THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 15, 1995 TAG: 9503140103
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
CLASSROOM TEACHERS HAVE been asked to keep their eyes open. Parents have been told to be alert to the signs. And school administrators are taking another look.
All of them are looking for children with special needs. Whether children are intellectually gifted, have learning problems or just need extra help to live up to their potential, March could be the time they are finally identified and pointed in the right direction.
Isle of Wight County public schools call it ``Child Find.''
It's not something that isn't done routinely every year, said Dr. Patricia Harris, coordinator of pupil services. But this year, the school system is trying something a little different.
From the intellectually gifted to those students who could benefit from a little extra help, ``This is a completely new procedure for us,'' Harris said. ``We've never put all of these under one umbrella.''
The reason they decided to do it differently this year, Harris said, is that problems that can inhibit a child's school progress are sometimes misidentified. Learning problems, for example, can show up as behavior problems. Or children who are exceptionally bright may not live up to their potential if they are bored.
Special Child Find screenings for preschoolers will be conducted at Windsor Elementary, from 1 to 3 p.m. March 22, looking for those whose vision, hearing or physical growth is less than normal or who have a medically diagnosed physical, mental, emotional, learning or speech and language disability.
The screenings will be repeated at Carrollton Elementary from 1 to 3 p.m. the following Wednesday, March 29.
Meanwhile, a committee comprising coordinators of elementary and middle/secondary education, the coordinator of special education and a school psychologist, plus a school principal or assistant principal, will visit each school through March 31. That committee will take a look at referrals from classroom teachers, administrators, parents or medical professionals who see specific children as ``a little different,'' Harris said.
``If there is a student who seems unique, we're going to be asking, `How unique? What can we provide that will help?' '' Harris said.
``We always need to look at children as individuals,'' said Dr. Flora Roberts, the coordinator of elementary education who also works with gifted education. ``That's what good teaching is all about. This is a mechanism for organizing it and focusing on the process.''
If a child is highly motivated, puts in long hours and lots of energy, for example, but seldom comes up with more than passing grades, that child may benefit from some special services, Harris said.
Or, if a second-grader, for example, is ``reading a novel under the table,'' Roberts said, it's a sure sign that his or her intellect is higher than other second-graders.
Children who should be referred come under the following definitions:
Gifted children: those whose abilities, intellectual scores and academic performance are well above average, or who show potential for outstanding accomplishments.
Special-education children: those who have a physical, mental, emotional, learning or speech and language disability that affects their learning or requires special accommodations to carry out the instructional program.
Children and teenagers who need alternative instruction: elementary-age children whose academic achievement and instructional accomplishments are at least two or more years behind grade and do not qualify for special-education services. Also high school-age youths whose intellect scores are average or above and who have not satisfied the Literacy Passport requirement and do no qualify for special-education services.
Preschool children: those at least 2 years old and less than 5 whose vision, hearing or physical growth is less than normal, or who have a medically diagnosed physical, mental, emotional, learning, or speech and language disability.
Parents or others in the community who wish to refer a child for special programs and services should contact the principal at the school that child attends, or at the nearest school, and will be asked to fill out a referral form. MEMO: For more information, call Harris or Roberts at the School Board office,
357-4393, 242-4400, or 569-8605.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Dr. Flora Roberts, left, and Dr. Patricia Harris work with gifted
children.
by CNB