Does anyone know what is taught in Language Arts from 3rd to 6th grade?

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by Smooth23

Shouldn't this thread be in the SPED section? What language arts is being taught to the general 3rd-6th graders will vary greatly from that being taught to someone who doesn't have the mental ability to comprehend what's being taught. If she cant understand what is read, and can't form coherent paragraphs, how do you expect her to be able to read 30 minutes and write a book summery on it? If you think it's so easy to teach that stuff to someone mentally challenged, then why haven't YOU taught it?

Here's my little rant. You want your kid to have an IEP and be treated special, yet you also want her to be on the same level as the general education students. You can't have both. Sorry, no cake and eating it as well.

If a child reading on grade level can read for 30 minutes daily and write a book summary, then a child reading below grade level can read for 30 minutes and write a book summary.

It's called differentiated instruction. There are many ways to differentiate instruction, but in this case the child on a lower reading level may read an easier book. If the child is able to write a summary, but with lesser writing skills that would be fine for that child. If the child is not able to write a summary on her own the teacher can create a form where the child can respond to prompts about the book. That way the child at the lower ability is working on her skills when the other kids are working on that same skill, but she is working on it at her level.

I am a music teacher and I usually have at least 4 levels of ability in my classes so I do this all the time. Teachers are trained to do this.

[travelnj11]

I brought up differential teaching in my meeting with the district. I understood they would claim differential teaching, but I told them I didn't see how they could work.

For example, in 4th grade, some of the kids did not even know multiplication and DD knew it well as she has good memory, to certain extend, when the SPED teacher introduced new topics, they could not introduce the same pace, there were many times, the teacher asked DD not to raise her hands. The teacher would claim they gave different level of work, but my point was that they did not even introduce some of the topics. In the case above, DD would be sitting in a class, listening to topics that she already knew, they told me it helped her self esteem.

Technically IEP should be individualized, but they are not. For example, DD needs help on comprehension, but another kid needs help in reading, what did the teacher teach? reading. When I asked, they said reading will help in comprehension, technically anything will help comprehension, but my feeling is that it is not the appropriate education.

[Aconite]

Overall, what's taught a specific year varies from school system to school system. I'd suggest getting a copy of your state's standards from your BOE.

If your daughter is able to perform up to state standards, you might want to consider having her transition from SpEd classes into Gen Ed. It sounds like she's poorly served where she is.

[Aconite]

Originally Posted by travelnj11

I brought up differential teaching in my meeting with the district. I understood they would claim differential teaching, but I told them I didn't see how they could work.

For example, in 4th grade, some of the kids did not even know multiplication and DD knew it well as she has good memory, to certain extend, when the SPED teacher introduced new topics, they could not introduce the same pace, there were many times, the teacher asked DD not to raise her hands. The teacher would claim they gave different level of work, but my point was that they did not even introduce some of the topics. In the case above, DD would be sitting in a class, listening to topics that she already knew, they told me it helped her self esteem.

Heads should roll.

Originally Posted by travelnj11

Technically IEP should be individualized, but they are not. For example, DD needs help on comprehension, but another kid needs help in reading, what did the teacher teach? reading. When I asked, they said reading will help in comprehension, technically anything will help comprehension, but my feeling is that it is not the appropriate education.

Do you attend the IEP meetings? Is her IEP appropriate for her needs? If it isn't, call an IEP meeting (you have that right) and get it changed. If the problem is that the paperwork is fine, but the IEP is not followed, file a complaint with the school system, in writing.

[travelnj11]

I atteneded all IEP meetings. It was my mistake that I didn't know better.

I think the IEP is not appropriate and has called for meetings. I began to document my requests. I am in the process of getting them to update the IEP, but they have been unwilling, i.e. the goals are the way they should be, hence the initial reason for this post as I need to write it and give it to them. If they refuse to work with me. I will take the necessary action. I just want them to at least try to work with me.

Initially I had the assumption that she would move back to the regular class within a year or 2, but it has been 3 years, I saw the gap is getting bigger and bigger.