Poll: So how is the new school year going | ADHD Information
DS, 7, 1st grade (again) doing well in reading and math and spelling. Not doing well with staying on task, following directions, behavior, talking. We are working on it!8th grade MOOOOOCHO better this year. (so far, i say very cautiously)Getting right to homework, reading better, focusing and concentrating better in class with distractions, overall calmer and in better attotide, less arguementive and more compliant, more organized with shoolwork, seems to really care more about school and enjoy it more, doing better on tests, happier about it and succeeding, etc., etc., etc.
doing much better this year :)
11 yr old is at middle school (add,tbi) doing great and making friends
10yr old is in 4th grd. Upgrade on meds has increased his focus, his speech continues to get better every day
7 yr old in second grade: i am homeschooling him and loving it :)
2 dogs heheh had to throw them in, their my baby girls, i swear they have adhd :) they are being schooled as well, not to jump on the table during meal time, and they are great support for my boys, even more hugs and kisses
overall so far so good :)
I posted this under "School" but thought I would put it here too.
I'm interested how it's going for you and your kids so far! the good and the bad?
We just finished our first week:
ds (adhd) 17 senior: "It's alright. I have good classes, but I will have too much homework and I won't be able to sleep at night"
ds 14 freshman: "It's long & I have homework, but I can see my friends and I have good teachers."
dd 20 college senior: no report yet!
me : new job (sign language interpreter) in a different school district (at high school) I'm having fun in a new setting but boy am I tired! Interpreting does crazy things to your head. Yes, it is a long day! After two difficult (to say the least!) years of middle school, swimming upstream against ADD and (at times) stupid teachers, Pat is thriving. He started the Daytrana patch a day before school started and has been doing great on it. He's got a tremendous group of teachers and we've gotten comments from them like: "very focused," "a hard worker," "doing well" and "a pleasure to have in class."
I know not everyone has had the success that we've had so far this year, but I hope this offers some hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it's not an oncoming train. Pat did a lot of maturing this summer and I know that's one of the reasons he's done so well.
I also want to say thank you to anyone who's ever read/responded to any of my posts and to everyone who posts here. I've been hanging around for more than a year now with more than 1,000 posts under my belt. I've gotten a lot of valuable advice, encouragement and ideas on this board as well as many chortles, chuckles and guffaws(check out the Paris Hilton thread on the hang out board!). We wouldn't have the success I've seen if it wasn't for all of you. I hope that I've provided a little bit of the same to you all.
God Bless All of You! I'm glad I found this board!
Susie
my children have only been back a few days so its early yet to do a progress report on school,
they keep the same form tutor for the five years that they are at the school and the same head of year,
son about to turn 15(adhd) never had bad behaviour at school got a merit in english for his poem
daughter about to turn 13,(classed normal) all she thinks about is her boyfriend and her upcomming birthday hopefully she will be more focussed on her school work this year than her friends problems
daughter 19(dislexic) claiming dole because shes not qualified to work and her self esteem is low very diapointed after being turned down a couse she applied for
daughter 22(learning dificulties and behavioural problems add) attends a day care center for the disabled as long as they dont change her bus driver she is ok
My girl started just wednesday and too early to tell and she is off meds. Oh and out of the first 3 days of 2nd grade she got sent home thursday for pink eye. I will get back to this poll later.Mostly, its been okay so far.
I imagine we are doing well. We made it through the first week of school and did not get a note or call from the teacher. My husband has been hounding me to call the teacher ...I said I wanted the teacher to get to know him. He has done his homework and seems happy. He tells me he is behaving very good . We had a pretty good year last year and I am hoping for the same.
Called his teacher at home tonight to tell her about his dx and problems with the meds. She is CLUELESS. His early childhood teacher and child psycholist from school didn't share any of his background with her!!! After I told her about his dx she was shocked...then she paused and said now that you mention it he is very easily distracted and I have to redirect him on almost every activity. I was considering moving some of the boys around to help with the distractions... I wonder how long it would have taken her to contact me to let me know about his distraction!!! School is so frustrating some times. I guess that means that I will have to check in with her frequently and not rely on her calling me or sending a note.
School started Aug. 24 here. My daughter was out for 2 days last week with what they believe was a migraine. So far, she appears to like school. Her best friend from her former school is now attending the same school, so she's happy. They are not in the same class, but are together at recess. I'm not getting communication from the teacher like I would prefer to concerning her progress, but open house is this week, and I will speak to her about this then.
Our non-ADHD son is a sophmore this year, and likes the social aspects-hates the academics.
My 13 year old son started 8th grade on Aug 21. So far I am cautiously optimistic. My son started the new year with a revised Concerta doseage and so far it seems to be working well at school. We are still trying to refine the afternoon Focalin dose to cover homework time.
I am working very closely this year with my son's therapist on transferring "ownership" for homework and missing assignments over to my son. In 6th grade I helped him tremendously with keeping up and organizing because it was his first year in middle school. It was a difficult transition to say the least. In addition to an IEP w/mods....my son worked with a school-coach (www.school-coach.com ) who helped him with study skills, teacher communications, problem-solving, social skills, etc.
Last year in 7th, we continued with the school-coach plus also brought in a math tutor. I continued to heavily involved myself (more like OVER involve myself) in helping him keep up with assignments, talk to teachers, problem solve, etc.
Now.....in 8th grade, with the advice and support both the school and his therapist...... I am pulling back and letting him take more ownership. We have set up all the supports in place......but HE has to choose to use them. This year it is more about self-initiative. No.....we haven't just decided to abandon him and we are standing by to give moral support and advice WHEN HE ASKS FOR IT.
This is HARD for me......VERY hard. In fact, I myself am in therapy to better understand why I am having such a hard time letting him take more control. I tend to be a control freak.....and I know it will hurt my son and his development. ADHD kids. like ALL kids, have to learn to be responsible for their actions/choices and suffer consequences.
For example..... a couple of days ago I received an automated email report of my son's current grade status for each subject listing each graded assignment so far for the year. (Our school district has a WONDERFUL parent notification procedure that is directly linked to the grading software at school) In math, my son had 4 missing, 0 grade assignments. Now.....I predicted this would happen pretty quickly because I have agreed not to do as I've done in the past and hound him everyday about his homework and whether or not he had done it. Instead....this year I smile and remain calm and each afternoon I simply ask my son if he's done his homework (my son's therapist doesn't even want me to do this!) and I do not get involved any further....unless my son ASKS for help. When my son tells me he either has none, or has finished it, I simply say OK. No more discussion.
Of course....... its obvious that my son has either lied or been clueless about homework that is due because he has 4 missed assignments already. Now that he has missing work.......the consequence that we have agreed upon, via written contract, kicks in. Loss of computer priviledge. The one thing he CHERISHES! When I get the email showing a missing assignment, I simply print it out and show it to him and tell him to take care of it. All I say is "Gee..... interesting choice you made here not turning that homework in. " I don't argue, engage and debate, rub it in his face, etc. I do ask if there is any help he needs in support of the assignment.....but thats it. Its his baby at that point.
When our ADHD children get to this age with high school fast approaching, they really do have to learn to make wise choices concerning homework, school behavior, etc. My son's therapist reminds me each session that there are 3 main expectations that my son has to learn in order to be successful as an adult: 1. He has to learn to get to his job (right now school) on time, 2. He has to learn that he must do his work in order to keep a job (homework ), and 3. He has to learn to respect and get along with others. At home, we put in place a consequence for the times my son fails to make good choices in these 3 areas. Bottom line......he has to go to school ON TIME, he has to do his work ON TIME, and he has to get along with others. We don't get bogged down in all the other little stuff.
It remains to be seen how this approach is going to work the rest of the year! One thing for sure.......transferring the "ownership" over to my son for all this homework responsibility has taken tremendous pressure off me! 
I hope it lasts and I don't panic and start trying to rush in and rescue him!
Okiemom
Third grade rocks so far! My son was so happy after the first day! I asked him what was the best thing about the first day ( hoping to God that there was something) and he said," Can I tell you ten things?" WOO-HOO!! Of course, I realize that the first two weeks are a "honeymoon" phase with a new teacher, but I'm so optimistic. He's taking Focalin right now with no adverse side affects, so I knock wood every day.
School started 8/23 here. DD age 10 (ADD and a few other things)started a new school, as 5th grade is Middle School here. Lots of anxiety (for her and me 
) leading up to the first day. The first week was way worse than anticipated as far as her mood & behavior went. I had thoughts of running away!
Since then, everything seems to be going well. She loves her homeroom teacher. Says he really makes school fun! That took away lots of my anxiety too, because I was anxious about how she would relate to having a man for the first time. I might add he is also new to the district and only on his 2nd year teaching. I didn't have any concerns about him only being on his 2nd year teaching, because I think these young, new teacher's bring a lot of fresh, innovative, ideas to the classroom. I was a little concerned about him being new to the district simply because that meant I couldn't ask anyone what they/their child thought about him. That's OK too though. Better if we form our own opinions, huh? Out of the other 5 "subject" teacher's she has, she says one seems pretty mean and the rest are all nice. I met with all of them last week and they reported DD is doing well, none of them have any concerns at this point, they all seemed very willing to help with accommodations if any are needed, etc.!
Then today, HOMEROOM TEACHER CALLED ME. 
Just to say that DD was doing great so far! Said he had given lots of math assesments (Math is always my biggest concern), she had done really well on all of them, he was very pleased, and did I have any questions or concerns? To quote my husband, "I like this man more & more every day!" How nice was that?
We hope the rest of the year can continue down this good path!
MamaBear
Four weeks, now. My thirteen-year-old ADHD/dyslexic son is doing very well academically. He just brought home his first progress report, and he had four A's, 3 B's, and one C. 
Getting him to read and do his homework is a nightmare though! 
School is going I guess that you could say. I was so skeptical about it but now that we are in the swing of things all is well.
11 year old daughter (6th grade) fabulous, no problems.
8 year old daughter (3rd grade) fabulous, add, lds. The school has just changed her iep and things are moving along. I love her teacher I think that this just might be a good year!!
Two weeks of school and no notes or calls. We have the same teacher and kids as last year so this has helped greatly. Also started concerta in August and really has helped with focus and behavior issues. I have an email into the teacher, but haven't heard back yet. My son says he is happy and not getting into trouble, but I wanted to double check.
Mars
School started Aug. 15th here. We had to kind of kick them in the tush to implement her IEP classroom accommodations, but we are on the right track now. DD actually got a perfect score on her spelling test last week, which is a minor miracle! She got a C- the week before. She came up with a plan to raise her grade, and she did it! We are not having nearly the problems we had last fall, so life is good!Sons report shows good progress towards his iep goals. Better results than his reports from his last school.So far so good. It has been two weeks and her behavior has been "superb" as quoted by her teacher. This is a miracle. Keeping her on task is another issue though.
Homework is way less than what was in Kindergarden but she still fights it tooth and nail. Got her results from the SAT 10 test last year. She scored in the 98th percentile, even did well in the listening portion of the test. How is that possible?????