ADD,IEP, and teacher that won't work with me.

Is the math teacher a sp.ed teacher? If so, her techniques are less than adequate. Maybe a conference with all the teachers together and you and anyone else you think would be helpful, would be in order, suggest in such a way as, “let’s see what is working for Ms. Blank and/or Mrs. Dash, I know we all want __ to be successful this year. Perhaps together we can brainstorm some ideas that might work. ” Then if you are still having problems with the teacher, it would be time to step up the chain of command, and call an iep meeting, with the facts that your son is not having his needs met with this class.

I have had a similar meeting last year(my son’s 6th grade team of teachers), it worked out ok, although the teacher, I and my son were having trouble with(math), sort of worked it around so that my husband,son and I were the ones who needed to work things out. I didn’t leave the meeting feeling great, however, the teacher did get better about things on her end, and we came up with a homework contract that seemed to help on our end. My hope(thought) is that perhaps the other team members gave her some helpful ideas after the meeting.

There is a place here on ldonline that lists accommodations and such for teachers as well as the symptoms of add. It might be helpful to print that out and give it to the teacher also, I am not sure she will use any of them, at least your description of how she acts doesn’t sound like she will be open to new ideas, at least it might be a try. Also you could talk to the other teacher, ask her how she thinks you might go about making suggestions without ruffling her feathers. I know teachers won’t talk about each other, like earlier, just ask for helpful suggestions.

I know 6th grade was a roller coaster for us, it will get better, even if it takes the second semester to get there. Middle school is totally different from elementary, not as much nurturing going on, unfortunately something my son responds to best(the warm and friendly teachers I mean). Just hang in there, I am sure other folks will have some helpful suggestions to give also. Best wishes.

The teacher is a Resource Specialist. This is her first year. The Vice Principal in charge of special ed is going to have her mentor help her. I guess I will have to have the IEP changed. Thank you for your help.

Sadly IEPs can’t do much to change or help struggling teachers and it sounds like this math teacher is struggling. Does he have to stay with this teacher?

If he does, then maybe changing his IEP is an approach to dealing with this. Have the English teacher’s tips written in his IEP. I’m not sure, though, that that will help much. Not knowing the strategy may not be the real problem.

It sounds as if all she would need to do is switch from screaming to tapping. Maybe some very brave person could suggest to her that she tap his desk every time she feels like screaming at him.

Is there a principal who’d help with this? A school psychologist? Anyone who could “talk turkey” with this teacher and help her to struggle less?

Good luck.

I would suggest revising the IEP,defintely. The reason? The teacher needs to know exactly how to deal with your kid,as well as ALL others who come in contact with him. The IEP is the legally binding,and if violated,held accountable for treatment of your child. If you ever wind up filing a complaint,if this is not written into the IEP,you will not have a way to hold them accountable.

Aside from that the teacher is responsible to revise the IEP when needed. Being the resource room teacher she should be doing this as well.

Thank you, socks. Can you be more specific about……as well as all others that come in contact with him. Do you mean the IEP should include how the spec ed aide and the TA in the classroom, any school personnell?

Correct Moira. In IDEA under the section discussing content of IEP it states,

(3) A statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child, and a statement of the program modifications or supports for school personnel that will be provided for the child—

(i) To advance appropriately toward attaining the annual goals;

(ii) To be involved and progress in the general curriculum in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section and to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities; and

(iii) To be educated and participate with other children with disabilities and nondisabled children in the activities described in this section;

school [personnel means all school personnel.

I got a phone call from my sons math teacher yest. She said she would do whatever I want. She doesn’t understand what I want. I sent her a note asking her to explain her grading of his classwork and home work notebook. He got a B on it but it said that hw was missing, corrections weren’t made, and headings and titles were missing. I am not complaining about a B but I don’t like it averaging a fail she cant explain to a C. She said she grades the whole paper, whether he has a heading (full name, period, subject, date) and title. I told her that was a work habits grade. She said she does not give away grades they are earned. She said if she expects more of them they give her more. Then she told me my expectations were too high. She said she would not push a passive aggressive child like mine to do more work. She said he works when he wants to work and he doesn’t if he doesnt want to work. She said if it is fun and exciting he is right there. I told her that is ADD. She said children are not all alike and she said she did not see him as ADD and she has been an advocate for her friends in IEPs for years.
I need to write to the principal challanging the grade. Obviously I was not clear in my first two letters. What is the correct wording for asking them to change a grade. This has been since the 18 of Oct. Where can I find the school dist policy regarding their responsibility when grading a child.
I told his teacher we would discuss these things at the IEP she told me she didnt think his IEP needed to be changed.

moira if you have not got a copy of A guide to the Individualized education program you should get one (it is a free download) http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/OSEP/Products/IEP_Guide/ it might be helpful. on page 15 of this guide it states that If parents do not agree with the IEP that they may do the following. 1) try to reach an agreement (which it sounds like you have done) 2) ask for mediation 3) ask for due process and 4) file a complaint with the state education agency.

I would have a great problem with a teacher or a TA yelling at my child, that is not a tactic that is taught to teachers. You stated that the teacher says his IEP does not say how to get him to focus. It sounds like she is using the lack of specific wording as an excuse to pardon her own behavior.

If parents believe that good faith efforts are not being made to properly implement the IEP, they may ask for revisions in the program.
“I single himout as it is when I have a student sit with him to stay on task. What else do you want me to do.” and “I say it 20 times would it help if I said it 21 times.” sounds like defensive remarks. I think the teacher is making it harder on herself than it has to be. The point of an IEP is to provide the least restrictive environment for the child not to single the child out to the rest of the classroom and if the IEP states that the teacher is to ensure that the homework tablet has the assignment in it than that is what is to be done. One way that I have seen that a teacher makes sure that all students (not only LD) have their assignments written is to check them at the door before they leave the classroom.