Programs for Student with Critical Thinking Deficit

When your child is struggling to keep up in class, it's worthwhile to request a free evaluation by your local school district.
Q
My daughter has a critical thinking deficit. She tries very hard to keep up in class. Sometimes she's successful and at other times, not. Is there a program related to the student who just passes and does not qualify for anything?
A
As a parent, you have a right to request a free evaluation of your child by your local school district. If your daughter is struggling to keep up in class, it would be worthwhile to find out just what her strengths and weaknesses are and how she compares with other students her age or in her grade. Once you have this information in hand, you can make a better plan for giving her the support she needs.

Have you talked with your daughter's teacher or guidance counselor to see if there is any help available for students "at-risk" for school failure? Many schools offer this kind of service to prevent more serious difficulties down the road. You might also want to check out your local college or university to see if there is a tutoring program that your child might be eligible for. Many times, for example, students who are training to be reading teachers are required to tutor students (under supervision of experienced professionals).

If you have the evaluation done and it shows a learning disability, then there are many parent advocacy groups that can give you guidance in selecting an appropriate support for your child. The Learning Disabilities Association of America has many branches nationwide where you can get help and information. Their toll-free number is 1-888-300-6710.

For more than 20 years, Eileen Marzola has worked with children and adults with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders, and with their parents and teachers. She has been a regular education classroom teacher, a consultant teacher/resource teacher, an educational evaluator/diagnostician, and has also taught graduate students at the university level. Marzola is an adjunct assistant professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Hunter College of the City University of New York. She also maintains a private practice in the evaluation and teaching of children with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders.

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