Has anyone had any luck, in Learning Rx, or Brainskills?  My son is doing well with homework, and school work, but when it comes time to take a test, he fails it, even though he can do it with a tutor.  He is having lots of problems, with his handwritting. He does have an IEP, but they will not take him out of the classroom, to give him a test. They feel that he knows the information, its just getting it out of him. They suggested that I get a tutor, 4 days a week. But when you are a single mom, that is not in the budget.

Any suggestions?

Why is he failing tests?  Is he not reading the directions, not understanding the material, not have enough time to complete the test, or because of his handwriting are they not able to read his answers? 

He has anxiety, so he gets nervous, when all the other kids are around him.  They will not allow him to be taken out of the class. They feel that he knows the information its just getting it out of him.  The school also had 2 cutbacks, on their budget, so they don't really care, in my opionion.

Bright mind sells products to raise cognotive levels.  Is this a website?

I wonder if listening to white noise would help. I'm not sure how old he is. I know many people with ADHD can focus better with background noise. I'm guessing his teachers aren't going to accept him listening to a CD walkman so how about some white noise? It might help. Another suggestion is to get some earplugs. You can buy them at a home hardware store, usually used for construction workers. They're great. It muffles enough of the noise to cut the distractions but allows you to hear the messages you're needing to pay attention to.

How about moving him into a quiter part of the room; in a cubicle? This will atleast draw him away from the distractions of others (visually/auditory). Remember, during these tests, the room is absolutely quiet. The slightest noise (pencil scribbling; erasing strokes; other fidgeters; page turning; sniffling; heavy breathing..) can be a set-back. I'm assuming he has ADHD/ADD (you didn't mention so I'll continue under this notion).

Handwriting: can he type his test out on a computer? I'm guessing if he has an IEP then he's also been given a class support worker? If he has an IEP then they need to accomodate his needs. Sometimes the reason why children have such difficulties with output performance is because of the 'handwriting' portion itself. You may want to take notice on HOW he writes; how he holds a pencil. Children like this do far better typing or standing while writing on a chalk board. Could this be an option? If he has a support worker, she may be able to set this up somehow. If the chalkboard is an issue, see if they can tape up a large piece of paper on a discrete wall somewhere and see how that helps. Also, you might want to get him a pencil grip. Not just any grip but a larger one (usually recommended by an OT) I'm just throwing random suggestions here so bare with me.

Also, I want to address the messy handwriting bit. You have to understand that these children put in 10x more effort into their writing skills than the average person and it STILL turns out looking messy. Please don't discourage them for this. They need a lot of praise and they well deserve it - despite how messy it looks to the naked eye. Imagine investing so much energy into something, only to have someone else ridicule it in the end. It's devestating and unlikely to want to try it again.

Here's wome writing suggestions:

Allow postural freedom; give shorter writing assignments; allow children to underline or circle answers rather than writing them out; allow children to give oral responses to the teacher or aide or into a tape recorder; accept single-word answers rather than complete sentences; allow children to substitue oral book reports and/or projects for written assignments; allow chalkboard work as an alternative to paperwork; accept respnses that are written by the teacher, an aide, or other students at school; accept responses that are written by a parent at home; require children to write spelling words no more than one time each; do NOT use writing as a punishment; grade for content rather than penmanship, or else give seperate grade for each; allow more time for writing tasks; allow children to use a computer; be as pleasan and patient as possible.

See if you can add any of these in the IEP's.

Also, just curious, how does he sit? Does he slouch? Does he tip his chair?  Does he rest his head on his desk/arm? Does he lock his feet on his chair legs? Does he stand at his desk a lot? Does he sit reaching across his desk to write? Watching tv: does he lie on his tummy, resting his head on his palms?  Does he fidget?

 Thank You.

 He doesn't have a support worker.   They are doing a pych eval right now, becuase right now the IEP, is just communication only.  So that will open up more doors for options. His teacher is really good with him, 1 on 1, but she has 22 more students to take care of.  Thank you for your ideas, I will suggest them.

As far as sitting, he sits, and wraps his feet around his chair, during school. At home, he sits on the couch, or lays on his stomach on the floor.

 As far as sitting, he sits, and wraps his feet around his chair, during school. At home, he sits on the couch, or lays on his stomach on the floor.

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Those are all indicators of an immature STNR (symmetric tonic neck reflex). There's plenty of information about this topic in this forum. I think one is titled "Crawling" from Tator in the Parents with .. forum.

Best of luck to you.

My son goes to a parochial school. He was tested for a LD but his ADHD was not considered "bad" enough for sevices. They recommended a "modified" curriculum where he has shorter tests (ie 12 spelling words instead of 20). He does horrible on tests. In found that making flashcards and using a bell ringer to make studying into a gameshow helps. In addition, I use a memory technique for spelling or math equations. have your son do the following...

1. Write the spelling word in red ink very large on a piece of paper and saying the letters as he writes.

2. With his finger, have him outline the letters saying them outloud at the same time 3 times

3. Have him  write the word in the air with his finger satyng the letters outloud

4 Have him close his eyes and visualize the word and then write the word.

As for handwriting...his teacher acceptst his "sloppy" work and allows him to keyboard things like projects, ect. I started having him write with a .5mm Clickster  (mechanical) pencil so his letters would be more legible. HE is not graded on neatness or handwriting.

Hope this helps

Our son lots of times doesn't even get directions. I say spelling words together 5 times each with our son 1 night before the test. helps.

I mac: our son's iep expecs our son to do what all the others do work wise just with accomidations. Test in Se room expecially his SDDA tests. We are looking at changing his plan to only in class for Science and SS.

We want school to do what it takes them during school hrs to get our son up to grade level in all areas. If wanted the bulk of the job we would become a Hs family.

My son goes to a parochial school. He was tested for a LD but his ADHD was not considered "bad" enough for sevices. They recommended a "modified" curriculum where he has shorter tests (ie 12 spelling words instead of 20). He does horrible on tests. In found that making flashcards and using a bell ringer to make studying into a gameshow helps. In addition, I use a memory technique for spelling or math equations. have your son do the following...

1. Write the spelling word in red ink very large on a piece of paper and saying the letters as he writes.

2. With his finger, have him outline the letters saying them outloud at the same time 3 times

3. Have him  write the word in the air with his finger satyng the letters outloud

4 Have him close his eyes and visualize the word and then write the word.

As for handwriting...his teacher acceptst his "sloppy" work and allows him to keyboard things like projects, ect. I started having him write with a .5mm Clickster  (mechanical) pencil so his letters would be more legible. HE is not graded on neatness or handwriting.

Hope this helps

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Thank you!  I will try this for his next test