Reference no: EM133537533

Assignment:

Kevin is a 9-year-old student in a regular fourth-grade classroom. Kevin seems bright and usually works hard, but he is a puzzle to his teacher. Sometimes it seems as though he's just not all there. He misunderstands directions-failing to complete all of the assignment or even working on the wrong pages. He is reluctant to answer questions in class. When he does answer, he stops and starts and seems confused. Kevin is a slow, hesitant reader. His teacher, Mrs. Ross, has noticed that his comprehension of text often seems to be ahead of his ability to read the words themselves. He is a poor speller. In his writing he tends to use short, choppy sentences, and his output is often poorly organized.

Although Kevin is good in math, he has difficulty with word problems. In addition to these problems with his schoolwork, Kevin often appears to be lost among his fellow students. He hangs behind the others when they go out to play and often eats by himself at lunch. Mrs. Ross would like to help Kevin, but she is not sure what is wrong.

Is he immature?

Should he be referred for special education?

Could there be a medical reason for Kevin's problems?

Kevin is typical of students who have problems with language and communication. He may be experiencing difficulty understanding incoming language and producing appropriate spoken responses of his own. He appears to lack subtle communication skills that are critical to social acceptance by his peers. He is at risk for academic as well as social difficulties. If nothing is done, it is likely that Kevin's problems will get worse. As the pace of learning increases in middle and high school, he is likely to fall further behind.

What should be done?

What do you think is Kevin's problem?