(

[Pembo]

*****

 

[Mermaid02]

I just dropped off my son's evaluation results at the school this afternoon... it should stay in his records so I doubt I have to tell them again. Is anything like that in your son's records?

 

[geffric]

I work with the student counselor and arrange a meeting with the teacher/teachers to discuss learning style , and set up lines of commication. Discuss how we can be partners in his education, and to set expectations for what each one of us does.

They are the ones that can alert me if he is wandering or not focused. In the beginning of the year, I set up monthly check in times, just to keep informed with the teachers and to see if we have any issues to need to be discussed. If it turns out that things are ok, then we stop the regular chats and just talk as needed. My son had one teacher that used to call me to share the good news .. when he had a GREAT day at school.. i loved that ... She was truely wonderful..

 

[Big V]

We always set up an appointment with the teacher before school started.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My DS is ADD, LD and has Asthma. I told her at open house when we were the first parents to arrive. I told to call if he forgets his meds. She'll know!

Lori

 

[Pembo]

Open house is tonight...hmm...I could give her a note to call me. I think last year's teacher had us fill out a paper to have her call us. It's such a fine line. You want to be a caring, involved parent but you don't want to be annoying either.

 

[shortbun]

At our school, you advise the teacher AND the school nurse who
puts in in your child's file.

 

[geffric]

Does you child have an IEP or 504 plan? These always help too.

 

[disneylizzy]

DS has ADHD. I usually email or call to set up an appt a week or so after school starts. His school always advises parents not to use the open house to talk about individual students. At the appt. I can cover my concerns about his writing, strategies that work well with him, etc. and plan when we will be in touch again. I love email and the teachers do, too. Good luck.

 

[cruisnfamily]

We haven't told the teacher at all!

DS was evaluated 2 yrs ago as "borderline" ADHD. Didn't really qualify as ADHD but the symptoms he had were strong enought that the teacher/school wanted us to medicate. The evaluation is in his file so the teacher's probably see him as ADHD although I haven't discussed it with anyone at the school since 1st grade. He's in 3rd now.

Well, we went for over a year trying various things(no meds) until mid last year when we went ahead and started him on Concerta. It's made a big difference in fidgetyness and concentration. We never did tell the teacher and nor do we intend to.

He was off his meds all summer(his fidgeting is something we can live with) and started back on them for school. He just takes one pill in the morning at home. I have not told his teacher. I did have to fill out the health form(which goes downtown, not to the teacher) that they require at the beginning of every school year and I think they may send the teachers a list of who has what allergies and who takes what meds so she may find out that way.

We just never wanted DS judged based on this condition. We wanted regular old expectations for him not the "special" expectations they all seem to have once they hear "ADHD, he's on meds". His symptoms are not as obvious as some. He fidgets and stuff like that it's not like you'd notice if he forgot his meds one day. You might just think he's a little off task but it wouldn't be a big alarm going off.

So, my advice is don't tell the teacher at all unless some issue arises. Maybe I'm wrong but that's how we're handling it and it's working for us. If your DS is very obviously ADHD in his behavior perhaps it should be handled differently.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by geffric
Does you child have an IEP or 504 plan? These always help too.

I'm curious about this. Can you explain why we might want to have one of these? What exactly does it do for your child? Thanks!

 

[geffric]

an IEP or individualized education program outlines your childs unique educational goals and ways to meet them. As a parent you need to be the advocate and be assertive with the school to ensure that your child is given the exact and specific ways that the school will help your child meet his goals.

a 504 plan is a legal document and referrs to the section 504 of the federal rehabilitation act. Section 504 covers ADHD kids who need extra classroom help whether it is having the teacher check that the student understands the homework and the due dates, fills in the assignment notebook, checking progress on projects, or ensure that the child is sitting in the right spot in the classroom to extra time on a test.

 

[CarolA]

I am not a parent, but this statment concerned me...

I'd like for him to try school without his "lunch pill". He only takes one pill in the summer. Such decisions......

I think the person to ask about this is the Doctor.

As someone who works with kids TELL the teacher something. Teachers and others need to know what meds kids are on incase something happens.

 

[aimee11621]

knowledge is power!!!


Tell the teacher and nurse and the principal. very important to get everyone involved. IEP report should be updated every year with the info on medical and dosage.

Nurse should know in case of emergency (drug interaction). Especialy the dosage and drug.

Good luck

 

[disykat]

IMO If your child is on medication, the teacher should know about it.

 

[Pembo]

He is on a short acting pill and we only give him one in the morning this summer. He needed that second dose last year but before we try that again I'd like to see how he does in this new environment. Yes I will talk to his doctor but he goes by what I say and feedback from the teacher.

The teacher said tonight that she will be sending home info sheets for the parents to do about the kids. So I'm just going to wait to talk to her. I'll fill that out and set up an appt late next week to see how he is doing and fill her in.

Thanks for all of your input. DS is mild adhd and does not have a 504 or IEP.

 

[Pinnie]

As a teacher I feel it is vital for me to know if ANY child is taking any medication for any reason since I am with that child for the majority of the day. What if something would happen?? Would you not tell your child's teacher if he/she was taking heart medication? ADHD is a MEDICAL condition that is treated by a Dr. Any changes in the dosage needs to come from him/her.

I would prefer not talking about these kinds of situations at Open House because that night is overwhelming in and of itself. A note to the teacher and a private conference is prefered.

If anything, knowing a child is on ADHD meds makes it easier for the teacher to make adjustments to the child's learning style. Don't make us play guessing games.

pinnie

 

[Tuffcookie]

Hi Barb, Well, just this last summer Alex was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. His doctor at Akron Children's suggested putting him on ritalin. He was recommended for a special classroom at the middle school this year. Instead of switching classes, like the other kids do, he will stay in one classroom and 2 teachers will do the teaching. He will have the same curriculum as the rest of the 7th graders only a smaller class size and not be switching classes. I have opted to try him in this new class environment before starting the medication. However, last week, I got ahold of his teacher and filled him in on what was going on. I asked him to keep an eye on Alex and let me know if he feels he might need the medication.
Doesn't hurt to talk to the teacher ahead of school starting.

TC

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

The only reason I told the teacher at Open House is because we were the ONLY PARENTS in the room. We didn't turn it into a conference. As a former teacher I was glad to talk to parents whenever they had something important to tell me.

Lori

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by Pinnie
As a teacher I feel it is vital for me to know if ANY child is taking any medication for any reason since I am with that child for the majority of the day. What if something would happen?? Would you not tell your child's teacher if he/she was taking heart medication?

Why do you need to know? What could happen?

If my child were taking heart medication, insulin, etc that would obviously be a completely different story.

Not that anybody asked but the reason we didn't tell the school is that the doctor recommended against it. He said we were not required to tell the school and there was "no reason for the teacher to know". He said we'd get feedback anyway if the medication wasn't working and if we don't hear anything, no news is good news.

If anything, knowing a child is on ADHD meds makes it easier for the teacher to make adjustments to the child's learning style. Don't make us play guessing games.

Would you not make adjustments for a non-ADHD child if they were needed? I'm not trying to make anybody "play guessing games" I just want him treated like everybody else. I don't want any special accomodations for him, he doesn't need them.

a 504 plan is a legal document and referrs to the section 504 of the federal rehabilitation act. Section 504 covers ADHD kids who need extra classroom help whether it is having the teacher check that the student understands the homework and the due dates, fills in the assignment notebook, checking progress on projects, or ensure that the child is sitting in the right spot in the classroom to extra time on a test.

Thanks for filling me in! I always understood it was for special accomodations like preferred seating, etc....DS doesn't need these types of things so I guess that's why we dont' have one.