I think that teachers prefer to teach the kids who sit there quietly, raise their hands because they know every answer, never cause a fuss and soak up knowledge like a sponge! If I had 20 plus kids in one room and had to teach them, those would be my favorites! I might enjoy being around the livelier ones more at recess, but to teach, the best behaved ones would be easier.
As for kids going on meds and the teacher still finding them too active, sometimes their expectations are too high. I have seen posts by parents who have told their kid's teacher that they put the kid on meds and gotten rave reviews back about the remarkable change when they really never medicated them. I have also seen posts stating that they put their kids on meds but never told the teacher and the teacher never noticed a change.
Its possible that the teacher's expectations were for him to suddenly be a perfect child and student. She may have had a student in the past who responded to meds that way or just assumed that is what meds would do. Every child is different, their ADHD symptoms and co-morbids vary so widely that what you see in one medicated child is not the same as you will see in the next.
I agree. A child's meds should not change the child's basic personality. I would never want to see my son's joy of life and sense of humor supressed by meds just so he could satisfy a teacher. He is a wonderful child, just as your is. If your son is able to focus and do his work better, that is the goal and its reached in my opinion. If he has ODD, it would be different, but you are right, he should still be allowed to be a boy!
Rae, I bet every parent who replies to this says the same thing! Barb
My Ped asked me if I was giving my child the dose I was, because the teacher was still finding him difficult on half that - I agreed - I was happy with him on one tab but the teacher was still saying he was difficult - so I upped it. Is it that teachers dont want to teach boys and would rather us med them into girls? They still need to be boys (active, competitve, show off) and not be considered needing more meds - what do you think? Rae7038199.7309837963Actually, the teacher - has never taught a child on meds. - But I have decreased his meds this week - so i will go and get an update and see what she has to say.I know that we must many times make our children's teacher aware of the medicine they are taking and when a dose is lowered and so forth, but this can bias the outcome of what they perceive. This can happen to parents as well. I know its hard when your child first starts a medicine. As parents we watch for every little complaint and point mostl towards side effects of medicine. I think the best way to rule out bias is in a double blind medicine trial where the teacher nor parents know if it is a placebo or medicine. I guess you could just tell the teaher that your trying something different and you don't know if it is a placebo or medicine and see her response for a while in that situation. This would still allow you to be in control of the medicine, but see if her perceptions are accurate. Just a suggestion. I agree with Barb!
i don't know if anyone saw my post on the other bord..basically it said this.my son is four and due to start his 3rd yr of infant education...i live in spain and they have a different system here.he knows he's on meds to help him be ' good boy' as it were and his teacher is aware of the situation also.she couldn't be more helpful...he has a chair in class which he can sit on voluntarily or be asked to sit on it by the teacher when he's getting out of control.when he's thought about stuff and calmed down he tells the teacher why he felt he couldn't cope and then he rejoins class.she gives me a report every week without fail and i speak to her as and when we feel its necessary.she attends as many docs appt as she can with us ,but if she can't she sends the doc a written report on his behaviour and she expects one back from the doc.this seems to work well and as we are all dealing with it together we have no conflicts...we are all geared to making life as easy and as stress free for my son as possible.see if you can't get your teacher involved in the docs appts...it helps....believe me.Wow - your teacher must be so incredible to take time out like that to see your doctor. I spose I could suggest this to her but I cant imagine her making time - but perhaps I could be wrong - thanks for that tipMy sons second grade teacher was like that, last year though the teacher couldn't have cared less. She never answered my notes until I had sent 3 & then cornered her in the halls. Whats past is past. This year my sons therapist is going into the school with me during the second week & meeting with his teachers to form a united, positive front with everyone on the same page.In my experience one of the many things some teachers dont undersatnd is that stimulant medication for adhd is not a behavior pill. The medication will allow the child to make a choice rather than act out impulsivity and like anyone else, the child will not always make the right choice. If the teacher is not using the proper strategies and/or has a lack of understanding and education about adhd or any other disorder, this will only excaserbate the child as medication is not a cure all. Its one of the many tools used in the treatment of ADHD and if the teacher has no understand of the function of the medication, they will always make the wrong assumptions and observations. I spent my sons entire school career reeducating the system and that became a bigger problem then my sons adhd. Please know that yout not alone Rae. We parent really understand!thanks for the support my friends, yes I guess we all travel this road of educating - but I guess the future generations will benefit from our hard work now.