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Post by catatonic on Oct 6, 2004 8:11:53 GMT -5
My ADHD son is in 5th grade this year. The class uses a hole-punch system, where each child has a card and if they misbehave, break certain rules, or fail to turn in homework, then they receive a hole punched in their card. If they receive more than a certain number of hole-punches during the grading period, then their citizenship grade is "unsatisfactory". An unsatisfactory citizenship grade in any subject means the child can't be on the honor roll, regardless of grades.
OK, here's the part I think is stupid. My son seems constitutionally incapable of remembering his lunch box. He must forget it at school at least twice a week (which is why I keep plenty of brown paper bags in the pantry!). Every time he forgets his lunchbox and his teacher notices, he gets a hole-punch on his card. He has LOTS of hole-punches, some for forgotten homework, but mostly for leaving his lunchbox at school.
My son is going to be kept off the honor roll because he forgets his lunchbox at school.
I think this is stupid and unfair. Whose business is it anyway? And what does a lunchbox have to do with the honor roll? Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous?
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Post by swmom on Oct 6, 2004 8:45:41 GMT -5
No, I totally agree. Although, at our old school, even if you got all As and Bs, if you received below a 3 on work habits, you were kept off the honor roll, which I thought was fair. For example, 1 being the highest grade in work habits, keeping track of your stuff, etc. and 5 being like an F, you could get as low as a 3, which was pretty poor, and still be on the honor roll. 4s and 5s were pretty bad.
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Post by Dakotah on Oct 6, 2004 9:12:29 GMT -5
Absolutely not! I have two things to say. One is screw the lunch box! Go with the paper bags everyday! Two is- I wonder if this is an ADHD thing? Seriously not trying to make excuses but if organization skills are on his IEP then this may need to be addressed. I am note sure where to draw the line however. They need to be responsible but I often wonder what is realistic? So I go back to number one- SCREW THE LUNCHBOX!
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jdmom
Full Member
Posts: 80
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Post by jdmom on Oct 6, 2004 9:59:17 GMT -5
I agree - ditch the lunchbox. How petty of the teacher. Jarrett is constantly forgetting his coat at school. I will take hand-me-down coats from whoever, no matter what size they are. He usually has about 5 coats, because that way I only have to go to the school and the bus garage 1 time a week to collect them all. And while we are on the topic, why bother putting your child's name, teacher, and telephone number in all their crap if it's only going to end up in the lost-and-found anyway?  Okay, had my vent, back to the subject. I think it is totally inappropriate of the teacher to base citizenship grades on their ability to remember to take home their things. HELLO!!?? The definition of citizenship has nothing to do with that. Now if she wants to make a note about organizational skills....but we're not holding out high hopes for that anyway, right? We're just happy if they turn in the homework it took us most of the night to do. |
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Post by ohmama on Oct 6, 2004 10:40:39 GMT -5
I think forgetting things is MOST DEFINITELY a trait of adhd. It goes beyond what an average kid would forget. It involves cooperation with the prefrontal cortex and who can deny the role this plays with our children? I would have a talk with that teacher and take along one of Dr. Russell Barkleys books to show her what adhd/add is all about.
Even for a child that does not have adhd I think that is a stupid rule. But it is even worse for our kids because it discriminates against them for their disability. Whatever happened to positive reinforcement?
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Post by willoweezie on Oct 6, 2004 10:45:57 GMT -5
Can't add much more than what has already been said... that is totally ridiculous!
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Post by Dakotah on Oct 6, 2004 12:05:10 GMT -5
I think forgetting things is MOST DEFINITELY a trait of adhd. It goes beyond what an average kid would forget. It involves cooperation with the prefrontal cortex and who can deny the role this plays with our children? I would have a talk with that teacher and take along one of Dr. Russell Barkleys books to show her what adhd/add is all about. Even for a child that does not have adhd I think that is a stupid rule. But it is even worse for our kids because it discriminates against them for their disability. Whatever happened to positive reinforcement? Beautifully said sister! |
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Post by mrsheartbuzz on Oct 6, 2004 12:31:29 GMT -5
my son forgets his lunchbox too. Weird though, He has taken his lunch to school everyday and NOW(5th grade) he forgets his lunchbox 2 times a week. He is supposed to have a peer buddy to help him get himself organized and obviously it isn't happening. We did get him a new lunchbox this year and its a different color . Maybe THAT"S it. |
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Post by JV on Oct 6, 2004 13:23:03 GMT -5
I agree with you guys, that is totally stupid h*mage What does a lunch box have to do with citizenship? ??Citizenship has to do with how well prepared a child is in class, how he respects his teachers and peers, how well he listens to instruction, responsibility for class room work, not if he brings enough for lunch. I have not heard of the "lunch box category"! ;D JV |
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Post by chaknine on Oct 6, 2004 13:40:11 GMT -5
Maybe you ought to bring that to the teachers attention by telling her if she does not stop you will call an emergency IEP meeting to get forgetting his lunch box not counted against him added to his accomadations! This teacher sounds like she needs more work to do, if she can take the time to see who forgot there lunch boxes. You will have to ask her also if she ever forgets anything and where she stands in her citizenship role?
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Post by sportsmom on Oct 6, 2004 20:07:30 GMT -5
LOL Shelli--  I can't really say anything different then what has already been said. Sounds like this teacher needs an attitude adjustment thou (hehehe) and maybe some education about ADHD!! |
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Post by whootiewho on Oct 6, 2004 20:42:23 GMT -5
My son forgets and or loses just about everything under the sun, not just at school but at home, is he going to a poor citizen all of his life? YIKES, I think the kids all kids have way to much to remember any way, more than how to be a kid, know wonder kids are so stressed these days, we lose the pencil we have just sharpened before we get to the kitchen, to much structure makes us forget what life is really about, poor kid!
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Post by catatonic on Oct 6, 2004 20:59:38 GMT -5
Thank you all so much. I feel much better knowing I'm not alone in thinking this is a totally stupid rule. And I am going to utilize one particularly brilliant piece of advice and get rid of the lunchbox. Why on earth did that option NEVER occur to me?  |
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Okay, had my vent, back to the subject. I think it is totally inappropriate of the teacher to base citizenship grades on their ability to remember to take home their things. HELLO!!?? The definition of citizenship has nothing to do with that. Now if she wants to make a note about organizational skills....but we're not holding out high hopes for that anyway, right? We're just happy if they turn in the homework it took us most of the night to do.
