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Post by carolyn on Apr 18, 2006 7:48:55 GMT -5
I think this is an area that the older moms can really help out the parents who are experiencing their first round of testing.
How about sharing how it all went for your child and family? What strategies worked for you and your family? What didn't?
Let the free advice roll!
John is 7, has only been IQ tested once when he was 3. He did okay, the psychologist came into our home to administer the test, I was present and the toddler group teacher was present. The results were fairly accurate, but it is easier to meet goals as a 3 year old,as opposed to a 6 year old. For that reason he was not tested at 6, and I will wait forever if possible before doing it again. I will let his year worth of work in Kindergarten speak for him, not a test given by a stranger on one day.
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Post by justinsmom on Apr 18, 2006 16:25:02 GMT -5
First off Hi Carolyn ;D, I think we were still in the same district then. Justin's first 3yr eval happened the same way, although at first it was looking like it wasn't going too well, Justin would have no part of listening to the psychologist but once the man stopped pushing and asking Justin to do things Justin went afterwards and did the things he was asked to do earlier but when he wanted to do it grrrrrrrrrr little snot . We do have his 3 yr eval coming up May 11th, I was reluctant to do the psychological eval but then I was thinking maybe with the results I can somehow get things changed a little in the class he is in. He is in a split class, 5 kindy and 6 1st graders. Now I have noticed that the 1st graders do do alot more than the kindy kids and are given additional attention which I don't like, and they go out more well they get to out to places and the kindy kiddos don't. His teacher at one point sent home a permission slip for me to sign so they could strap him in a chair during academic time, yes I refused to sign it, 1st off I have observed the class on several occasions and well basically there is no academic time, such as working on colors, numbers, shapes, alphabet etc. So when the testing time gets here and the scores reflect these deficits I will be right there to point out the reasons, of course nicely and politely . We work on these things at home why not at school. But all in all where he is at is a WHOLE lot better than bringing him back to our home district.
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Post by momofrussell on Apr 18, 2006 16:41:03 GMT -5
Well.. let's see... our first experience he was just shy of 3 and transitioning into EC. I don't remember him getting a full gammitt of testing... but we did meet with the district psychologist who did an eval and wrote up a report and gave it to the school we wanted him to be placed at. He saw Russell for maybe an hour? LOL There were a couple errors but between me marking them out with a pen and the new teacher MEETING Russell the written errors corrected itself. Other then that.... it was ok... something that needed to be done.. no biggy. We were in CA at the time. We then had school age testing for Russell when he was 6 and going to transition into kindy after EC, here in MO. We had it all done.. IQ, therapy evals.. and an Autism eval. Again, I didn't have a prob with any of it.. and most of it was pretty dead on anyway for Russell. The only test that was a joke was the Autism test but that is because the test itself and how they get to the "end" result is a bit backwards to how a doctor DX's Autism. So... there isn't much creed to our district's Autism eval. But... he gets treated like he is Autistic and it's on his IEP... so it really doesn't matter. To be honest... I don't remember specific IQ scores or anything like that. And I will be totally honest... I am in a different place them probably most of you with the scores. Your kids do ALOT better then Russell, day to day... so when our results states all his delays and low scores.. it's not like I am hearing anything new or unexpected. I think if my child was functioning very well and I KNEW it and the tests said otherwise... I'd be kinda bummed... but for me.. the testing and results have never posed a prob to me. And.... to be honest.... it gets Russell the services he needs A.
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Post by lindaadamsmom on Apr 21, 2006 13:54:58 GMT -5
Ok - I'll try not to get too lengthy - but here goes..... Adam was tested at ~3 and then again at about ~6 yrs old - both were at transition times - from home services to pre-school & from pre-school to kindergarten. We live in NYS so the tests are basically "mandated" by age and are called "tri-annual" testing. Now he is getting ready to enter middle school - yes I can't believe it myself! - and while they more or less "skipped" his testing at age nine, they are testing him again. We'll have to see what the test results show this time -- at age nine they just did some basic stuff as he was staying in the same school and same "program" so to speak. He is currently in 5th grade and in what I call an inclusionary setting, but some may call it mainstreamed. He is in a typical 5th grade with pull-outs or push-ins for speech, OT, and music therapy he has ~2 hrs a day with the resource teacher - which she either pushes into the classroom or pulls him out depending on the subjest matter. He also has adaptive PE but is also included in the typical kid's PE class. Oh yes, and a VERY key person in all of this is our wonderful "classroom" aide (that is what they call it here, but it is really Adam's aide -- she wouldn't be there in the classroom if it wasn't for Adam.) I first joined this site when Adam was transitioning from pre-school to Kindergarten -- I was at my wit's end because the school district kept pointing us in the direction of a self contained environment... and in my heart I KNEW I wanted Adam in an inclusionary setting. His pre-school class had been half Sp. needs kids & half typical kids -- he did fine -- a few behavioral issues, but nothing that was terrible - just really a maturity thing.... Anyway, we pushed and pushed and FINALLY got the district to OK an inclusionary setting for him just days before school started.... Their comment to us was "He is VERY border line for an inclusion-type setting (based on his test scores which were really quite low) but we will TRY it and see how he does." Now, 6 years later is is going into 6th grade next year which means Middle School here in our district ...... Now his current resource room teacher -- along with several other teachers have mentioned to us several times that "Adam is doing just wonderful and has progressed so much over the past 6 years - he is really very high functioning." Say What? OK - now the difference is - the 6 years - as his test scores aren't all in yet.... however at this point, I have to laugh and say -- what the heck?! The test scores are worth NADA! Your kid can step up to the plate no matter the test scores ---- it's letting the district give him that chance that is the challenge. So, for all going through testing -- don't sweat it -- let the test scores be what they may -- but I can tell you from personal experience it is having teachers and staff that will work with you and your child to get him to really be all that he can be -- just have to keep on being persistent and don't let them throw the test scores back in your face ...... At this point Adam is reading at grade level, he is doing math --- not complex math mind you - but he is adding, subtracting, and multiplying. We are working on division. He tells time. He is learning some basic geometeryand measurements. He CAN make change for a dollar (which we were told when he was born that he probably wouldn't ever be able to do) BTW He LOVES math! And he loves Science and Social Studies. Some of his work is modified by the classroom aide, but in general he is learning what the other 5th graders are learning -- and I can't ask for more that that! Be pesrsitent - believe your kid can do it - no matter what the test scores or others who don't have a child with DS may tell you. These kids are like sponges and they lap up all the experiences that they are put into and one day - voila! They Blossom! Here's to the "Spring" in all of our children! Hugs! Linda
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Post by andrewsmom on Apr 21, 2006 15:01:14 GMT -5
OK...I have to show my ignorance here...sorry. I have recently noticed that most parents of children with DS know where their child is "at" in their development. I have been asked on several occasions recently where Andrew was in regards to his cognitive development, IQ...etc. Huh? I have no clue! I started to feel like I was dropping the ball....again ( had this feeling alot lately). So, in all my ramblings here, am I reading this right...that they get "tested" before they go to school? I know it varies from state to state, but is this testing always done by a psychologist? I just looked up Children's hospital online a few days ago, thinking I had to go have this done myself. Is this something EI would set up to have done when he turns 3, or the school? And if you all don't mind....could you please give me some more details about the testing...for example...do they test to see what the child knows, such as colors and numbers? Or is there a particular test to see how they handle different situations, social interaction etc.? In other words... how do they test a 3 year old?? The more info the better so.. let it rip!!! LOL! -Trisha
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Post by momofrussell on Apr 21, 2006 17:36:27 GMT -5
Oh.. I don't even know the correct names to the tests.. but I could probably look amongst papers and find them LOL... But as far as knowing a "score" or "level" for Russell, I do not. I don't remember LMAO!
A.
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Post by justinsmom on Apr 22, 2006 2:06:09 GMT -5
Trisha, the 3 yr eval is done when they exit EI into preschool, here it was when he was leaving the toddler class and transitioning into preschool. Let's see as far as the testing, the Psychologist part I remeber some of them.... stacking blocks if so how many, putting I think it was like 10 little cubes into a dixie cup-this one was kinda cute he leaned over to his teacher to give her a kiss and when she leaned into him he took the last block and put it behind his back like no one seen him do it lol, black and white pictures in a book-he was asked to pick out certain things like ball, cat etc., he gave him a doll and asked Justin to comb her hair, feed the baby and Justin even went as far as to wipe it's mouth lol, draw a circle, point to like a red cube when there are several different colors on the floor to choose from, like the blocks part he didn't do until afterwards and the picking things out of a book he did afterwards too like he didn't like being told what to do, but the psychologist still gave him credit for doing it once he seen him do it. So far that's all I remember if I remember anymore I'll let you know hope it helps.
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Post by andrewsmom on Apr 22, 2006 19:37:18 GMT -5
Justinsmom...Thanks so much! This gives me a clearer picture of what these tests are like. I love that he tried to "trick" his teacher...smart little guy! LOL! If you remember anymore, please let me know....kind of takes the "mystery" out of it all. Thanks again!!
-Trisha
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