Re: Dyslexia, Learning Delayed, Lazy or just Stubborn???
Posted by: first grade teacher on 6/26/09
According to your post, the problems showed up mid-semester in
first grade.
Yes, it can take that long before learning problems show up. If
you look at a classroom, and 75% of the students are doing
something – like confusing b and d – then it is considered to be
developmentally age appropriate. As a first grade teacher for 30
years, I can tell you that more than 75% of first graders coming
in from kindergarten confuse b and d. Second semester is where
we begin to see a difference –most students really take off
leaving only a few to fall behind. At this point, one still
doesn’t know if it’s due to a developmental delay, dyslexia or
LD. It is hard to tell if a child has dyslexia in first grade
because the indicators are the same for 75% of the students w/o
dyslexia. By second grade, that % drops (I don’t by what) and by
third grade it should not be a problem at all.
If this was my child, I would first consult with my child’s
physician concerning the possibility of ADD/ADHD to determine if
that is the problem. It could be that’s the only problem. If
it’s not ADD/ADHD or not that alone, then I would pursue testing
for dyslexia. Last on my list would be testing for LD.
Good luck to you and your daughter. She’s lucky that you are
actively seeking ways to help her.
