Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment DRA V. WJ-III Achievement Test

Are we in the same district? This is exactly what the teacher said to my son. And it is exactly what I am seeing play out.

Yes, he is but she is useless as far as I can tell. it the G/t program is an enrichment pull-out and doesn't seem to have much to do with his regular education.

Well, I called the teacher to try and get some more information prior to the meeting. I had to leave a message. I said on the voicemail that "I want to know, prior to the meeting, what Ds's reading instructional level is, exactly, and what his independent level is, exactly. I want this information prior to the meeting so that I can prepare questions and and we all can prepare to discuss whether or not (1) DS's progress is stagnating, (2) the reasons for the potential staganation and (3)how you are targeting his instruction so that he can start to grow and progress again."

I said "I am really concerned about DS's apparent lack of progress. Stagnation is a problem even if a child is ahead of the curve. I realize he started out pretty far ahead and at a level that was at the end of second grade but it is still a big concern if he has not learned or progress for the past five months . It is not acceptable that he go to reading all year for months and not make any progress even if he is ahead."

I added that "if he isn't stagnating but can not move due a school policy that instills a ceiling or cap to reading levels, I want to know that as well."

It'd really be nice to know exactly what is going on so that I can prepare to discuss it at the meeting. The fact that she is tryign to evade telling what my son's assessment results are at all before the meeting seems suspicious to me. This meeitng is suppose to be about atttention and we have a ton to discuss about that.

Does he have a GIEP? If so, you can call a meeting of the GIEP team if you think it isn't working. (At least that is what we have been told.) If he doesn't have a GIEP, you might want to ask the gifted teacher if that is something that could be developed, as his needs are not being met in the regular classroom.

Not every state does GIEPs, but some do.

I think everyone has done a good job covering all the information and thoughts I would so I won't repeat them. Fwiw, one thing I will say is my son was also stuck in the 28/30 at one point b/c of his summary, retell etc. I had a great teacher who explained to me how fully understanding this "hurdle" is so crucial for future reading comprehension etc. While your first thought might be to find another test, I will say 4 years later this teacher was right. Struggling through this part of the DRA has helped him tremendously school wide (and has upped his reading level and class placement along the way), and also positively showed up on standardized tests both in school as well as things like the SCAT, ISEE etc.

Yes he does!

I sent you a PM

Okay, well something odd happened today ... it seems it was a result of the phone message I left. I suppose they could have been planning to do this, for some reason didn't want to tell me and it just was a coincidence that it happened about three hours after I called... Not sure. BUT DS was pulled out this afternoon and tested by someone purporting to be reading specialist from the 3rd grade. When he asked if it were a test she wouldn't answer him directly and said she doesn't like to call it a "test." He said it was not like the usual (DRA) tests. In it, he had to read a list of site words and was given progressively harder lists until the list was too hard and he was given reading - not books but typed pages. He had to read them and answer questions. he had to give re-tells and not summaries. At the end of it he asked the specialist if he did well enough to move to white level. The specialist answered, "Well, I think you should but I don't get to make the final decision." (Remember they lie all of the time to these kids so we do not know if this is an authentic answer but that is what she told him). I guess they are just really strict/weird about letting a kid go to the next grade level early. I don't know. Teacher didn't call me back yet. I have no idea what to think but I have to say I feel a lot better knowing he was properly assessed and if there is something holding back it'll be something we can identify and work on and not be just due to a cap or ceiling. I just wish they would tell me things. If they had planned this all along why didn't they just mention it? I wonder do they think I will like tiger-mom prep him or something? Please. I can't get him off minecraft... (and I really should be better about it both kids spend way too much time playing minecraft!)

I wonder ... is this because I called?

Okay so got an email from teacher this evening . DS has moved up to White and DRA instructional level 34. She said he is doing well. I'm just happy he is moving to the level that seems more appropriate and not being capped! Ooh and they did a qualitative reading inventory on him too ... No idea why thy did that but he past the third grade level at 75%.

Good job advocating!