My child is struggling 
Now that my child has 
Preschool
In Preschool, did your child have:
- Problems pronouncing words?
- Difficulty finding the right word?
- Difficulty making rhymes?
- Trouble learning numbers, alphabet, days of the week, colors and shapes?
- Trouble concentrating?
- Trouble interacting with peers?
- Difficulty following directions or learning routines?
- Difficulty controlling pencil, crayons, scissors?
- Difficulty with buttoning, zipping, tying skills?
Grades K-4
Does your child. . .
- Have trouble learning the connection between letters and sounds?
- Confuse the reading of basic words? (run, eat, want)
- Make consistent reading and spelling errors?
- Experience difficulty learning basic math concepts?
- Have trouble learning about time?
- Take a long time to learn new skills?
- Have trouble remembering facts?
Grades 5-8
Is your child having difficulty...
- With reading comprehension or math skills?
- With letter sequences? (soiled for solid, left for felt)
- With prefixes, suffixes, root words and other spelling strategies?
- Organizing his/her bedroom, notebook, papers, and desk?
- Time management?
- Keeping up with papers or assignments?
- With handwriting?
- Understanding oral discussions and expressing thoughts aloud?
It can be hard to acknowledge that your child is having difficulty in school let alone admit to the possibility of a learning disability. Perhaps you have worried that by calling attention to your child's learning problems he might be labeled "slow" or a "discipline problem," or that he might be assigned to a less challenging class.
What many parents and their children don't realize is that most kids with learning disabilities are just as intelligent as their peers. Their brains are simply wired differently for learning. They need to be taught in ways that are best adapted to how they process information.
By understanding more about your child's learning problems, you are one step closer to getting the help you both need. Your child can still have hope for a wonderful future if given the proper tools and learning strategies.
Adapted from the work of Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities.
