Our son who is 7 although at this point has not formally been diagnosed - it is a sure thing just awaiting the final words!
In short he was in a parochial setting 1st grade immediately began having problems within the class - fidgety, impulsive, unable to control behaviors/actions etc… We had him evaluated and his teacher completed an evaluation. His school work was not affected by these behaviors at this point! In the midst of all of this the teacher had no clue how to handle him and what was happening and unfortunately his self esteem which was the one thing she could control was pecked at! Needless to say, we removed him from teh school after many attempts to improve the situation.
Now 3 weeks later he is in a new class a fresh set of eyes and same problems, fidgety, needs to get up all the time, impulsive etc…
We have worked many behavior plans since September - probably a total of 3 none have been overly successful but we keep plugging along!
The new teacher will do an eval. next week and at this point we are discussing the start of medication.
Any suggestions as to what we may be missing? Do you think I should be present in the class to help with the more difficult times? (keep in mind I cannot always keep him focused myself) In summary, we are willing to do anything - what suggestions do I make with his teacher to help while we are in the LIMBO phase (awaiting evals, starting meds?)
Thanks,
Re: new to this looking for guidance
Thanks Jan,
Its funny, he fits so many of the typical things but not “all”! Our son can write just fine, he academicly has soared but only recently has his academics been affected by what he is feeling/thinking!
We feel currently we have a great situation with his teacher, she is willing to do anything, we are able and willing to do whatever it takes to keep him at his greatest potential!
We changed schools as I originally stated we didnt’ think for a minute problems would resolve but wanted some greater response to him with a teacher who cared enough to help us, give time to develop a plan, and support whatever decision was in our sons best interest. While we are fairly new we can see a completly different interest level in what will make him successful.
He would never be successfully home schooled and congrats that you are successful with that! We just want to find his niche’ I don’t know yet where it is but he is very bright, with great athletic ability we just need to give him a foundation where he can soar academically and we are trying to tap all resources.
Thanks again for your response! :)
ADHD help
As a teacher of young children and an ADHD(er) myself, I have purchased and like the following books. I found that they have some wonderful ideas on working with and motivating children with ADHD. I commend you for really looking out for your child and making sure he receives the best possible education. KUDOS!!!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask! :)
Book List:
#1 How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children : Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions for Helping Children with Attention Problems and Hyperactivity - by Sandra F. Rief (Author)
ISBN: 0876284136
#2 The Add Hyperactivity Handbook for Schools: Effective Strategies for Identifying and Teaching Add Students in Elementary and Secondary Schools - by Harvey C. Parker
ISBN: 0962162922
#3 The ADHD Book of Lists: A Practical Guide for Helping Children and Teens with Attention Deficit Disorders - Sandra F. Rief
ISBN: 078796591X
#4 ADD/ADHD Behavior-Change Resource Kit : Ready-to-Use Strategies & Activities for Helping Children with Attention Deficit Disorder
by Grad L. Flick
ISBN: 0876281447
Hope I helped!! :D
figidty
where does his teacher have him sitting in the room? and how many students are in the room and what’s the teaching style?
Your son on or off medication might likely be best eerved in a small class setting with a teacher who understands that some children hear the beat of a different drummer and whose curriculum isn’t the ‘same old, same old’. Your son’s near neighbors in the class - those sitting near to him - should be calm, not impulsive children who will not respond to his antics and who will model and encourage calm behavior for him.
Does the school have recess? Some down time? That’s also important for fidgety children.
And you say you have trouble focusing him. What does he when unfocused? I’d also suggest that for some of my fidgety students and for my fidgety son holding something in their hand helped a lot. Something soft that makes no noise like a big pink eraser or even a small squish ball. Such things can help to ‘ground’ the fidgety child like an antenna grounds a tv.
Good luck.
Re: new to this looking for guidance
ADHD can be stressful to parents…I know because my youngest son was diagnosed with it in when he was 5. He is on medicine during school hours and it has helped. I also talk to his teacher on a regular basis. She has been great and willing to learn. Many teachers of general education classrooms have not been specifically trained in dealing with this type of issue although they have to deal with it on a daily basis. Sometimes finding a good article with some of the characteristics your child exhibits and showing it to the teacher is the best course. Most teachers are in education because they want to help kids. Sometimes, they like all others, need assistance in learning what works with your child. Keep your chin up! Your child is special! :)
ADHD
One thing I would like to add is behavior modification really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. If you use it in conjunction with meds it seems to work better. Mostly I think it is the fact that they can’t control a lot of their behavior and when you try to implement modifications with rewards or punishment they fail because they HAVE ADHD! I can’t tell you how many systems of rewards etc we have tried and all it’s been good for is more frustration for me and my son. Maybe others have been more successful than we have! What I’m trying to say is without something that is going to help them focus, behavior modification just seems pointless. ADHD children WANT to please but they don’t have the wiring necessary to deal with remembering, focusing,and frustrations.Best of Luck, Jan
I’m so sorry you are going thru this. We began evaluations when my son was 6. Teachers really can’t do much to help. They have too many students. Perhaps meds will help. They helped my son tremendously until he began to have side effects. He can no longer take stimulants but he is on Strattera and Imipramine. They help some but Nothing like stimulants. When he was on Ritalin he could actually write legibly for the first time and was able to be more organized. I hate that he can’t take them now because he was able to concentrate and actually do work for the first time in his life!! Oh well! We just have to work around his problems, but we also have to do it thru homeschooling. The school system did NOTHING to help us!!! Good Luck, Jan