I have to talk to a teacher- What Would You Say??

[helpusnow]

Received our ds report card for grade 7- 1st term. Our son is 12 1/2 and extremely smart, but if I did not stay on top of his homework, assignments he wouldn't be doing nearly as well. This year has been a huge adjustment. He now has 8 teachers instead of 1. He is learning coping skills on his own( carries his knapsack
around instead of using his locker because he knows
he'll forget something- HIS OWN IDEA!!!),his impulsive behaviours have really improved etc.... In September, I asked the Resource Teacher to put his name on the grade 7 monthly progress report, to ensure his organizational skills etc.. were not hindering his success. This ment that his progress was brought up in front of all gr 7 teachers.- I heard everything was great! All his assignments and homework we verified from his agenda and school website- everything I thought was getting completed. All his assignments and tests were coming back with great grades. Last week he informs me he thinks he is going to fail music. We never had one music homework assignment in 10 wks. He said he doesn't understand the notes on the grand staff and it takes him a long time to fill them out. I asked him why he didn't take them home and finish them, because his sister or myself could certainly help him with them. He said if the other kids knew he took them home they would think he was STUPID!!!!!!
On his report card he had 2-98's, a 93, 2-90's, a 89,
a 85 and MUSIC was 63!! What makes me so mad is that mark brought his average down and he will
probably never play a musical instrument in his life. If I had known he was doing poorly, and not getting his
assignments completed in class I could have helped him at home. Our son is liked by all his teachers-from grade 1 until grade 7, but he says he doesn't think his music teacher likes him. But than again he is super-
SENSITIVE and can mis-interprete her very easily. I've
requested to meet her tommorrow at parent- teachers.
I want to get this settled and know I have to be calm and explain to her why I NEED to know if he's not getting his work done! I could be wrong but I feel she's
a non-adhd believer. I also have 3 other children who will be beginning at this school in a few years and I'm pretty sure 2 of them will be musicans of some fashion, so I don't want to hurt their chances with the band etc..
ANY ADVICE, COMMENTS, THOUGHTS???

[theirmom]

???gee, I would think that it is our RIGHT as parents to know when assignments are not being completed. That part has nothing to do with add or anything other than it's your kid and your right. I know that at this level they give you the crap about "7th & 8th grade teaching responsibility", but you know your kid best and know what he needs. If you don't get satisfaction with the teacher, document everything, date it a and copy the principal.

[helpusnow]

Thanks Theirmom,
I agree it should be our right as parents to know if our child is doing assignments etc.... And I also feel with an ADHD child it is even more important to keep us informed . There is no doubt in my mind, if the other teachers didn't check his agenda, homework etc than his entire report card would have been 63 or less. What a shame that would be, since he has the intelligence!!!
Knowing my son, his self esteem would crash and he would give up and become another STAT! Well there is no way in H*ll I'm going to let that HAPPEN.............

[dmom32002]

I would like to suggest a different approach.

First see if she was aware that the 7th grade teachers,
were doing all this. She should be but give her a out
to say no. THen explain how he is doing so much better
with them double checking.

Also ask if there is someway you could have what
they will be working on at home. Explaining that he
feels if he brings it home, the other kids will think
he is dumb. That you would like to protect the
little self esteem he is getting.

You could take some self addressed stamped envelopes
that she put the material in and send you.

I would just give it a different way.
Most of the time a music and art teacher understands
about the ADHD kids. But you may have the exception.

donna