You first should ask yourself, why are you testing them. Most schools
require you to test your children if you want extra resources. I had to
test my child, because the school would not moderate her testing and
homework and she was miserable.
My daughter also draws amazingly but can't remember her facts, we work on it
over and over again. But I do see progress, she knows the math facts from
last year, so after reviewing it for a year, she finally has it down. Her
reading is also below grade level. She is being trained with the Orton
Gilliam reading method. She is definitely making progress, but I have no
way of knowing if she would be making more progress with a different
approach.

It was suggested that I go to a child Neuro-psychologist that does
testing(at a cost of $2400). I did, but I think it was overkill. Now I
know all sorts of things about how my daughter is unable to process visual
data, etc. The bottom line, she is dyslexic and will needs extra tutoring
and it will take her a long time to learn things.

I don't know if a Sylvan Learning Center can test them, you could ask, but
they would probably be able to test what grade level your children are on.
I would suggest you call up your school district and see if they will do it.
When I lived on Long Island, NY, they did the testing free for any school
aged child. If they don't, ask if there is a Special Ed school near by and
ask them to recommend someone. I would not choose someone without a
reference from someone. Lately a women told me she was present when a women
from a committee reported their findings on a child, and the person
presenting the report said she did not feel comfortable with the report and
felt it was misleading. The bottom line is there are good tester and not
so good testers. A misleading report can make you miserable.

Good Luck
Penny

-----Original Message-----
From: The Lamica's [mailto:twigtaker@...]
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 2:14 PM
To: dyslexiaclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Dyslexia Club] New here, need direction for my children please




Hi,

I'm a homeschooling mom with 4 children. I had twins first and I am almost
positive that they are dyslexic. I didn't really "know" that there was a
problem with the way they learned until I had 2 more. My youngest two are
SOOOOO different and learn so easily. The twins are 8 and I have a 5 year
old who is almost caught up to one of the 8 year olds in her curriculum.
Just the past 6 months, one of the twins is really learning well and
catching up almost to where she should be. There are still things that one
daughter can't do and will go and ask the 5 year old.

I have read many emails where others describe their dyslexic child and it is
a perfect description of mine. Sometimes they mix-up letters. Sometimes
they write their entire name backwards. You can hold the name up to a
mirror and read it perfectly. Really bizarre. The biggest problem I have
is that they can't 'remember' things. We go through a phonics program and
by the end of the alphabet, they couldn't remember what an "a" was. I've
tried MANY phonics programs. Even now, one will forget basic letters and
will have to chant to herself while trying to spell a 3 letter word in order
to remember how to spell it. Sounding out a word is the same process though
it has gotten better this year. They are extremely imaginative, crafty,
mechanical and can draw like you wouldn't believe. I have art all over my
house and people come over and can't believe that they drew these pictures.
Reading and basic math is a struggle. Forget reading their own directions,
they are not auditory learners. If you can't convey the lesson in a mental
picture then you can forget it. LOL

What I'm wondering is how to get them tested. I had heard once that no one
will test them until they are 8. So I never bothered until now. But I have
NO clue as to where to go. I don't want to be on a wild goose chase with
dozens of appointments. Will a Sylvan Learning Center test for this sort of
thing along with any other learning disability?

If anyone can steer me in the right direction, I'd GREATLY appreciate it. I
live in Florida, BTW.

~Gwyne



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