Dyslexia and
 School

  Dyslexia Parents Resource

My son is terrified of taking part in the next state standardized testing. Does he have to? He has been diagnose as being dyslexic. What is the point of him taking any more tests that he knows he will fail at? (K.L., USA)
Your son is not obliged to take the tests. If you write a letter to the school and just state that you do not wish your child to participate in the state standardized testing program, then he will be exempted in most states. You may have to keep him at home for the day of the tests. There is no need to give any reason why you do not wish him to take part. Whether your child n most cases, the state authority has to take account of the parent's wishes whether or not your child has a 504 plan or an IEP.

Andy receives extra support in school, both in and out of the classroom.

He has one-on-one support in the Resource classroom and a volunteer mom comes into his classroom and sits with him to provide support in completing seat assignments and in reading.

Andy goes out of the class to Resource three times a week for a half hour each time but is in a group of four students.

He minds leaving the class because it seems that whenever there is something fun to do, like art, music, or gym, he has to leave.

He said he misses the "neat stuff" and he doesn't work as hard in Resource.

He isn't at all embarrassed or uncomfortable about going out to Resource but wishes it was scheduled differently.

He likes the classroom help because he knows the mom and it helps him a lot.

He isn't uncomfortable about it because he has always struggled and now in Grade 4, he's accustomed to it.

It has been my experience that when students are older than Andy, they perceive help in a different manner.

It is not cool to have an assistant in the class or to be singled out to go to the Resource teacher for help or to write a test.

The students' self-esteem is affected because they are so aware of peer pressure and a need to belong.

We, as parents and teachers, need to do a better job of explaining to these kids that they are bright but learn differently than most of their peers.

They have strengths and weaknesses like everyone else but their strengths may be stronger and their weaknesses may be weaker.

By teaching them strategies to cope with dyslexia, we do more than get them through today's assignment or test.

We prepare them to be independent learners and not students with learned helplessness.

We need to teach them about their learning profile and to be their own advocates.

Flora E. Gillis

Flora Gillis is a student on the Dyslexia Certificate course.