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  Case: Special Education, Depression, or Defiance?
I have a student who has an identified Specific Learning Disability (SLD). At the beginning of the year, the student would put a minimal amount of effort into their work. I always followed accommodations and worked one-on-one as often as the classroom dynamics permitted. During the middle of the year, I had a student intern who worked solely with this student but the student's performance began decreasing and they were becoming more detached. After the student intern left, we had the student re-evaluated and it was determined they have a visual processing disorder in addition to their SLD. I saw hope after this news because I thought this was the answer to this student's lack of motivation and involvement. I went through all the modifications (and extra) for the visual processing disorder-still nothing. I contacted the mother and she has yet to return my phone calls, emails, and the Special Education teachers phone calls. I am at a loss on how to help this student. I recently ask them if they were happy and they simply shrugged. I asked if they knew a way that I could help them and again shrugged. The student will not make eye contact with me or other students, will not accept assistance from myself or others, and will only put their head down during class. I've never experienced a student this withdrawn in sixth grade. I can't figure it out if the student is struggling because of their special education needs, if they are being defiant, or if they are depressed.
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I would firstly make sure to keep the accommodations you made in place in case they decide to try to work. I would also try buddying them up with another student during the day because they may respond better to another student. Maybe if the student sees how focused their partner is they might decide to give their work another try. Talking with the school counselor would also be a good idea, maybe see if they can observe the student in the classroom setting and try working one-on-one with the student in their office to see what's going on with the student. They might also be able to find a way to talk to the parents and see what's happening.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this
Rated On: March 7, 2016 4:45 am
Rated By: eRyber