in a class with only 4 other kids. I am conflicted. While I think it is great that if she is behind her peers, she is in a small group setting, on the other hand, shouldn't the school have informed me?

My oldest son has an IEP, so I am no stranger to special education. My DD does not have an ED plan, I think this is where my confusion comes from. I had no idea she was so behind, that they have her seperated. Not that I am looking to change anything, but shouldn't thay have contacted me beforehand?

I honestly don't know if I should call the school and ask them about this, or just let it be. I really don't want to seem like a mother who doesn't agree with the placement. if she needs it, she needs it.

WWYD?

From what I have read the age problem goes away around 4th grade. That seems to be the case with your DD. She should be fine this year.

I do think the school should have told you. I would talk to them and see why she is in the class and then you decide if this is best for her.

 

[sunnyday123]

From what I have read the age problem goes away around 4th grade. That seems to be the case with your DD. She should be fine this year.

I do think the school should have told you. I would talk to them and see why she is in the class and then you decide if this is best for her.

I can tell you from experience, it doesn't. I was 17 when I graduated ( January b-day) and one I hit middle school it just got harder. You start to try and keep up with the older kids, and I spent more time doing that instead of school work that I to this day can't believe I graduated. I would call the school and explain to them you weren't aware she was in a special class, but be appreciative of the extra help she's getting. If she falls behind now, she'll never catch up. Maybe an outside tutor? Good luck.

 

[mjkacmom]

I can tell you from experience, it doesn't. I was 17 when I graduated ( January b-day) and one I hit middle school it just got harder. You start to try and keep up with the older kids, and I spent more time doing that instead of school work that I to this day can't believe I graduated. I would call the school and explain to them you weren't aware she was in a special class, but be appreciative of the extra help she's getting. If she falls behind now, she'll never catch up. Maybe an outside tutor? Good luck.

I think it depends on the child. Dd13 has a late July birthday, and did very well in the younger grades, but struggled a bit with organization in 4th and 5th (when she got her first B's, and started stressing about school). However, she hit her stride in 6th, and now in 8th, is still on top of things, with all honors classes. But 4th and 5th were tough years for her.

 

[3boymthr]

I had to fill out all kinds of forms and almost sign away my grandchildren to have DS9 put in a pull out class as he needs more one on one attention than he gets in a regular class.

I would call your school. She shouldn't be in this class unless YOU signed that it was okay.

 

[KAMLEM]

I can tell you from experience, it doesn't. I was 17 when I graduated ( January b-day) and one I hit middle school it just got harder. You start to try and keep up with the older kids, and I spent more time doing that instead of school work that I to this day can't believe I graduated.

I think it all depends on the child. I have a 12/29 birthday and was 17 when I graduated and I never had a problem. On the other hand, I have a daughter with an August birthday so she just makes the 8/31 cutoff. She struggled right up until middle school then everything seemed to click. She's not a straight A student, she gets some B's and has even had a couple of C's but that has nothing to do with her age.

 

[skuttle]

I would call as well. I'm surprised they placed your DD in that class w/o talking to you about it first.

I was 17 when I started college. My birthday is in October and when I started school, my birthday fell before the cutoff so I was always younger. I never had a problem. But that was years ago!

My DS is a July birthday. So far he is doing fine (only in 1st grade). It's funny because two of his friends are having birthdays this month...one is turning 7 and the other 6. I guess the 7 year old's mom held him back before starting Kindergarten. Unless our age cutoff is in the middle of the month, which I doubt.

It really just depends on the child.

 

[sunnyday123]

I think it all depends on the child. I have a 12/29 birthday and was 17 when I graduated and I never had a problem. On the other hand, I have a daughter with an August birthday so she just makes the 8/31 cutoff. She struggled right up until middle school then everything seemed to click. She's not a straight A student, she gets some B's and has even had a couple of C's but that has nothing to do with her age.

I agree, and what I said probably came out totally wrong. I meant it's harder emotionally when you are a year younger, especially in high school, and school work is usually what will suffer. Getting a handle on it now will make it easier for her to keep up. I didn't get my drivers lic. till the end of junior year, and by then everyone had been driving since our sophmore year.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I have an update.

Tuesday, the day I posted this, at dinner, DD mentions she has a different languages arts teacher. I asked if it was a sub, and she said no, she doesn't have that teacher anymore, she has the regular language arts teacher. She has only been in school for a week at this point, so I told her that maybe she was put in that class by mistake, and the school realized the mistake and corrected it.

The way my schedule has been this week, I just today got the chance to call the school. I asked what was going on, and it was what I thought. She was placed in the class by mistake, and they realized she didn't belong. She is now in a regular languages arts classroom. Now I wish I had made the call on the second day of school.

Oh well, you live and learn.