September 2007

well the RTLB returns to school and sends the assited tech application in - with the support from the principal - and two weeks later we get a laptop - a bit heavy but a working laptop!

You could have knocked me down with a feather!

it was also time for more decisions - my second son is due to start high school next year
should I send him to the same school?

my 3rd son is due to start intermediate but he finds transition hard should he go to an intermediate or to a high school that goes from year 7 - 13?

and since the local high school seems unable to organsie a simple IEP meeting without a great deal of prompting and reminding how will they cope with another student with dyslexia and with different learning needs?

should I stay with the devil I know or more on to somewhere with a more accepting and supportive culture?

my husband and I decided to apply out of zone to several schools and to find out what support is in place and ready to help a student with dyslaexia at the potentional schools. some we found were quite willing to discuse what they could offer for our boys - but some where quite vague.

so I discussed the matter with a assited principal I have developed a relationship with and she gave me some very good advice - the school has to be a good fit with the child... not the otherway round - find a school that will listen to your needs and will offer you the support your child needs.

August 2007

The last couple of months have been busy, I was told while the RTLB was away there was nothing that the school could do about the assisted tech application - We need to be patient!



So After much waiting the RTLB came back from sick leave the middle of June - the assisted tech application had not been sent and she was still working on it.



Good news or Bad news her contract with the school ends on August 7th



we organised an IEP review meeting for the 25th July at 1.30pm with all the subject teachers and herself this way it could be done before she left. She would finish the Assisted tech application and have it sorted by the 25th July.



on July 25th at 12.30 she phoned me and cancelled the meeting - not enough teachers could attend - also since there had been a meet the teacher nite on the 24th and I had spoken with 3 of his 6 subject teachers that should be enough right?



please remember that at my sons school parent teacher nights are 5 minute appointments with the teacher- no privacy as there are between 6 and 8 subject teachers in a single class room all with parents with them sitting about 2m (or less) away. my discussion was focused on social development and contribution to the class not reviewing our goals for the year!

but I should be happy with that right?



I don't know if I should laugh or cry



the RTLB reorganised the meeting for the 31st July at 1.30pm and told me that the assisted tech application was approved and on its way to the school it would be there early next week.



I spoke with the Principal on the 26th July and said I was unhappy that the IEP meeting was cancelled an hour before the meeting and she agreed verbally that it wasn't kosher but the RTLB had been unwell and was doing her best. She told me on the phone that the RTLB would probably be staying longer than the 7th and a new RTLB was in the pipe line. She was going to ask the head of guidance to help the RTLB and ensure the new Meeting went ahead. I told her the good news the assisted tech applcation was accepted and sort out the laptop would be here early next week.



On the 30th July I called the RTLB to confirm the meeting for the next day - but she wasn't in - so I left a message with the office - Please tell the RTLB that I am confirming our 1.30pm meeting on Tuesday. - reply sure not a problem.

Tuesday 1.20pm I arrived at the school ready to meet the RTLB and 6 teachers


I knew being early I may have to wait - they may still have been teaching



receptionist tells me the RTLB is away Sick - oh -ok well I'm here for a meeting with the RTLB and 6 teachers - if the RTLB is sick the teachers must be waiting for me somewhere?



Maybe the head of guidance (HOG) is aware of the planned meeting?



-the short answer is NO



The receptionist calls the HOG but no reply.



I ask for the principal - alas she too is away for the day.



Her secretary - who doesn't know about my meeting with the RTLB and promises to get the Principal to call me tomorrow.



Then the Assistant Principal arrives and cant see any information about the meeting but then she doesn't have the RTLBs diary. Was she expecting me?

So I begin at the beginning the initial IEP review was cancelled by the RTLB and rescheduled to today at 1.30pm - yes she was expecting me she set up the meeting.



The AP is very sorry but there seems to have been a gap in communication - the RTLB never told the 6 subject teachers of today's meeting.



August 1st

Principal phones me and apologises that no one knew the meeting was rescheduled to the 31st

Verbally promises that the HOG and my son's drama teacher will re reschedule the IEP review this week. I called the HOG on Monday and she was busy - she promised to call me back shortly - today is Wednesday and I still have not heard from her.



Today I called group special education there hands are tied - its up to the school to complete the assisted tech application - No - The paper work has not been approved - No- there isnt a laptop being courier anywhere - your school needs to apply!

Deal with the RTLB Or the SENCO

WHAT NEXT.........

So what happened this week

it took till Wednesday 9th May for me to contact the RTLB - Even though I had sent Emails and left ph messages she was very busy and obveriously over worked to the point she couldnt contact me.
the response was she was unaware that he had an internal assessment!
maybe they were short staffed? I am still waiting to hear the reason.

I also spoke with the principal and expressed my dismay she too is looking into it - but hopes it was a one off mistake that they can correct.

My Son is highly intelligent and passed the assessment with a merit without the reader writer the concern I have is his mark could have been an excellence

he is falling into a new trap - so long as I pass its ok - the expectation of doing excellent work is not being recognised or supported -
from the teachers and the staff who say well look he did OK but what if he had failed? would he get to re-sit it?
so many unanswered questions and lack of communication continues

All we want is the best for our adolescent so he wont be disadvantaged doing his NCEA level one.

But his high school has continually dragged out what should be a simple process and made it into our families HELL

Next year my second son with dyslexia also is due to go to Onehunga High and we are seriously looking into catholic schools even though we are not Catholic
just to avoid another 5 years of battles over the needs of our sons. my eldest doesn't want to change schools he has friends and relationships with teachers that he likes
I still dont know what is the right move for US their Dad and I feel forced out of the school over this issue of simply providing what has already been agreed or keeping us informed- COMMUNICATION - in the digital age phone calls, emails or even a note in the mail should be do able.

This month according to the MARCH IEP meeting I should be receiving a brief email update hopefully in the week of the 21st (as parent teacher night is the following week) I wanted a clear idea of problem areas academically for each subject and an update of where he is in each standard to date what is coming up for the rest of the term deadlines etc- MY fingers are crossed that I will get this so that when I met the teachers the following week we can talk about how to work out the problems and support him best.

The parent teacher meetings are only 5minutes in length due to the number of students in the school (hence the email first)

I have always supported the local schools from primary to secondary and believed that we the families who go to our local schools provide a balance where we can work together for the best interests of our communities.

parent choice about schools is elitist and unfair, families choose where to live so thats where you send your kids to school. I know its more than that but the Keep It Simple, Stupid(KISS) essence is simple to apply.

I WANT KISS principals applied to this whole mess but instead I get muddy waters

New zealand students and children deserve better I encourage you all to make a submission to the ministry of education before the 25th MAY

DFNZ invites submissions at submission@dfnz.org.nz from members and education stakeholders. Lets create movement instead of stagnation!

latest update

Well I have been very patient with my high school sons school
I have attended a meeting with most of his subject teachers and felt very positive that they are going to response correctly to his needs. he was to have a reader writer for all assessment tasks.
6 weeks on and I have had no further contact with the school and life is moving forward - My son has begun to be completing the internal assessment part of NCEA level 1 in several subjects and I have only just learned that he hasn't had a reader writer for any assessments so far! So on Thursday morning i tried to contact the RTLB to see what has happened and how this will effect his overall all marks - but she has not returned my ph call or my email.

So back into the fray of school politics I must return to sort out what again i have been promised and the school again has failed to deliver.

I am applying to several different out of zone high schools for my second son who will be entering secondary school next year but I fear we may be stuck with the local high school unless we move - which is also up for discussion in my home. Its hard when we have lived here for 8 years and i don't want to physically move just because of a hidden agenda at this school.

With a new Board of trustees maybe i should be pursing them again or maybe the principal? - oh well what will the next week bring

THE ON GOING HIGH SCHOOL IEP

My sons NCEA internal science assessment begins in 2 weeks;
so far the school has only let me speak with his drama and math teachers but the RTLB has set up a meting on Wednesday 14th March for his science teacher.

I keep being told that she is incredibly busy with over 900 pupils at his high school; and there needs are as important or more important than my sons. - while i completely understand that she isn't hired to just look after one persons needs but I find it daunting that I am given one set of promises that keep changing and altering - Is it unfair to expect a person to be held to one's word?

the IEP will be written by Xmas turned into being written on 16th February
we will have meetings with the remaining teachers by mid march turns into
well i have spoken with the English teacher and you can meet the science teacher on 14th March - but the other teachers are too busy! - so when will those meetings happen? - well they are busy i don't know when - but i can ask them - great!

no promises no demands - I just want action but i don't understand why action is so hard to have happen at high school - high school teachers who have a degree in a subject then a 1 year teachers course where they have 14 weeks practical teaching experience in the classroom.

Curriculum courses allow them to specialise in areas of interest and qualifications including art, performing arts (drama, dance, music), social sciences (history, geography, social studies), economics and accounting, Te Reo Mäori, English, media studies, classical studies, international languages, mathematics and statistics, science (biology, chemistry, physics) environmental science, physical education and health, and technology.

Some curriculum areas can be completed as a special topic, e.g. horticulture.

Which all sounds very good but where dose it say they will have training in how to teach kids with special needs? and how much emphasis is placed on working with parents as part of a team there to support the individual student?

I don't expect teachers to be experts in everything - that would be unfair but when you have a class full of teenagers with a variety of different backgrounds and abilities - and teachers compare or grade those students work - i thought they should all be capable of using the information at hand to provide a fair grade.

seems logical

but in the case of kids with learning disabilities and dyslexia surely teachers need an IEP to fairly and equally judge those students?

From my experience with my sons high school and other high school examples i have come across they just don't want to know about IEP's; its just too much work - it means they can't compare one student to the next in quite the same way; they have to stop and re-evaluate how they mark students work.

the Ministry of education is pushing the team up web site and team up philosophy on TV and in the media - but form my perspective the high schools are not ready for it.

They do not know the meaning of co-operation and communication with parents.

with school board of trustees elections looming I think we should all be asking all the board nominees
what will you be doing to ensure that all teachers/ staff at your school are communicating effectively and working toward inclusive education practice?

what professional practice or in service training will the board be working for or organising?

will special needs training be provided for all teachers at this school - or will it be an optional extra?

what is the schools priorities going to be?

DYSLEXIA AWARENESS WEEK

DYSLEXIA AWARENESS WEEK II
Dyslexia is Real
23- 29 April, 2007

The Trustees of the Dyslexia Foundation of NZ are very pleased to bring this announcement to your attention as we move into planning and media coveragefor this exciting new initiative.We appreciate that the announcement of Dyslexia Awareness Week is somewhatshort notice, however the high level of public and media interest andinteraction around the dyslexia cause means that the time is now to really"turn up the volume" for dyslexia.It would be wonderful to have your support and involvement as Members of theDFNZ during this week.For information about Dyslexia Awareness Week and the activities planned, please visit: www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz/dyslexiaweek

YOUR INVITATION:We would like to invite you to participate in some way during this week ofactivities that will show dyslexia is real !Our focus during this Week is to raise the awareness of dyslexia and thelack of recognition of this way of thinking in all communities around NZ.This is a fantastic opportunity to focus your organization, families,clients and customers, on the dyslexia cause.On the special new webpage set up for Dyslexia Awareness Week, we willfeature all the activities planned by Members for this time.

JOIN IN NOW - and get involved in Dyslexia Awareness Week.To have your activity or event listed on this website, please email the details to: info@dfnz.org.nz

HERE'S SOME IDEAS ON HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED:Your support and involvement in Dyslexia Awareness Week will make all the difference - as a DFNZ initiative, it would be wonderful if you could get behind this Week of activities.Here's some ideas on how you, your family, school or organization could beinvolved
SEND an email to your friends, families, clients, customers,suppliers, and others about Dyslexia Awareness Week and what we are hopingto achieve.

PUBLISH a notice in your School Newsletter about the Dyslexia Foundation and the Dyslexia Awareness Week. List the DFNZ website for yourfamilies... www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz

SEND a Letter to Your MP:This week is an ideal time to speak or write to your local MP calling forrecognition for dyslexia.

SEND A LETTER TO the Minister of Education:Take the opportunity this Week to have your say and write to or email theHon Steve Mahary, Minister of Education.

0900 DYSLEXIA FUNDRAISING PHONE NUMBERThe Trustees are pleased to announce that we now have 0900 DYSLEXIA (090039753) as our fundraising phone number.We hope that this phone number will attract many callers during DyslexiaAwareness Week - this is a $20 donation that is paid through the donor's Telecom phone account.You will see our 0900 DYSLEXIA phone number logo featured on the AwarenessWeek webpage and in many other places.We look forward to hearing from you soon with your activities and ideas for Dyslexia Awareness Week .

Keep your eye on the DFNZ website for more information and Members activities for Dyslexia Awareness Week.
Thank you for your support in anticipation,The Trustees Dyslexia Foundation of NZ

what is there beyond danks davis tutoring?

Auckland Educationalist Professor Tom Nicholson, believes direct teaching of the 44 letter-sound combinations in English can help most dyslexics.
Nicholson is on 09 443 9685, t.nicholson@massey.ac.nz.