[etni] Fw: re: learning disabilities
- From: "Ask Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "Etni" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:51:31 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Balazs" <etnimail11@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: re: learning disabilities
Anyone interested in learning disabled children will be interested in
the children's book Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. It is
read aloud (video) on http://www.storylineonline.net/ (at the bottom
click more stories).
"Polacco shares her childhood triumph over dyslexia and discovery of
reading in an inspiring if slightly formulaic story. Young Trisha is
eager to taste the "sweetness of knowledge" that her grandfather has
always revered (here symbolized by drizzling honey onto a book and
tasting it, which harkens back to Polacco's earlier The Bee Tree). But
when she looks at words and numbers, everything is a jumble. Trisha
endures the cruel taunts of classmates who call her "dumb," and falls
behind in her studies. But finally the encouragement and efforts of a
new fifth grade teacher, Mr. Falker, trigger a monumental turning point
in Trisha's life. She begins to blossom and develop all of her talents,
including reading. Polacco's tale is all the more heartfelt because of
its personal nature. Young readers struggling with learning difficulties
will identify with Trisha's situation and find reassurance in her
success. Polacco's gouache-and-pencil compositions deftly capture the
emotional stages?frustration, pain, elation?of Trisha's journey. Ages 5-up."
Laurie wrote:
> I've read the articles below, both worth a read!
> However, I question "how" we "...take back some of the authority the
> "experts" have taken out of our hands."
> I know and accept the fact that there are pupils in our classrooms with
> very
> real learning disabilities, "dyslexia". Yet, I think most of us also agree
> we've got a long list of pupils who are given dispensations and it's not
> quite clear to us teachers "why".
> Just last year I had parents ask me for my written assessment of their
> daughter in English as they hoped she'd get a reprieve on spelling
> mistakes.
> I told them and wrote that this pupil, in my humble opinion as an English
> teacher, had no serious learning disability but needed to sit down and
> learn
> some spelling rules. Period! They were very disappointed with my words.
> I'm
> not sure of the outcome of her assessment as she moved to another group
> shortly after this.
> But I've got quite a many pupil in my class with very long lists of
> dispensations who, frankly, don't need them. Sorry if I'm upsetting some
> people, and again, I'm not speaking about those who really are in need of
> help. Many of the pupils I refer to, when it comes down to the test,
> prefer
> to do it on their own without "help" except for getting the extra time and
> my "ignoring" their spelling.
> I question how a pupil who can clearly read a library book on his/her
> own,
> is allowed a recorded exam??!! I question how a pupil who has a few
> spelling
> mistakes is given the "right" to write wrong rather than spend a few
> minutes
> daily learning how to spell properly.
> No, I am not an LD examiner but my 35+ years in the classroom has given me
> experience.
> When I confronted our school guidance counselor about this issue, I was
> told
> that there's nothing I can do if the pupil was examined and brought the
> results to the school. There was no point fighting it and frankly, I
> haven't
> the energy to do so.
> I think many of these "dyslexic" pupils are being deprived of real
> learning
> and are hiding behind a mask. The real world, as I point out to them,
> won't
> forgive their poor spelling or read aloud to them if they wave their
> little
> piece of paper with their dispensations. I ask them to do the best they
> can
> despite the piece of paper! During exams, I do as I'm instructed.
> Again, I'm not doubting the need some pupils do have for help. Yes, I am
> very aware of learning disorders but the numbers of these pupils have gone
> sky high. Time for reassessment.
> Yona wrote:
>
>> I think that teachers in the classroom, who meet pupils with learning
>> problems, should begin to take back some of the authority that "experts"
>> have taken out of their hands.
>> www.spiked-online.com/Printable/0000000CA647.htm
>> www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/6125/
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