We have been told that the writing part of the DRA test at 28 is hard for a lot of the children. Honestly, we had a similar problem last year with the teacher and reading specialist allowing one of my children just to languish at the same level all year without providing the instruction needed to help him move up, and it took a toll on him psychologically. He was watching everyone else in the class change levels, and couldn't understand why he wasn't as well. It was in fact the main driver of my having him tested early for the gifted program.
Is your son in a gifted program at school? If so, I would enroll the gifted teacher in your discussions with the teacher. It may be that he has to work on improving his writing when he writes the answers, but someone should be teaching him what to do. Last year I had to find out what was expected for my son to move up to the next level and teach it to him myself. They had the nerve later to tell me "it finally just clicked for him." Well, yes, because I TAUGHT it to him. Being gifted doesn't mean that one doesn't still need to be TAUGHT things.
We have also found that with 100 book challenge they are just not going to let the children move past one year ahead without throwing up roadblocks. So my children are in first grade , and they are not going to get past "RR" level this year (end of second grade). I have already been informed that as third graders usually stay at the same level all year it will be very difficult for my children to move to white this year.
Last edited by momoftwins; 01/29/14 08:25 AM.
