If you are a teacher who is waiting and waiting for parents to put their child on medication. It may never happen and no matter how hard you pray, your ADHD student will not be absent tomorrow. But, you can do something about it.. First, try to learn as much as you can about this disorder. There is a lot of information on the internet on how teachers can help these students. If the parents don't know they kids have this disorder or any other, get help from a counselor on how to approach this problem with the  parents. You can also support the following project  if you consider it  could be more effective: Special School for ADHD kids.

I have a child diagnosed with ADHD, his taking Ritalin and he is in ESE (Exceptional Student Education). His mayor problem is reading & comprehension. He has improved, but he is not in the level where he is supposed to be for his age & grade. I'm worry that this situation can lower (even more) his self-esteem, for not been able to get the same achievements as other. This is frustrating for students, for parents & even for teachers. Parents are blamed; Children are blamed or labeled. Schools are blamed. This is a neurobiological problem. This is nobody's fault. But, we all can do something, let put pressure in our political leaders so these kids can get more help. I think by preparing a special program/classes for this kind of disability (with psychologists, neurologists, teachers and parents input) Having these kids in a full time (separate) school with a fully trained personal in this matter & where they don't see themselves as “retarded” because the rest are doing great and they are getting D's or F's, will help so much! If the government has money for special schools & programs for "gifted" students, why not to invest in those who are in a "bigger" academic need. In my opinion everyone will benefit from this, even students who are not ADHD. Medication should not be the only solution; after all, they have side effects, too.

There is between 3%-10% of students with ADHD in US. Isn’t that enough to (at least) try with a pilot school to see if it work? We need to put these kids back in their normal life, faster and with less medication. If you read some statistics about kids with ADHD you will learn why is so important to help these kids now to avoid future problems that may be more costly for the government than the SPECIAL SCHOOL.

Please send a letter to:

SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR ADHD KIDS

President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, US 20500
Phone: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461

You know I have worked in a self contained class and it is very hard on these children. I do not have my teaching degree quite yet but it seems as if these children need to feel as if they are like everyone else. I know dealing with a child that has a behavioral disability is hard but is it not the teachers job to understand that each child is different?

Though I am only a para professional I had teacher drop their misbehaving child off on me when they could not handle them. When the teacher I worked with was gone for 6 weeks after she delivered he baby these teachers still came to my classroom to DROP off these children. I understnad it may be hard but these are special children and should be treated like the other children.

Thank you Cyndi.  I hope you still have the same opinion in years to come.  Also perhaps you could look into specialising in this area, your attitude is tremendous

Thank you so much and yes this is the field in which I will be teaching. These are very special young people who need someone who will care about their needs. Thank you Rae!

Cyndi

Whoa!  This sounds like a touchy subject.  I remember watching a video in my undergrad about a pilot school like this.  It wasn't much different than my classroom except the teacher/ student ratio was quite a bit lower.  There was a lot of hands-on and small group instruction.  I would be willing to teach at the school IF my doctor would hurry up and give me a stimulant medication for myself.

Here's the thing.  It's not too realistic.  This video was of a lower primary class.  In my teaching experience, there are not too many canidates for this school at this level.  I'm not saying that they are not out there, I'm saying that MANY parents are still in denial and blame the teacher.  (That's me)  A few years down the road they will say, "I started Johnny on medication and he is doing so much better in school now."  Yes, I get a little bitter in the area. 

I think the concept is actually pretty good for a young child.  It could really help to boost his/her confidence up early on and possibly teach some great organization and study skills.  After the primary years, I think is would be very damaging to a child with ADD.  We are afterall, a very sensitive group of people. I don't think most of us appreciate our "differences" until early adulthood.

Dear dcfox:

First, let me give you the information I have, but I'm not sure if this is the same thing you were talking about. There is something called: Playattention, I'm not sure if the web-page is www.playattention.com

Anyways, for the rest who has been making a lot of negatives comments about the "SPECIAL SCHOOLS", I still believe on them, but as you probably have noticed that is not the only alternative I'm trying for my son. I keep researching for a better alternative. When I wrote this comment, I did not know that those schools existed, and it looks like they are working. Try www.ccsd.edu/birchwood

http://www.idealu.com/neuro/research.html

this may be the site you are looking for... even if it is not, it talks about basically the same thing...  i had posted a previous message asking if anyone has tried biofeedback/neurofeedback as an alternative form of treatment for ADHD... is there anyone out there who has?  My son was just diagnosed with ADHD and I am reluctant to put him on meds because of the possible side effects and thought this might be a viable option....

I am a teacher.  I have taught 1st grade, 5th grade, and 4th grade.  Each year it seems like I get a class with a high percent of children who have ADD or ADHD.  Believe it or not, I am glad I have them in my class and that they are not in another class.  They add energy and excitement, even if they are a distraction to all of us at times.  Life is like this.  A traditional classroom is so unlike real life that it is funny.  People get to choose what profession they are best suited for, but no child gets to choose what classroom is best suited for them.

I have ADD myself and I know what students with it are going through.  I have come up with many procedures and things that I do to help these students re-focus after losing their focus.  Also, I am trying new things that help each student.  In my particular school, a public charter school, we use MI (Multiple Intelligences) methods for teaching.  I love this opportunity to try new things with all children.  This method focuses on the fact that we all learn in different ways.  ADHD kids really respond to a spelling assignment that I give.  Instead of writing the words three times each, or put them into sentences, I have them design the words in ways that will help them remember the spelling.  Visual learning is one of the Multiple Intelligences.  The kids love it and all help come up with different ways to design the words.  For example the word "crutches" we spelled by drawing the letters "t" and "h" into the shape of crutches.  It also helped that day because a student in my class was using crutches!  This type of assignment stimulates the ADD children and their strength of creativity is tapped.  They love it and I have noticed increases in their spelling test scores at the end of the week.

I have often thought it would be wonderful to have a whole room full of ADHD kids to teach because they would all understand each other and they would all learn in a similar way.  The suggestion of a school for ADHD kids is not a suggestion to get them OUT of the mainstream schools because they are an annoyance, but to get them IN an environment in which they can learn!  Most teachers I work with truly care about students.  They do get frustrated with ADHD behaviors just like everyone on this site does.  This whole message board is for support because it is harder to deal with the situations ADHD creates. I know that once a teacher understands ADHD and what is actually happening with a child, they come up with methods to help the child.  My advice to parents is to educate your child's teacher as much as you can about methods that will help your child.  Give them literature to read, ask for a conference with the teacher and the principal.    A conference like this helped me to figure out that I had ADD.  I finally got help for it.  It has changed my whole life.

The hardest thing I have to deal with is watching a child I suspect has ADD or ADHD struggle when the parents are doing nothing to help.  Sometimes parents feel that disciplining these children or training them will solve the problem.  They also are afraid of drugs or treatment.  I respect their right to avoid medication, but to not understand what their child is going through or to ignore the problem altogether is extrememly difficult to watch.

Sorry I typed so much!  I hope this helps shed some light on what it is like from a teacher's point of view.

My daughter is in a special class for learning disabilities.  10 students, teacher, educational assistant.  For most of the students in the class, though, it is a toss-up what their difficulty really is.  I still am not sure whether my daughter doesn't pay attention because she is confused, or she is confused because she doesn't pay attention. 

This is a one-of-a-kind class in our board.  And it is a great program.  The 10 students are covering their regular curriculum, but in a modified way.  For ex, a regular class might do 1-2 pages of math questions, this class does about 1/4 of that.  They are still able to demonstrate their mastery of the concepts but with much less pressure.  They also spend much more time practicing social interactions than a regular class.  For example, they spend time just practicing eye contact, which is a problem for many of them.

Where I live a whole school like that is just not a possibility and I don't think it would be a good idea.  These kids still are integrated when possible and get the benefits of being part of a regular school setting.  But I feel this class is a good opportunity for my daughter.  It is intended to be for 2 yrs and then back to a regular class.

[QUOTE=lifeisajourney]And if they can be taught to where they can understand, can you imagine how far they would go in their studies??  They may even come up with some inventions of their own at the high school level.  They would feel special and be encouraged to follow their interests!  They would feel free to explore and have the desire to learn.  They wouldn't feel like they were "bad" kids, and with that put aside, they can learn to be themselves and grow in a positive and healthy way!  [/QUOTE]

I am a public school teacher, mother of an ADHD 6th grade boy, and I have ADHD myself.  We have been through the wringer trying to get teachers to understand how my son's brain works.  We have seen him grow to hate school more and more each year.  My experience has been that most teachers...even those in special ed....don't know a blessed thing about ADHD.  Of course, we cover our butts by having IEP meetings or 504s.  Modifications that are made are usually only applied at standardized test time.  My son has a very high IQ.  His teachers always tell us....he's probably the smartest kid in here, BUT....he doesn't...he can't.....he won't....

So their answer to the problem is to stick him in resource classes with kids way below his level so all his middle school peers can tease him about being....dummy....retard...you name it.  His self esteem is in the toilet.  His dad and I are feeling guilty...like we are sending him into a pack of wolves every day.  We are ready to pull him out.  I'm actually looking into online homeschooling.  I can't quit work to home school him.  I can't afford it.  But his dad works mostly weekends.  He could supervise during weekdays...I could pitch in on weekends. 

Anyway, I would love for him to be able to be in a class with his ADHD peers.  I'm sure he'd be with a more intelligent, more interesting group of kids.  All he's getting in the regular classroom is frustrated, humiliated and angry.  

On the other hand, as a teacher, I have 3 kids in my class who have been diagnosed with ADHD.  Not one of them is on meds.  I do what I can to make accomodations for them, but they are still very disruptive.  Is this fair to the non-ADHD kids?  No.  There comes a point where you have to write these kids up for disrupting class......They would be much better off in a self contained class with a teacher who actually knows how to deal with them.

My first post.  Sorry it's so long, but my Ex and I are really frustrated with my employer...the local school system.

Chloisie

The hardest thing I have to deal with is watching a child I suspect has ADD or ADHD struggle when the parents are doing nothing to help.  Sometimes parents feel that disciplining these children or training them will solve the problem.  They also are afraid of drugs or treatment.  I respect their right to avoid medication, but to not understand what their child is going through or to ignore the problem altogether is extrememly difficult to watch.

[/QUOTE]

It is heartbreaking.  One of my 3 ADHDers actually was put on meds.  I just happened to be out sick the day he started.  The sub was upset that he was too quiet and wouldn't eat lunch, though he said he felt ok.  She took him to the office. The principal (I could choke her for this) called his mom and told her that the doctor needed to reduce his meds. The doctor refused, saying that this was a typical first day reaction.  Grandmother steps in and flushes the remaining pills. About a month ago, I was at a workshop.  A sub wrote this child up for being disruptive.  His mom came in the next day.  She told me how she had had similar problems in school.  She also said that she had been held back twice.  Her son is a second year kindergarten student.  Very bright.  I looked at her and said....You know how that made you feel.  He's going through the same thing.  I advised her to give the meds another try.  She said the principal said he didn't need that medicine. Me - Talk to the doctor again. Her - He won't reduce the medicine.  Have you thought about getting another doctor....?  Do something, lady.  The little boy says mommy cries a lot.  Sounds like mom might be overwhelmed and depressed.

Child #2 is much more disruptive than the first one.  He is in constant motion...out of the seat....talks to anyone or himself...and now he is becoming aggressive.  His mom is in prison....grandma, recently released from prison, has custody.  The doctor says he don't need no pills...he's just BAD....Then she takes him into the bathroom and beats the daylights out of him...I watched them from my window as they were walking home.  She stopped and hit him 3 times before they got out of sight.  He starts half day schedule on Monday.  Another very bright kid who just can't be still and focus. He might not have ADHD, though it has already been diagnosed, according to his K health assessment.  But he has issues that need some kind of attention besides being spanked/whipped/beaten. The assistant principal did notify social services.  Maybe they will be able to help. I went home and cried. 

Chloisie

This is a one-of-a-kind class in our board.  And it is a great program.  The 10 students are covering their regular curriculum, but in a modified way.  For ex, a regular class might do 1-2 pages of math questions, this class does about 1/4 of that.  They are still able to demonstrate their mastery of the concepts but with much less pressure.  They also spend much more time practicing social interactions than a regular class.  For example, they spend time just practicing eye contact, which is a problem for many of them.

[/QUOTE]

This class sounds wonderful.  I wish my son could get into something similar.  Our district has a school like this for K-2, but nothing for 3-up.  I love the emphasis on social skills.  We used to get to teach social skills in Kindergarten, but that's been pushed aside for academics.   

Chloisie

 My advice to parents is to educate your child's teacher as much as you can about methods that will help your child.  Give them literature to read, ask for a conference with the teacher and the principal.    A conference like this helped me to figure out that I had ADD.  I finally got help for it.  It has changed my whole life.

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   what happens when you do this for several months, and are completely ignored, until your child is a complete mess? welcome to my world. It's very frusterating, the teacher and principal are horrible!! at least I know it's not all teachers, I was ready to give up. as much as the parents who do nothing bother you, the trained professional teachers we are supposed to trust with our children really yank our cord too. Glad to see another perspective. feel better knowing it's not just me, i was starting to wonder if i was over-reacting. apparently not.

thank you

Recently, I went to the  "Region" to speak to "whoever" was able to help me. This is the next step after speaking to the School Principal. First thing I said was I spoke to the teachers, counselors, principal, now I'm here and will keep going  "Up" until I find the help I need. They were very polite, but I did not see any "solution" because they keep saying that: This is How the system works, we can not change it. We understand your concerns, we even agree with " most of your  Points", but the Department of Education is the only one who can do something about it.  

They gave an explanation of why they try to keep kids with different disoders in regular schools, it make sense in a way, but I think that if you put it in a balance is more Negative than Positive. They reason was: To make kids more sensible about different type of people and problems, and to make the other Kids feel  like a regular kids, too.

Reality:

First, it has to be a nightmare for the teachers to teach 3 or 4 different groups of kids with different " learning styles" and "disabilities" in the same  classroom at the same time, plus most of the schools, specially in big cities, are overpopulated, and in many places teachers are underpaid. Who will pay the consequences of the teachers frustations?  Our kids. 

Second, Did anyone in this message board forget how kids were when they went to school? Kids are "cruel", not all of them, but those who are cruel are more popular or "cool"  most of the time (because they will be supported by those kids who don't want to be picked on, so they see  the "friendship" with the cruel kid as the way to avoid it). Many children will not use any "cruel comment", but will laugh when somebody else does. Remember, we are "programmed" to think when someone laugh (after a comment was made)  It's, in a way, like accepting or agreeing with the comment or act. So, those kids (with ADHD or any other problem) will not only feel "inferior" because one or two were making fun of them, but because half of the class were laughing, so in their "mind"  they feel:  everyone agrees with that comment, so it might be true(what they are saying about me).

Now, for those who made the comment about:  if they will get " special Jobs: for ADHD people. An adult  with or without  ADHD  has  lot of choices, you can pick a job where your "incapacity" does not have to look so evident. Ex: If your are not too friendly,  find a job where you deal with machinary, not people. If you are slow, find a job where "speed" is not required. And so on... In school years you don't have the chance to pick ( the Subjects, schools schedule, etc, etc)  And lets not to forget than adults are way more sensible because we are more mature. So, we rearly will make fun of someone because of his/her discapacity. If anything, we will try to help them.

Good luck to all of you!!

I must be narrow minded, or overly sensitive, because i got the same line of bull from our school too. only i didn't buy it.--------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------   This is How the system works, we can not change it. We understand your concerns, we even agree with " most of your  Points", but the Department of Education is the only one who can do something about it---------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------   Now of course, this is only my personal opinion, but it seems to me they are all just passing the buck, "we cant help it, it's up to them" and so on, well in the mean time it's my child (and yours) who suffers.  Well i decided to go the opposite approach, i started at the top. i e-mailed EVERYONE from my school teacher, her boss, and so on...... but i let my letter start where most complaints never end up, at the top, AND TRICKLE ITS WAY DOWN. i was told that the schools have extra funding, just to deal with special needs kids. and they have at least 1 if not 2 ta's  to assist them, so that "NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND".

I also know that kids are cruel, (and in my opinion , simply because they are as UN-educated in manors), as the teachers are in ADHD. Although unfortunate, the cruelty of the children is not as damaging to my son as the adult, whom he is supposed to trust, and look up to. And maybe if the teacher would act a little more professional, the children in the class may not be so aggressive and hurtful, after all they too are looking to these teachers to set the example.---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------

First, it has to be a nightmare for the teachers to teach 3 or 4 different groups of kids with different " learning styles" and "disabilities" in the same  classroom at the same time, plus most of the schools, specially in big cities, are overpopulated, and in many places teachers are underpaid. Who will pay the consequences of the teachers frustrations?  Our kids. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------

 Well again i just feel the need to put in my feelings on this.(AND PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL TEACHERS, I REALIZE THAT A FEW ROTTEN apples CAN SOMETIMES SPOIL THE WHOLE BUNCH.) I have had a couple of very very good teachers, entire staff at a school in fact, that were genuinely concerned about my son, and very dedicated to helping him overcome his obstacles and find a way to learn, and teach him. but i really feel strongly that the people I'm dealing with now, .... they act like they are wishing my son had never come to their school, they act as though ADHD is not a learning disability but bad upbringing. and it's these teachers who think of teaching our kids as being a nightmare. I'm sorry but if they don't enjoy teaching, or if they view challenges as problems then maybe they need to find a different line of work.  In any job their will be situations that are more difficult than others, thats what keeps a job interesting and worth while(at least for me) Wouldn't it be easy to just do the easy stuff and throw the rest away? Then again whats the point? I love my kids, and i will always be especially understanding and kind to the neighborhood child who everyone else See's as a pain, because i know you have to look a little deeper to find the special, mis-understood child inside. and sometimes show them how truly gifted and special they are. I also know my kids drive me nuts, so it's understandable that other people get annoyed, however not at the child's expense. I know my limit, and i don't do daycare, or teach. Point being, maybe they shouldn't either.----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------Now, for those who made the comment about:  if they will get " special Jobs: for ADHD people. An adult  with or without  ADHD  has  lot of choices, you can pick a job where your "incapacity" does not have to look so evident. Ex: If your are not too friendly,  find a job where you deal with machinery, not people. If you are slow, find a job where "speed" is not required. And so on... In school years you don't have the chance to pick ( the Subjects, schools schedule, etc, etc)  And lets not to forget than adults are way more sensible because we are more mature. So, we rarely will make fun of someone because of his/her incapacity. If anything, we will try to help them.------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

  Now for those of US who made the comment, I believe it was made in rebuttal to taking our children out of mainstream. Although i do understand your point, i disagree with you. at least where my child is concerned. I am home to support him, explain other peoples ignorant behavior, and assist him in learning how to function. In my opinion he's is much better off learning to deal with, and overcome his obstacle's right now as he grows, than being shielded and UN aware of what will eventually be expected of him, and what he'll be ultimately exposed to in the future. I want my child to succeed, and i know he's as smart if not more intelligent than his peers. He just needs to know that he is capable, and loved, and he is not bad or dumb. I believe in him, and i will protect him, but i will not let him think that he can be pushed out as some sort of outcast, and people can treat him as less than, just because he has a learning disability, he might need to try a little harder, or practice a little more but he can learn, and be just as good, and smart as everyone else. and he deserves to be treated with the same respect, and entitled to the same recognition as others on his level. AS far as adults are more sensible and mature ect.... THATS A BUNCH OF BULL..... IT'S THE ADULTS WHO DO THE MOST DAMAGE, ITS THE ADULTS INSENSITIVITY, AND LACK OF COMMON SENSE WHO SCAR CHILDREN THE MOST. AT LEAST "KIDS" DON'T REALLY KNOW ANY BETTER. AND CHILDREN ARE HURT FAR WORSE BY THE ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND WORDS OF AN ADULT.(ESPECIALLY SOME-ONE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK UP TO FOR GUIDANCE, SUPPORT, AND PROTECTION.) Adults are just as cruel to other adults, especially when in a group, or office setting. It's important to understand that ignorance is another huge dysfunction.

Any way just wanted to get a few things off my chest. just my personal experience, and  MY opinion at this time. Just goes to show how a bad experience can destroy faith.

Dear duques6511970:

Thank you for your comments, like I said before; this is about sharing experiences, information, ideas and  opinions. I don't get mad (like some people in this forum) when people don't agree with my comments or messages. I, actually, learned a lot with every response. Sometimes others see what I have not.

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Anyways, Let me say this one more time: I never said "special schools" will work for everyone, I never said parents should be forced to place their kids in those schools, I never said  they should be there for ever, I never said they should not have contact with the real world.  

   My question is: Why can't  people  just write a message saying: I don't think your idea of a Special schools will work because....?Sometimes I wonder if  they have the  "IWBUIYDHMO" disorder.        &nb sp;  (I will blow up if you don't have my opinion DISORDER) 

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I think duques6511970, you did not understand when I said:

Now, for those who made the comment about:  if they will get " special Jobs: for ADHD people (when they grow up). An adult  with or without  ADHD  has  lot of choices, you can pick a job where your "incapacity" does not have to look so evident. Ex: If your are not too friendly,  find a job where you deal with machinary, not people. If you are slow, find a job where "speed" is not required. And so on... In school years you don't have the chance to pick ( the Subjects, schools schedule, etc, etc)  And lets not to forget than adults are way more sensible because we are more mature. So, we rearly will make fun of someone because of his/her discapacity. If anything, we will try to help them.

I meant: adults in workplaces are more sensible and mature, so, rearly, they will make fun of other adults (co-workers) with discapacities.

 Good luck to all of you!!!!

I invite people who have read this TOPIC: Special Schools, to go to: THERE ARE SCHOOLS FOR OUR KIDS!! by Dina. I looks like I wasn't the only one with the idea of special schools, somebody before me realized they were necessary.

Good Luck!!!