It seems like you have tried a variety of ways to help your daughter out. I just wanted to let you know what happened to us when my daughter was struggling with (what I thought to be) very simple concepts in Level A. I tried taking it slower, playing more games, and explaining it in a different way, but nothing seemed to help. We ended up just putting things away for a month. After our extended break things just seemed to click and she has been zooming along ever since. I think that she had hit a developmental "road block". The break seemed to take the pressure off of the both of us as I was starting to get frustrated in thinking that she just wasn't trying. When we began again we talked about how we were going to figure things out together and we started out with games and basic basic basic stuff. That way I was sure that she had her confidence back before we started on other things.

I'm not sure if this will help you or not, but I know that we still hit occasional blocks where we take a day or so off and go to something she is more comfortable with and once we come back it seems that things have "settled" in her brain and everything just comes together.

You mentioned that she has visual processing problems. While I don't have experience with it I have heard that vision therapy has worked wonders with in helping others with the same difficulty.

I know that this can be a frustrating time. I wish you the best!

Hello!

Sorry for the delay in answering! We had the holiday weekend and we also had some website troubles so I am just getting caught up on some messages! :)

Thank you so much for your message. Also thank you to Shannon for replying! She sounds like she has had a similar situation and its always best to hear from someone who has traveled that road before! :)

Talking to Dr Cotter she suggested that in this situation having a complete evaluation done with your daughter and that if its a visual issue, see a developmental optometrist. That will give you some specialized care.

As far as suggestions, what we have suggested has been used. As you and I both stated, each child is unique as is the learning style. No one knows your child better than you!

I would still guide away from switching programs considering it will delay the necessary help that your daughter needs.

Take a deep breath! We know you can do this and please let us know how else we can help!

Cassie :)

Thanks, Shannon, for responding. It does feel good to know that others have struggled, too. I know that sometimes breaks are definately what's needed to calm frazzled nerves for both of us and would certainly be willing to put things away for a break... but we just had about a month off for moving from one neighborhood to another. I thought the break would have done us some good and did start back in with the games to find us still stuck.

Cassie - I've looked longingly at DO's, but sadly our insurance doesn't cover Vision Therapy and we certainly can't afford it. Come October we might not have any insurance at all and then we won't even be getting her OT that's been such a help. She's had a psych eval and that is what prompted the OT eval in the first place. They diagnosed her with a Cognitive Disordor, NOS (whatever that means) and ADHD as well as finding the motor delays. Her Visual Perceptual Skills range from the 4 yr old level for Form Constancy to almost 6 yr level for Sequential Memory per her re-eval in April. Right now we're working at home through computer programs and workbooks to try and remediate her visual problems. I was just hoping that y'all would have some specific things I could do within the math program that hadn't already been tried or that I hadn't thought of in order to help me help her understand. But... on a good note, today she actually answered a word problem question correctly on the first try and gave a coherent explanation! Of course, she then proceeded to fill in the part/whole circle with 9 as the whole and 10 and 8 as the parts (the equation was 8+2=10) ... little steps I tell myself... little steps...

Thank you again for your message! Also happy to see it ended on a happy note! Baby steps...baby steps....

I understand the concern for Vision Therapy costs and the scare of insurance. With today's economy, we cannot depend on anything! I will be thinking of your family and hope all works out! :)

I just wanted to give you that option as I know of a family that it worked wonders for! :) There are a true testimony of a Vision Therapy success story.

Keep on moving! Keep us posted on the progress. We only hope the best for you and your daughter. We know both of you can do this! :)

Thank you again for contacting us!

Cassie

I just want to encourage you to pursue the visual tracking issue. I personally know of 3 children that have had the therapy and with great success. A 10 year old child that struggled with math and an 8th grader that struggled in many areas will tell you that therapy changed their life around. The 3rd child I know that did well in school but still had some eye tracking issues says that school is so much easier now. I know that therapy is not cheap, but if that is the problem, it might be well worth it. We ourselves are in the process of starting it with our 17 year old son. Wish we looked into this sooner.

I do understand the financial issues. Fortunately our insurance is covering about 2/3rds of it. That makes the decision much easier for us.