learning disabilities

FYI… Yes, it poses problems when kids who NEED medication don’t take their meds that have been prescribed by a physician….it can upset a whole classroom if they have extreme behaviors and are out of control…but really TEACHERS can’t force kids to take meds…that is the parent’s responsibility. :oops:

Teachers don’t administer medication to students. But there are students who prefer not to take medication. Taking medication or not is a decision made by students with their parents - not their teachers.

ADHD and ADD are a challenge in the classroom. there are entire books written on how to deal with that challenge. Check out Mel Levine’s Educational Care for one book that has some good ideas on how to lesson the problem that ADD/ADHd can be in the classroom.

Medications are so confusing to me. Yes kids that need medicine and don’t take it can cause you major problems, but I think some kids use that as a crutch. I have learned that if they tell you they didn’t tkae it, they expect you to go easy on the behavior they may engage in the rest of the day! When this happens I just inform them that not taking thier medicine isn’t going to get them out of trouble and they still need to behave. Of course this doesn’t always work but they may think twice before they act.

Having a child with ADHD and being a teacher, I understand both sides of this situation. There are times that I have forgotten to give my son the medication, but I think it is unfair to him.

Some parents/students do use it as a excuse for behavior, it’s too bad for the student and for the parents. They aren’t doing anything helpful for their child.

I have students who are supposed to take it and don’t. UGH! It makes the day hard for them and disruptive for us!

I am glad to say that I don’t have students currently on medication. I can understand how difficult it can be to teach a class and have one or two students without their meds. I currently teach high school, and perhaps by the time that they reach this age group, they have out grown the need for it.

Or they’re just not telling you about it (or they’re ‘self-medicating’ with things in that stairwell down the hall…)