4/5 Case Study

1. What classic symptoms of a learning disability does Nathan exhibit?

He can't focus on one thing for very long, he can't remember if he has turned his assignments in or not, he is smart because he gets the answers that he answers correct, some teachers said that he is hyperactive, and the doctors put him on drugs to control him and help him focus; he didn't like them. I would say that this learning disability would be ADHD.

2. What accomidations has Nathan received in the past?

He recieved special services in his elementary resource room, from second grade on. The doctors also put him on drugs because the teachers said that he was hyperactive but he hated the drugs and says he doesn't want to go back on them.

3. What strategies would you recommend to help Nathan work with his learning disability? Why?

I would recommend modifying his schedule and work environment. She could move his desk away from distractions and put it by her desk; this would help him to focus more and the teacher would be there to help monitor his behavior. She could also provide an outlet for excess energy. Give him quiet work that also allows many times to do some kind of physical activity. She could also give him settling-in time after recess or lunch when he has been active. Instead of having the class come right in and start working on stuff, she could read a part of an interesting storybook to help him settle down and get ready to focus on something else.

I think if she did things with the whole class, other than moving all of their desks next to hers, that he wouldn feel like just another student but it would be mainly benefiting him and allowing him to focus more and get his grades up and help him learn different ways that he can manage and focus on his work; something that will help him throughout his life.

4. Is Nathan experiencing a cultural mismatch? Justify your response with examples from the case study.

I don't think that he is experiencing a cultural mismatch. A cultural mismatch is when a child's home culture and school culture hold conflicting expectations for child's behavior. There is one part that the father says that he is like Nathan so like father like son but his mother says that she helps him with his homework and makes sure that he does his homework everynight. At school the teachers expect the students to do their homework and complete the work in class. So I don't think that he is experiencing a cultural mismatch because he is expected to do his work in both places.