spelling test

Pretend you are a second grade teacher giving a spelling test.

A student in your class - her mother already told you that she has trouble with her hearing and has asked you to be patient with her. However, you think she hears fine, in fact you even tell the mother that you just think the girl has ADD - since your son was just diagnosed with ADD.

So, you give the test and the student does not hear a word. You told the student you do not repeat the words. So if she doesn't hear them she is out of luck and gets them wrong.

Would you repeat the word for her? Would you repeat the words for any of the kids?

 

I repeat my words when I give a spelling test, and I do have a child that is hard of hearing (not deaf, just has issues). I tell them I repeat it 3 times maximum. I also ask if everyone has it before I move on.

To me... I can see some possible issues that may arise from the P if the teacher isn't helping the kid and the parent has said the child has hearing trouble.

 

Being a bit hard of hearing myself I can understand the need to have things repeated at times. For students that may have a difficult time hearing or staying focused I stand closer to them and keep a watch to see that they're keeping up. I say the word, use it in a sentence, say the word again, wait a few seconds before going to next word. If not ready my students know to raise their hand & I wait.

 

Wait.... Did the teacher actually say she thinks the girl has ADD??

 

Yes, this brilliant teacher did actually tell me that she thinks my daughter has add. I nearly blew a gasket.

I am taking Hailey to a specialist Monday for a complete audiological evaluation. I think she has a Central Auditory Processing Disorder. I think she fits all the criteria, and have spoken at length with a Psychologist about Hailey and she has observed Hailey and agrees with me.

I really am completely frustrated with her teacher. Hailey is having a hard year and the spelling test problem is really killing me. Especially because she is a good speller. She should be getting 100 on the tests, but because for whatever reason - she misses words every week, she never gets all the words. I don't understand why the teacher can not figure out a way to make sure she hears all the words.

 

Yes. I would make sure the child had face to face contact when I said the word AND I would repeat them. I would be testing the student's ability to spell, not how well they pay attention or hear. How can I assess spelling if the student hasn't heard the word or processed it? Heck, I might even make the student repeat the word back to me to make sure she has it.

Here is a little secret... It has nothing to do with the teacher not being able to find a way for your daughter to hear and hopefully process the words.

Seems as if this teacher is digging a rather large hole for herself. I'm sorry your child has to suffer under this obviously out of line teacher.

 

Oh, wow, I would go to the principal about this. That was so totally inappropriate.

And, yes, if a parent expressed that her child had difficulty hearing, then I would do what I could to make sure she hears the words for the test.

 

Before I answer - if a kid has ADD, does that then make it ok to not accomodate them in some way? I mean if I have a kids that has ADD, I make sure to stand near them and eye contact and repeat directions, etc... to help them out, so why wouldn't she repeat it for a kid tht has ADD OR a hearing problem.

For my answer, I can't imaging ever only saying the word one time! Even as the most attentive, teaching pleasing student I was, there were times I did not hear the word the first time.

 

It sounds like the teacher isn't doing the right thing.

To ensure that your daughter gets the support she needs, I hope that you're working to get an IEP or 504 in place for her right away. Then the teacher can't refuse to make accommodations. Or at least if she does she'll be breaking the law and you'll have a lot more recourse. I know that you said that you have an appointment scheduled for your daughter. How long does it typically take to get an IEP/504 in place after that initial doctor appointment?

Good luck to you and to your daughter in the situation.

 

Hearing loss is a funny thing. People perceive it to be an issue of loudness so if something is said at one level and someone heard it fine, then surely the next thing someone says at that level will be fine too. Nope. I actually have a severe to profound hearing loss in both ears (without hearing aids). Yet because I function so well and my speech is good, people assume I hear much better than I do. But even with amplification, it is not the real issue. The real issue is clarity. That's why sometimes I can hear something and other times, even with all the amazing skills I possess, I can't. Sometimes I can identify a sound but not understand the message. I could go into the technical aspect of this (on layman terms using analogies) but the real aspect of this is hearing loss is a hidden disability. People widely misunderstand it. But even if the teacher didn't believe it, she had no right to outright dismiss it. It isn't her child. Even if she suspected ADD, that requires accommodation too. I think you are doing the right thing. You are having your child tested. I would report it to the P though because she is out of line and only saying the word once I doubt is standard practice.

I teach students how to attend to the teacher through a variety of lessons, but I would not use that lesson during a TEST. I would want them to apply the skills we've practiced and I would expect them to work on it but it would not be a do or die thing because the real purpose is to see what they know, not if they know how to attend.

 

If I had to take another class of my own choosing right now, I would love to take an Educational Law class but given by an Ed. Lawyer not a lay person's general understanding.

 

I taught 2nd grade grade for six years. I'd say the word, use it in a sentence, and repeat the word again. I'd go very slowly.

Now that I teach 6th grade, I still do the same thing! The kids typically need to hear the words at least twice.

 

I have a student with capd. I use an FM (hmmm...now I'm not sure that's what it's called! lol) device. It's a wireless mike for me and he wears earphones. I call the words out 4 or 5 times during the test, then I read the entire list one more time at the end. However, if a child has hearing issues (or learning disabilities) I modify the test as needed.
Oh, and if a parent went to my principal and told her that I said their child had ADD, she would go through the roof!

 

Find out the teacher's exact policy. Mine is that I say the word 3 times (once, then in a sentence, and once more). I allow a child to immediately raise their hand if they still haven't heard the word. I won't allow a child when we are on word #8 to ask me what word #5 is. If a child raises their hand too much (very very rare) then I will meet with the child later to see what the problem is.

I'd first try to be patient and work with this teacher a bit more to see if she can say each word 3 times each. This is the normal way to give a spelling test. If she continues to not work with you, I'd set up a meeting with the principal and kindly explain the situation.

 

I say each word up to six times for my fourth graders.

 

If it is CAPD, that is something else that would be hard for people to understand unless they specifically know about it because in all intents and purposes, the person CAN hear. Rather, it is a processing disorder.

I found this excerpt from an article online related to CAPD.

"APD is an often misunderstood problem because many of the behaviors noted above also can appear in other conditions like learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and even depression. Although APD is often confused with ADHD, it is possible to have both."

I guess it is pretty common to get it confused.

 

You got it right. It's called an FM system.

Good point. I assumed the teacher told the OP she only says it one time but maybe not. Did she?

 

I still repeat words in the sixth grade. I will say the entire list, and then ask the students if they need any repeated. I do say the word three times as suggested and then have my students wait for repeats until the end.

In this case, I may have this student try to take the spelling test with us and then repeat the list to her after everyone else is done with the test to ensure that she hears and processes each word.

I can see the teacher not necessarily modifying right away if there is no documentation. Some districts are requiring everything to be done a certain way with little wiggle room unless their is documentation.

 

I haven't read the rest of the thread yet; I'm guessing the child is yours and that it ends in the principal's office???

 

However, you would get a slightly different perspective by taking one from an Ed Lawyer that represents school districts and one that represents students. There will be some biggies in the law that are rather black and white, but most of it is grey in interpretation.

Sad part is, every district I know of posts the mission of the school and it is always about kids reaching their potential (because of the greatness of the school system).

Unfortunately, "access" to the curriculum in some schools means physical access not intellectual, functional, or behavioral.

 

I would take a parents word that a child had hearing difficulties. Since this teacher is not, and to ensure the child is getting what she needs to be successful, I'd advise the OP to take her child to the doctor, get a complete physical and hearing check (maybe a referral to an audiologist too) and take the results/doctors recommendations to the child study team at the school. Tell the CST you want the results put in the child's folder and paperwork of required modifications distributed to all teachers who work with the student.

 

I have the exact same situation in my classroom. I say the word 2 times, use it in a sentence, and then say it 2 more times. Even after the 5th time, I have a student who usually still does not hear the word. She is just staring at the ceiling, not paying attention. This happens for almost every word.

I go over to her desk after after word, get down at her level, get her attention, and say the word directly to her. It is very frustrating, but if she really does have an attention problem (which I'm pretty sure she does), and her parents aren't doing anything about it, this really isn't something she can control.

 

thanks.

I have not ended the story because I am stuck now. I emailed the teacher on Thursday morning because of another incident that happened at school on Wendesday. she told my husband that she wanted to have a conference with me, and I sent her this email...

Good Morning, Ms. teacher,

My husband mentioned that you would like to schedule a conference. Please let me know if there is any day that you can meet me at 4:00. If not, then I could leave my own school early on Tuesday December 6th, so I could meet with you at 3:30.

I would like to know also what concerns you are having and what solutions you are offering before we meet so that I can be better prepared to conference with you.

Thank you.

hailey's mom.

I have not heard back from her, and now that it is 4 days, I am going to send her another email, perhaps also CC it to the principal. Tomorrow is our appointment with the Audiologist,(we're going through St. Barnabus Medical Center - because they are supposed to be excellent and thorough) so after that, I hope I have some other answers.

Mostly now, i am worried about my daughter because she is really disengaged with this teacher. And, to be honest my heart is broken at the thought of leaving my daughter with this teacher every day because I am afraid that Hailey is just personally annoying to her.

 

Oops, I read your first post quickly, and read it wrong! I thought you were the teacher, and had a problem with parents who were not cooperating. Sorry about that!

As I mentioned, though, I repeat words, and accommodate for children who have attention problems, so I absolutely would do the same for a child who was hard of hearing.

That is frustrating that you still haven't heard anything back after 4 days. I think CCing the principal if you don't hear back soon would be a good idea.

 

You absolutely should cc the principal. Honestly, I think you should consider asking for a conference with the teacher and the principal.

Was the psychologist who observed your daughter affiliated with the school? If so, I would ask her to attend too. If not, do you have a summary of her observation that you can provide?

If you're considering a request to change teachers, I think involving the principal sooner is better than later.

Good luck.

 

You emailed on Thursday, so you should have heard back Friday sometime. However, I would not count the weekend as days that the teacher hasn't replied to your email. Give her until Monday to get back to you. Friday may have been a bit crazy or she may not have been in school.

We have a general rule about 24 hours to reply to any contact, but weekends do not count in the 24 hours and if you are absent a day, that doesn't count either.

 

Agreed.

 

You emailed her Thursday morning.

She probably should have checked sometime before Friday morning, and responded that day. Particulary since your email was a response to a request SHE had made to your husband. And, for what it's worth, I respond to weekend emails fairly often.

I would not be a happy mommy at this point in the process.

 

I am not so happy. I emailed her again this morning. I hope to hear from her tomorrow.

 

I teach second grade and I say the word, say it again, use it in a sentence, then say it again. If a student doesn't hear or understand the word, s/he raises his/her hand and asks me to repeat it and I do. After I've read all the words, I have students touch their pencils to each word as I read them all again. If a student has trouble hearing, I stand near the student as I give the test. Sometimes a student might miss a word or two and get behind, but I tell them to just write the word I'm on down and I'll come back to the other words they need to hear again later. I always ask after the test if anyone needs a word repeated.

 

Not a teacher yet, but one of my professors is a school psychologist, and she constantly warns us that teachers can get in huge trouble for diagnosing a student (she actually used ADD as an example). I would definitely tell the principal she said that! It also seems completely ridiculous that she only says the word once! Good luck with everything. I hope everything works out for you and your daughter.

 

What happened today??

 

I did get an email back from her..

I think she has a variety of issues with hailey.

Then I took Hailey to the dr today and they recommend having her tonsils and adenoids removed, and tubes put in her ears because she currently has a 50% hearing loss due to fluid in her ears. This will all take place next Wednesday and then she will be out of school for 2 weeks EEK!!

thanks for asking

 

The audiologist said that while she may have a processing disorder, right now, the first fix is her hearing. she was pretty good.

 

So your gut on the hearing loss was correct.

 

Thanks for the update. Inadequate hearing can cause many difficulties. Once your child feels the frustration, it changes the child's behaviors almost creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I wish your daughter and your family well during her surgery and recovery.

 

Here's hoping the surgery helps! Are you getting a 2nd opinion on the surgery?

Here's hoping the teacher develops some understanding of the situation.

 

Wait, stop. You mean YOU, her MOM, actually figured out that she couldn't hear??? How could that be???

OK, sorry I couldn't resist. The teacher sounds like a moron.

I'm sorry Hailey will have to have surgery, but how great that they'll get it done so quickly.

I am glad to hear that they've figured out a big piece of the puzzle.

 

I bit my tongue better than Alice did.

I'm glad you are getting help for her.

 

I did not get a second opinion because this doctor came highly recommended as one of the top ENT's in NJ monthly Doctor something... as well as through my pediatrician and recommendations from friends. ahh I hope that is enough.