Malika
Well-Known Member
The last day of the school year here in France - you "break up" (as we say in the UK) much earlier in the States... We just heard that J's best friend (well, and only other boy in the class) is leaving, as his family is moving. Poor J - he will now be in a class with three girls and that's it! One of the girls is his friend, a rather feisty, tomboyish character and there will be older boys in the school. In the new school year he will be in a new building, next door, with the new teacher. I did meet him briefly the other day. He seems very reserved, rather cold - could just be shyness, of course. People are a little concerned because he has never taught a large age range single class before. Basically, in the one classroom (of about 15 kids), there are five year groups and the teacher has to organise and teach them all... I'm not quite sure how it's done but there must be lots of autonomous working, which J is already used to.
I went in to have a brief word with the teacher at lunchtime. I asked her whether she thinks J probably has learning difficulties. She says (but this is someone who historically doesn't particularly want to know about such things) that in her view not, but that he will have to work hard in learning to read. She says he does not form part of the group of children who, over the years, she has felt would have problems in school. She says there is no reason at present to think he is dyslexic. I am trying to get an appointment with a speech therapist for September, recommended by the child psychiatrist we see. Meanwhile, we are edging towards an ADHD diagnosis, I think. I saw her on Tuesday and she asked me the Connors questionnaire. I was extremely honest in my replies and I think it really gives the picture of a hyperactive-impulsive child. We did discuss the eventual possibility of stimulants. She says she tries as far as possible to avoid them but where they are given to help a child who is suffering from school or social problems, they can be invaluable. She gave me the impression that if we go down this road with J, it would not be immediately in any case.
So maybe things are in hand as much as they can be.
I went in to have a brief word with the teacher at lunchtime. I asked her whether she thinks J probably has learning difficulties. She says (but this is someone who historically doesn't particularly want to know about such things) that in her view not, but that he will have to work hard in learning to read. She says he does not form part of the group of children who, over the years, she has felt would have problems in school. She says there is no reason at present to think he is dyslexic. I am trying to get an appointment with a speech therapist for September, recommended by the child psychiatrist we see. Meanwhile, we are edging towards an ADHD diagnosis, I think. I saw her on Tuesday and she asked me the Connors questionnaire. I was extremely honest in my replies and I think it really gives the picture of a hyperactive-impulsive child. We did discuss the eventual possibility of stimulants. She says she tries as far as possible to avoid them but where they are given to help a child who is suffering from school or social problems, they can be invaluable. She gave me the impression that if we go down this road with J, it would not be immediately in any case.
So maybe things are in hand as much as they can be.