Unsure as to what's the best approach for my son, re-dyslexia

blueyes12

Hi I'm really struggling with making a tough choice for my son(8) will be 9 In June. My son has dyslexia, I found this out following two assessments, one obtained when he was 6 years old which came back inconclusive but showed signs that would indicate dyslexia, the second was Just before Christmas and this was obtained in his school by an educational psychologist as part of neps. My son started in a new school in second class as neither he or I was happy with the bigger school! He is now attending an educate together school that is much smaller and their ethos is very much child centred. My son has come on immensely and his confidence, self esteem and abilities in learning have also excelled.
Now the school have mentioned that a "reading unit" a School specifically for learning difficulties is something that I have to consider as they don't have the resources or time available to give my son daily learning support, also I have to decide now to exempt him from learning Irish??? This Is something I'm also struggling with.
Basically I believe that another move to a different school such as Catherine McCauley ( although fantastic) Will have such a negative emotional impact on my son that I'm conflicted to say the least as to what's the best approach.

Has any other parents on boards experienced anything like our situation and any insight or experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance
My son is an amazing, kind,caring, sociable lad who loves his school and is a very happy boy

belcampprisoner

http://www.dyslexia.ie/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/DS00224/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

byhookorbycrook

Why is he not entitled to learning support? Every school must offer support to a child who is on the tenth percentile or lower. Are there huge numbers attending learning support in the school? Is it specifically stated in the assessment that he would qualify for an exemption from Irish? If he attends the reading unit, will he be allowed to return to the ET school?

Before I'd make any move, I'd find out the answers to these two questions.

moochers

Hi Blueyes 12,
My son was almost ten and in fourth class when he was assessed by ed psychologist who confirmed dyslexia. Prior to this, for about two months he was very anxious about homework. He would get up at night when he was supp to be in bed and wake up at 5am to check schoolbag to make sure all his homework was done. He was also isolating himself from his classmates and not playing with them at lunchtime. He told me he was scared about getting things wrong at school and that because he was anxious and worried he did not feel like playing. I was so worried about him I contacted school who arranged the neps. The school were excellent and provided 30 mins of resource every day. I'm really surprised your sons school doesn't arrange learning support as educate together schools are known for great resources. Also, my son did two hours a week extra support in an educate together after school. It was expensive but I did manage to get it subsidised. I was advised at the time to move my son to another school (He attends a gaelscoil) as learning Irish would be too difficult, I spoke to principal who assured me that my sons Irish was fine and that it was not a negative factor. Once the learning support was put in place and his teacher had a chat with him my son was back to his wonderful self.

moochers

Hi Blueyes,
Me again. Ran out of space there. If I were you I would not move your son as he is obviously a very happy little boy and very settled. I totally know what its like to get conflicting views and naturally you want the best for him. I was told to move my son too and I'm glad I didnt. My son still gets his resource but doesn't attend the after school tuition anymore. He is now almost 12 and going into sixth class and like your boy, he is happy, very sociable and confident. I was so worried initially, and of course I was concerned about the academics but it was his change in personality and low self esteem that worried me the most. My son does his very best in school, he is a real grafter and has improved immensely. Thats all we want at the end of the day. Happy child = happy mother. Best of luck. Your son sounds like a success already

byhookorbycrook

I wouldn't exempt a child from Irish in primary at all, it's like saying "you're not able to do it", it may be needed in secondary, but I think self esteem could be hit by opting out now.

A_Sober_Paddy

How does your son find Irish?

I'm dyslexic myself, and was exempted from Irish which was fantastic for me, I was unable to grasp Irish and it really hit my self esteem. I didn't get much help in school, in terms of learning support or extra help, well one teacher took me during Irish once a week and went through some things with me, but that stopped after first year.

I was diagnosed at around 9/10 years of age, at the time of my test I was reading at the level of a 5 year old(My parents gave me my assessment report a few years back)...When my parents told me that I was dyslexic I was delighted, because I knew what i was wrong and knew my difficulties were as a result of a learning disability and I've since worked through the majority of my issues

After I was exempted, I started to make more progress...As it stands i very occasionally have bad days where my reading is slower and my spelling is bad, but on average my spelling is better than some of my non-dyslexic friends.

Hope this helps

100200 shih

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

I wouldn't exempt a child from Irish in primary at all, it's like saying "you're not able to do it", it may be needed in secondary, but I think self esteem could be hit by opting out now.

You do know that having dyslexia , it is so very hard to learn lrish , I have dyslexia & was forced to do Irish & Spanish which then i failed at , Im a wiss at Math , but I had to spend so many hours just trying to keep on with Irish.
Its not that the child doesnt want to do it but they really cant do it & it is unfair on the child to force them to keep trying something that they cant do

muckisluck

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

I wouldn't exempt a child from Irish in primary at all, it's like saying "you're not able to do it", it may be needed in secondary, but I think self esteem could be hit by opting out now.

The DES approve Irish language exemptions for children with Dyslexia (Specific Learning Disability) for the very good reason that they are struggling with a basic language skill (i.e. reading) in the first language. If that exemption is not given in Primary school it is very difficult to get it in secondary when it could be crucial at state exam time. For parents in doubt perhaps a compromise would be to apply for the exemption but if their child can cope with the Irish curriculum then it need never be used.