What to tell the teacher?

[catatonic]

Challenge Boy has a great deal of difficulty staying organized and staying on task at school. With one of his teachers, we've tackled the organizational issues by consistent use of a planner, which the teacher and I both initial each day to show we've reviewed it. Works great. He's getting A's in all his language arts subjects that he has with her and overall is completing most of his work on time. She's pretty consistent and organized herself so it's working out well.

His other teacher is not only a dingaling, she's mean. (Whole separate issue there.) We've discussed using the planner during 3 separate conferences and she never makes the effort to do it. She's completely disorganized so my son is never sure what he's supposed to do in her class or when, and she gives very poor guidance on large projects like science fair. He's managing pretty well in math, but his science grade is not very good, a low B in danger of sinking to a C.

I have a conference with both teachers on Tuesday. The "good" one has asked me if I have some suggestions for her on helping him stay on task in class. He spends too much time sharpening his pencil, talking to classmates, and rocking his chair back on two legs. I'm not sure what suggestions to make, since the things that work at home aren't really feasible to do at school. Any ideas? Any tips that have worked for you?

With the "bad" teacher, I just hope I can keep my cool and not say something I'll later regret. Challenge Boy's psychologist has expressed concern that his self-esteem is taking such a battering in her class (which I plan to tell her) and that in order to be successful he needs a teacher who is consistent, clear and organized. Not sure if I should share that part with her. It actually seems kind of pointless to talk to her since she won't do anything different afterwards.

I can't transfer him out of the bad class without transferring him out of the good class as well. They use a team teaching program, and he would have to switch to the other team. I'm not sure how to approach this conference. My older children haven't had any problems in school so this is new to me. Any suggestions are welcome!

[Mayleng]

Cat, does challenge boy have an IEP or a 504?

[catatonic]

No, he has no formal accomodations in place. His psychologist has offered to prepare a 504 for him but I have preferred so far to deal with things informally.

[d]

Cat, what grade is he in? Reason I ask is in elem school when my dd was with the same carefully selected classroom teacher for 6 hours/day, there was little need to document accomodations. Good teachers instinctively know what to do for the most part.

Now in middle school, while her teachers were again carefully selected (and each in their own way very good teachers but all different), she needs the documentation b/c of the inconsistent approaches. If she was with any one of these teachers for the 6 hours/day, there wouldn't be a problem.

[Mayleng]

It's tough when you don't have a formal plan in place because the teacher isn't obligated to do any accomodations. And as you know, one teacher does it, and it works for challenge boy. The other doesn't, so he struggles.

Aside, from going in to this teacher, and telling her what works and how she can help him and how the current environment is effecting his self esteem and seeing if she is agreeable. The only other option (if this does not work) is to threaten to convene a 504 meeting to get Challenge boy some formal accomodations 504. This is a legal document, and the teacher can be personally liable if it is not followed. So there is incentive for the teacher to do her best.

What the "good" teacher is doing is basically what all ADHDers need to be able to function in school. There is no way of getting around the constant reminders to keep them on focus, and helping them get organized. This is the hardest part to fix. And they do need an organized and structured teacher so they don't get confused further.

Here's a site I found from the Dept of Ed who puts out all the articles on ADHD to educate their teachers, and gives them accomodations etc they should do for ADHD kids. Maybe you could print it out for her.

www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/index.html#adhd-res

look under:

ADHD — Teaching Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Instructional Strategies and Practices.
The report, designed for teachers, other school staff, and families, describes an overall strategy for successfully instructing students with ADHD. Suggestions of research-based academic instruction, behavioral interventions and classroom accommodations are provided.


You can give the "good" teacher the printout too, since she asked what else she can do to help him stay focussed.

[dmom32002]

First a 504 plan would be a place to start. This
would give the teachers a place they have to
start. Also would make someone responsible
to oversee both teachers. And help make the
changes needed. I would suggest for the
good teacher, that maybe with the sharpening
pencils, you give her a packet of say 20 or more
already sharpened that she puts somewhere,
after the first time sharpening, she starts just
handing him one. It might take the whole packet
but might be worth it.

I don't know how to make a teacher write the stuff
down, or do the organizational. But a IEP or 504
would help that.

donna

[JulieinSC]

We had a similar experience with my son's 1st grade teacher. (This was prior to his diagnosis ADHD-inattentive.) Although she was at least nice, unlike your son's teacher, this teacher's room was a huge mess and everything was in a constant uproar. The entire atmosphere of the classs room was stressful. No wonder my son couldn't get his work done, was easily distracted, etc.

We managed to survive the year. In retrospect, I'm pretty sure that she was undiagnosed ADHD herself. If SHE was ADHD, there's really no way she could help my ADHD child. How can you ask someone who is clueless about organization, structure, etc. to maintain organization, structure etc.

I hope you are able to come up with a better solution than we were! Good luck.

[catatonic]

Yes, I think this teacher is ADHD herself! Her stuff is a mess, she loses kids' papers, every time I schedule a conference with her she's forgotten about it when I show up and is unprepared, her planner looks like one of those cartoon closets where you open the door and everything falls out... you get the picture.

Mayleng, I printed the article and it's very helpful. Many of the same things we already do at home successfully, arranged in a manner that's clear and understandable for teachers. I highlighted several of the really key ones to give to the teachers. And I think I will drop hints about a 504 meeting to the "bad" teacher.

Time to start moving here. I'll let you know how it went after the meeting this morning.

[Mayleng]

Goodluck Cat. Hope it all works out. Let us know.