It's funny how adhd changes things! And Moms! I was never the type to request a teacher- I thought kids were supposed to learn to get along with all types of people and I should cooperate and not make extra demands on the school. Then my son was diagnosed with adhd at the end of 3rd grade and his school closed and he had to move to a different district school. I knew none of the teachers over there. I spoke to the principal, and when I filled out the forms I didn't request a specific teacher just asked for one with the patience and knowledge to deal with adhd. I was lucky we got a great teacher- but now that I've been here a while I see that this is a very strong, supportive principal, and I don't know if this would have worked at other schools. Maybe you should ask the school Social Worker to describe the teachers in the next grade that would be good, then use those exact descriptions to fill out the forms! The right teacher can make such a difference for our adhd kids. The age thing is funny- - I feel like they can't be too young or they may not have experienced enough adhd kids and will be completely flummoxed by my son, but his 3rd grade teacher was also close to retirement and seeming to coast. She was patient and kind, but she seemed to just send home the paragraphs to write instead of getting him to do any of it in school. For the positive feed back part of the report card she told me he was "smart and a good boy" but wouldn't do his work. I ask for structure and consistency- but the thing that helps my son the most is the teachers who like him! This year's teacher called him "witty, intelligent, and a deep thinker." This teacher engages my son more because she enjoys my son more. But how do you ask for that?
our school system does not let you request certain teachers. we are in a small public school system, roughly 7 grades of each class...but those are the same kids k-12, no other schools join in. graduating glass around 200.
anyways...i volunteer enough at the school and i *think* that the school does try to help place the involved parents kids with special considerations:) :) :) we were new to the school last year and my dd had a teacher that was probably the poorest that she has ever had. this year...i *like her teacher, but we are not getting the feedback like i would like. having said that...i know we can go the IEP route in the future...but in my dd's case i'm not sure if that is necessary at this time. things have really improved since we started her on a med:) my non adhd kid has had 2 AMAZING teachers...WOW teachers.
i'm babbling...but i know that when i talked to the school social worker in late fall she did say on the phone that my dd's current teacher isn't who she would recommend for an adhd child. ideally...that is. my dd loves her teacher and overall she is following thru on assignments, and is keeping organized with her day timer, etc which is an improvement from last year. my son, non adhd, just has a teacher that would go out of her way to let me know if he had an *off day, or didn't seem quite right...make sense. that's the kind of teacher that i want for my dd next year:) :) :) my son has had 2 "younger" teachers and my dd has had the "old school, more grandma style ones. i know that age doesn't always play a factor, but i know that her teacher was "coasting"...her husband recently retired, etc and she just didn't seem to be giving it her all.
every spring we are told we cannot request certain teachers...but i thought i'd ask you for ideas on what type of teacher you think works best with adhd kids. i realize that each kid is different to some extent, but i thought i'd just see what you all thought as parents. i know that i do want an increase in communication in the future, and all i would ask for is a one minute email every friday on how the week went. my dd's adhd is not so severe that she is causing behavioral issues, etc. she just wasn't doing up to her potential before meds.
i just want a SPECTACULAR teacher next year for my dd. she deserves it. and i know that there are many in this school system. we moved to this district due to all the positives we had heard.
last year i filled out a form on both kids and i was so impressed that the principal of the elementary school actually called me to discuss my son and his placement. amazing!!!!! he didn't get the teacher i thought he would get in the end, but he got one that has worked really well with his personality and mine:)
what kinds of personality traits/learning practices would you ask for? this will be my last year before she hits middle school...eeeccckkk, that will be a whole new saga at that point:) :) :)
shelley