Teachers & ADHD parents...need an opinion

[Pembo]

My 1st grader is mild ADHD. Almost every paper that comes home has "Be Neat" or "Take your time" written on it next to how many he missed, which is usually 0 or 1.

My question is---what is the point of writing be neat/take your time on his paper????? Except to give negative feedback.

I think the teacher should be reminding everyone to be neat and take your time WHILE they are working on a paper. I don't see the point to writing it on his papers after the fact.

His papers can be pretty messy and hurried but that is something we're working on with his ADHD. (recently started meds).

I'm thinking of talking to the teacher about this. But I'm not sure if I'm out of line. Also, he has a student teacher and I wonder if it is the s.t. that is writing it.

So WHAT DO YOU think?

Thanks for your opinions.......

 

[wovenwonder]

Ask the teacher to try using POSITIVE reinforcement with your child. Maybe only comment when the paper is VERY MESSY but instead try to note comments when there is even a mild improvement. Positive reinforcement usually works better than negative comments in my experience with my ADHD son.

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by wovenwonder
Ask the teacher to try using POSITIVE reinforcement with your child. Maybe only comment when the paper is VERY MESSY but instead try to note comments when there is even a mild improvement. Positive reinforcement usually works better than negative comments in my experience with my ADHD son.

I am not an expert by any means, but the above sounds like solid advice to me.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Please don't take this is a bash, but I think you're being overly sensitive. If your child's work should be neater, the teacher should point it out. I'd rather know what the teacher expects than to roll along thinking all is well. The feedback is as much for the parent as it is for the child.

I don't think "Be Neat" or "Take your time." is negative.

 

[amid chaos]

What if the little guy worked really hard on being neat and still got that remark?..poor thing. Further more the teacher shouldn't be comparing your son to others..she should compare his work to his past work...maybe then she would see some improvement.

time to see the teacher.

 

[ripleysmom]

Definitely talk to the teacher and explain that you understand that she wants him to be neat but that you feel that her feedback and is making your son feel badly about a situation he cannot control.

Also you might want to request that the district do an OT evaluation on him. It could be that he is not holding his pencil in the best position. OT would definitely help him to work on that.

I will probably be requesting an OT evaluation for Ripley soon as she seems to be holding her pencil incorrectly. When I tried to tell her to change it, she told me that the way she holds it feels best for her.

Also you can take this further into offical channels if you need to. PM me if you want more information about that.

 

[Krisu]

My DS is in 8th grade and I still hear that I think it's common for boys. BTW who diagnosed him with ADHD?

 

[Pembo]

Krisu-We work with a psychologist who was formerly a school psych. She is the best! Her own son was a very mild ADHD so she really understands what we are going through.

I think I'll make a visit to the teacher in the next couple weeks. Thank you all.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

I agree with the others. DS has mild ADHD, and has been on meds for about 5 months (what a difference!). But we still run into the 'rushing/sloppy" problem. His teacher last year (who help us with getting him diagnosed and was the most supportive person I have ever seen in the eductaion field) used to do exactly what wovenwonder suggested - only commented (but always, consistantly commented) when his work was really sloppy/rushed. Otherwise she used positive reinforcement, and understood that using negative commments, or expecting the same from him as other kids in certain situations was counter productive.

After having a quiet converstaion with the teacher, if you feel she is not receptive to working WITH you on this, then ask for the school phycologist to be part of the education team working with him. Hpefully, you son's teacher will be as supportive as ours was last year.

Good luck.

 

[Buckalew]

No comment except this post reminds me of DDs comments about Dan Murphy's writing.

Good Luck!

 

[MerryPoppins]

DD took a handwriting workshop over a period of several weeks from an OT. She learned lots of practical things to help her write more clearly. I wonder if something like that is ever offered in your area? It really helped her a lot.

Also, does he push too hard? DD did that and we cured her by having her write with a mechanical pencil. The lead would break if she pushed too hard, so she had to learn to write more softly. We also bought some special cushions that encouraged her to hold the pencil correctly. She also had to learn to loosen up - her messy writing was too tight. It almost got worse before it got better (because her cursive became very loose and not very controlled), but her writing finally is much improved!

I'd be glad to try to remember what some of the exercises were, if that would help. Unfortunately, I wasn't there, so I don't know about it all.