I have been a Special Education Teacher for 10 years. I teach the severely disabled. I am about 80% sure my son has some type of Learning Disability. He is very slow to process new material, and is distracted very easily. He is in first grade this year. Last year he had the same kind of problems, but he was only in Kindergarten so the teacher didn’t seem to worry about it so much. My son is extremely bright. He can have conversations on a grown-up level, but when it comes to sitting down and completing a worksheet, he comes unraveled. I get so stressed working with him, and I actually have to take breaks in the middle of homework sessions. At work I get praised for my patience, but I feel like a failure with my own child. I hate yelling at him, but I FEAR the future if he doesn’t learn this stuff. I have tried everything that I know to do. I feel so ashamed, not of him, but of myself. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I can not shake the feeling.
Welcome Julianna! Am I correct in gathering that you are concerned for your son and despite your training are not sure how to help? Many have walked in those shoes. You are afraid for him and understandably frustrated at not knowing how to help— especially in light of the fact that you are a special education teacher.
Where is the difficulty? Do think it is a difficulty with attention, short term memory, phonemic awareness, phonics?
The main site has a wealth of information. http://ww.LDonline.org
In addition, these sites might be of interest:
http://www.bright solution.us
http://www.DyslexiaFacts.net
http://www.LD.org
It can be overwhelming, but knowledge is power. Take a deep breath and empower yourself with information that might benefit your individual circumstances and your child. As a special education teacher, you know more than most that each child is unique. Hopefully some of these resources will direct you to tool, resources and strategies that might assist you help your son.
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[Modified by: dhfl143 on September 21, 2011 12:43 PM]