Identifying and Helping a Struggling student
Initial concern
Consult with team and gather information to determine disability potential
Approach learning support and EAL to determine potential roots
In international school it might be prudent to determine if the problem is English related or a potential disability the requires special education
Notify parents and arrange meeting with parents, teachers, and learning support
If the problem is deemed to be an English problem, proceed with EAL support
Student evaluation with psychologist and specialists
Involve parents in the process. Inform them of possible actions and guide them towards evaluation services. Create a supportive environment that emphasizes that getting an evaluation and decided on strategies to improve the child's education is in the child's best interest
The exact condition of the child is to be determined in order to proceed with learning strategy development
Learning strategy development with special education teachers, parent(s), and general education teachers
Once all information on the individual is gathered and understood, the teachers involved make an IED based on the students needs, in collaboration with the student's parents
Implementation, monitoring, and feedback of IED
Once the implementation of the IED begins, special education and general education teachers monitor progress and suggest alterations or modifications if necessary
Long term progress evaluation and recording of strategy results for professional development
Teachers constantly evaluate progress, and progress over the long term is recorded and evaluated. Success are recorded, studied and used in professional development for future cases in order to improve future diagnoses and IED programs
By David Allan Bezuidenhout
References:
-Parekh, R., M.D., M.P.H. (n.d.). What is Intellectual Disability? Retrieved July, 2017, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/intellectual-disability/what-is-intellectual-disability
What Is an IEP? (2012, August 30). YouTube.
The LD Checklist: A New Tool to Help Caregivers Identify If a Child Has Learning Difficulties. (2020, October 29). National Center for Learning Disabilities. https://www.ncld.org/news/policy-and-advocacy/the-ld-checklist-a-new-tool-to-help-caregivers-identify-if-a-child-has-learning-difficulties/
