Hi,
I am really new here, and I am so beside myself about my son. He is 10 and the sweetest, kindest boy. He was just diagnosed with ADHD this last week. The same day we also happened to have his parent/teacher conference. they required all the children to attend this, which felt funny to me anyhow. I took him.
I presented to both the 5th grade teachers his diagnosis at the VERY BEGINNING of the conference, they gazed at me (both) arms crossed, and said "Well, that is no big suprise". I knew right there the rest was down-hill. They made my son conduct his own confernence, the teachers only interupted to tell me how disruptive he is in class, how the children find him annoying etc. One had the nerve to tell Billy "do you remember today how you inappropriatly announced you were leaving and the kids said good?" My heart just broke, and yet at the same time I wanted to tear both of them to bits. They continued to do nothing but drill him on how disruptive, annoying and bad he is. I came away from that confernece with nothing but how "bad" my boy is, and no suggestions on helping his failing grades, or anything remotely possitive. Now I understand why all the sudden he hates school and I have to fight with him to get him to go. This was never an issue before this year. There are other boys threatening him with harm, and I just wonder if the teachers are helping him or just acting like they see nothing and "he gets what he deserves"
I am just beginning to fight. Tomorrow morning I meet with our elementary school principal. We are a small rural school. I have reviewed the laws, know somewhat what I can have done for him in the way of tutors and such. My heart just breaks for my baby.
I wondered if anyone has some additional insight or suggestions on handling this? I do not want to loose my cool and make things worse for him, HOWEVER I definetly want them to know they are on notice. I would give my life for my son and this type of treatment , no matter how "annoying" they find my son is unacceptible.
Luckly, Billy did not seem to notice the teachers just repeatly kept "slamming" him in this meeting. Poor guy.
Thanks in advance for any advice. And thanks for having this forum for a frustrated mother to vent, and try and find a way to help her son and support him to his fullest.
You need to make an appointment with the school psycologist, & enlist their help in dealing with the teachers. You should explain that you really hit a wall in dealing directly with the teachers & you thought the psycologist might be able to explain things better to the teachers & offer some ways to help when you son is having problems in the classroom. After your conference with the psycologist, schedule another one with both teachers & the psycologist so everyone is on the same page.
You do not want to be a pain, but you do want to be your childs advocate. Good luck!