language sample

[Guest guest]

You know how when you step away from a situation and the heat of the moment and

then you discover things that you didn't before? Well this is what's happening

as I think back on that darn triennial review.

First off I'm reading over the two language samples that the SLP gave me and

it's all 's responses and conversation as they're working on some kind of

project. Now I'm realizing how this is helpful in reporting grammatical errors

or other speech errors, including articulation but I think there's something

seriously lacking in not having the other people's conversation transcribed.

How do we determine if 's responses are appropriate based on the other

speakers or if he heard them? I don't know if I'm making more trouble but I

feel like I should say something. I'm not necessarily concerned for but I

think it's a mistake on their part, and having the other conversations recorded

could be very telling.

Another thing I picked up at the meeting as a sidenote was the OT was talking

about how had made good progress with his handwriting and holding the

crayon. She mentioned that he had difficulty with the " y " because of the

diagonal and the classroom teacher spoke up to say, " That's because it doesn't

have a diagonal. He's probably confused. " Apparently the OT had no clue about

the specific way the preschoolers are being taught to write letters. So in the

classroom with the teacher he's learning the " denealian " (spelling?) technique

and the OT is teaching him another way to form the letters. I can't believe

that OT would not have known how they're teaching the letters. That's pretty

bad. If you're wondering what I'm talking about it's a slightly different way

of forming the letters. It's supposed to make it easier when it's time to learn

cursive writing because the letters will flow together easier than the old way.

A lot of the letters have little tails on them and the style is more curvy. The

lower case " y " I was talking about looks more like a typed " y " They are taught

to make a " cup " like the letter " u " and then extend the line back down and make

another cup at the bottom.

When I learned it was two diagonal lines to form a y and there were no curves

like they're teaching now.

K

[Guest guest]

As someone who has had to learn how to " test " certain skills, I can assure you

that there are certain things testers follow to get the conclusions that they

need. Also, if his responses weren't appropriate I do think the OT would have

included that in her report. The testing is a " whole " test approach rather than

just looking for certain skills. Of course, this is just a generalization rather

than to that specific teacher.

As for the " y " . My daughter still learns it as a typed " y " and not the other

way around. Does the OT work through the school? Because if she does then she

needs to know how the school is teaching the kids. But if she doesn't work

through the school then there is no way she would know unless she was previously

informed of the different choice the school is making in their teaching methods.

If that is the case, you can't hold it against her. There hasn't been some

magically change in the way the kids are taught. Maybe you should ask the

school what metholigy they use to teach the kids and you can research it. It

would make you better informed and therefore the other people involved better

informed.

Kearns wrote:

You know how when you step away from a situation and the heat of the moment

and then you discover things that you didn't before? Well this is what's

happening as I think back on that darn triennial review.

First off I'm reading over the two language samples that the SLP gave me and

it's all 's responses and conversation as they're working on some kind of

project. Now I'm realizing how this is helpful in reporting grammatical errors

or other speech errors, including articulation but I think there's something

seriously lacking in not having the other people's conversation transcribed.

How do we determine if 's responses are appropriate based on the other

speakers or if he heard them? I don't know if I'm making more trouble but I

feel like I should say something. I'm not necessarily concerned for but I

think it's a mistake on their part, and having the other conversations recorded

could be very telling.

Another thing I picked up at the meeting as a sidenote was the OT was talking

about how had made good progress with his handwriting and holding the

crayon. She mentioned that he had difficulty with the " y " because of the

diagonal and the classroom teacher spoke up to say, " That's because it doesn't

have a diagonal. He's probably confused. " Apparently the OT had no clue about

the specific way the preschoolers are being taught to write letters. So in the

classroom with the teacher he's learning the " denealian " (spelling?) technique

and the OT is teaching him another way to form the letters. I can't believe

that OT would not have known how they're teaching the letters. That's pretty

bad. If you're wondering what I'm talking about it's a slightly different way

of forming the letters. It's supposed to make it easier when it's time to learn

cursive writing because the letters will flow together easier than the old way.

A lot of the letters have little tails on them and the

style is more curvy. The lower case " y " I was talking about looks more like a

typed " y " They are taught to make a " cup " like the letter " u " and then extend

the line back down and make another cup at the bottom.

When I learned it was two diagonal lines to form a y and there were no curves

like they're teaching now.

K

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/18/2006 2:39:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

lisak555@... writes:

How do we determine if 's responses are appropriate based on the other

speakers or if he heard them?

You can't -- we always had both sides transcribed. For us, the district was

thrilled to provide all that since it proved Ian didn't need any oral support

services.

<<She mentioned that he had difficulty with the " y " because of the diagonal

and the classroom teacher spoke up to say, " That's because it doesn't have a

diagonal. He's probably confused. " >>

The OT and the teacher are at cross purposes here. The OT is talking about a

difficulty with a specific task -- a diagonal line. The teacher is referring

to legible writing. While it sounded like a reasonable debate/discussion, it

sounds to me like they are comparing apples and oranges. The OT should have

been given the chance to discuss a specific motor skill that needs attention

and have that as a valid goal to address. The teacher negated the validity of

the OT's point. The OT's purpose for serving is to develop those motor

skills, not just make him have pretty handwriting.

If is having an issue with the physical process of drawing and

controlling a diagonal line, it's possible that cursive writing is going to be a

challenge since the lines are moving on slight diagonals and curves all over the

place. If he needs to work on that skill, then he needs to have it addressed.

The issue of how to make a Y is a red herring -- something that distracts

and takes you off course, away from the important question at hand -- the

development of his fine motor control.

I'm an art teacher and a great deal of the stuff we did with the little kids

was to enforce and develop fine motor skills. Developing those motor skills

goes hand-in-hand with brain development. Don't worry, I am sure that 's

brain is just fine (grin). My point is that even us lowly art teachers are

taught about the importance of motor skills, and pretty handwriting was never

the main point.

Best -- Jill