P.G.
Hi C.~
Congratulations on growing your family!! That is a always a nice adventure.
I was reading others comments/advice for you with this issue. Let me give you my 2 cents on this:
1) Open communication with child/childs teacher is always the 1st thing you should have.
2) Speaking to teacher at 1st sign of an issue, the teacher is your team mate, not your enemy
3) Testing the child to see if there are any behavioral issue or ADHD/Dyslexia issues to get those out of the way
4) This is the most important time, whey they are little to push them to do thier best to assist them when they are struggling.. these are the years that matter!!
I have given you a few websites that have assisted me when my chilren were struggling a year ago. I have 2 boys and they were both retained due to reading below grade level. I felt just like you did, "what the heck? how come I didnt' see this coming? How come no one told me? " all those questions and let me tell you - i fought for my kids- in any way possible!! Check out these websites, and see if they help you.
http://www.tutoringclub.com/
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.htm...
http://www.help4adhd.org/
http://center.ikumon.com/showpage.aspx?url=90939
Now, this is only goign to get harder before it gets better, dont' let another 6 months go by before you start to help him out. Charter school is a good option but not everyone can get in. This is a lottery and only one child will get in at one time, which didnt' work for me cause I have 2 kids and both are one age apart- I need them both together as I am a single mom.
Good luck C.!! I know you will be fine, and most of all you are not alone!! School academics are very different now, they expect kids to be wizards before they graduate elementary- so yes, times have changed. Take care girl. and congrats on the growing family... just think when you younger one is in school- the oldest will be the teacher and it will become easier!!!