If you are a fellow adoptive parent of a child born in another country,
and
if you are not big on the schools doing whatever they like with your child,
if you are not big on the schools doing whatever they like with your child,
and
in case you skip reading the rest of this post because it's so long…
in case you skip reading the rest of this post because it's so long…
just read the first paragraph here |
V
V
The "Home Language Survey" we filled out for kindergarten is apparently sent directly to our school district, and if it indicates any other language in the home other than English the child is automatically tested. According to U.S. federal law, the parents do not need to be notified nor do they need to give consent for this initial assessment. Our school district here in Colorado chooses to not notify nor get consent of parents.
I'm not sure about your school district, but you might want to check.
We put "Mandarin" on the form somewhere, so D was automatically tested.
I think if D had scored a little higher, we never would have even known he was tested...
Now that we know about it, we can choose to refuse any further ESL services.
I'm not sure about your school district, but you might want to check.
We put "Mandarin" on the form somewhere, so D was automatically tested.
I think if D had scored a little higher, we never would have even known he was tested...
Now that we know about it, we can choose to refuse any further ESL services.
The test they administered first is a shorter quick screening/assessment based on the WIDA-Access test. They tried to make it sound ok since all the kids who are flagged on the Home Language Survey are automatically subject to this assessment.
A random stranger-person from the district came at some point and pulled David out of the class and gave him this listening-speaking assessment, which included listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills assessment. (Was this one of the days he came home and had one of his old tantrums? We don't know…) I think the classroom teacher filled out some kind of form for the district with her observations as well.
A random stranger-person from the district came at some point and pulled David out of the class and gave him this listening-speaking assessment, which included listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills assessment. (Was this one of the days he came home and had one of his old tantrums? We don't know…) I think the classroom teacher filled out some kind of form for the district with her observations as well.
Here's how we found out:
We received in D's backpack a letter stating that - good news! - he qualified for ESL services and they had already made the decision to monitor our son in the classroom, with the ESL teacher and the K teacher collaborating. This letter had no information on any additional testing that would be done. We were quite pissed off surprised, you could say. We requested a meeting with the ESL teacher. When we met with her, she also had invited the classroom teacher. The ESL teacher could not find the exact date when the assessment was given to David, and the kindergarten teacher had no idea that David was even pulled by a district person and assessed.
What, she has no recollection of your child leaving the classroom? you say. Yep that's right. Not the first time a child has been out of her class & she didn't know it either.
The full WIDA-Access test is given to the kids who score below a threshold number. It is given sometime between Jan 6 and Feb 7. We can refuse the test, but we need special permission from the elementary school principal. (??? Us refusing not good enough???) Jason wants David to have the test. We asked to be notified so we could talk to him about it ahead of time and ACTUALLY prepare him this time around. The ESL teacher said she will be administering this test to all kindergarteners at this school, so at least she will be a familiar face I suppose. She took a 1-day class on how to administer the test on December 10.
I made sure the ESL teacher and the K teacher heard me say that we have concerns that David may have an auditory processing disorder that affects his learning and could affect his testing on a speaking and listening test, as well as some difficulties recalling words and this changes day by day for him. The K teacher showed us a few of David's recent paper worksheet tests and told us how well he is doing academically.
But she didn't even notice that our kid was pulled from her class by a non-school employee so... does she notice if David is using his amazing compensatory strategies to function within the classroom when he doesn't understand? Huh, good question… We can get the score of the test when they have it. I think she said the scores should come back in May...?? and we can give those to our SLP in case that information would help.
But she didn't even notice that our kid was pulled from her class by a non-school employee so... does she notice if David is using his amazing compensatory strategies to function within the classroom when he doesn't understand? Huh, good question… We can get the score of the test when they have it. I think she said the scores should come back in May...?? and we can give those to our SLP in case that information would help.
I don't believe test scores tell you squat.
Especially when you have listening and speaking issues and these are the skills that the "test" is based on.
Kindergarten = "children's garden" which evokes an image of carefree children running and playing and actively learning and growing.
Dude, what's up with all the worksheets?
Dude, what's up with all the worksheets?
Still praying we can bring D home for his education.
Praying, praying, praying...
Praying, praying, praying...
(((hugs))),
chris
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36
Hebrews 10:35-36
