I would get a diagnosis first, then you know exactly what you are dealing with. It may be hard to get one at 5, since he is so young, but all Psych's are different. DD's won't even see anyone under age 7.
After you have the diagnosis and the report, send a letter, certified mail, asking for an educational evalution, don't mention ADHD , just an ed eval. They then have 60 days to complete the evaluation, as stated by IDEA.
There is an education board here, you may get more help there.
Wait until you have your evaluation report before asking the school to evaluate. Based on your interaction with the VP, this is the best strategy.
I think that you need to be very careful when you approach this teacher because the evaluation process takes a LONG time and you will probably be dealing with this teacher with no help until nearly the end of the year. I would not bring up the yelling or say anything negative. Walk in with solutions, and I mean do your research and have LOTS of suggestions for her. Give her your email, cell phone, home number. Be an active participant. Ask her if she needs any supplies (not at this meeting, though). Go on the field trips. Fill any volunteer position in her classroom that is still open. She really could make the next nine months misery for you.
You might want to start by identifying one or two target behaviors with the teacher. Small, specific behaviors. Not "following instructions." Something like ** will not break any crayons today. The teacher rates him on this one thing for each of the three hours, and just checks some simple form and sticks it in his backpack. You give a reward at home and tell him how completely fabulous he is. Then after a week of success you move on to the next very specific behavior.
You also might want to suggest that he have breaks. Maybe if he is disrupting circle time, he just needs to go in the corner and play with legos for five minutes, and then he can return.
NoTellin39358.8889467593I agree with NoTellin. Get your evaluations first then request an IEP. Aarons Mom is right to request it in writing, address it to the teacher and cc the principal and the city/town special education director. Start a notebook and document all communication with the school. Print emails and save them, documetn verbal communication with a follow up email, "thank you for your time discussing my son today" and touch on the topics of converasation. If/when the time ocmes to reuqest the eval, you have all this data to include in your request. I personally would hand deliver it and request the date stamp and then ask them to copy it and give you a copy. Yes they then have to evaluate in 60 school days. As NoTellin says expect this take most of the school year. They move very slowly. Know that ahead to help avoid your frustration. I also agree to try not to go into school telling them what they are doing wrong or not doing. Just keep it positive, but be firm. Let them know what you're doing at home that works and you are hoping that by working together you can make this a positive year for your child. Good luck, I dont envy you. I also have been going against the tide of school since my daughter was in Kindergarten (she is now in 7th grade).Thanks for all you help and advice. I have started to document the conversations I have with my son so I can give a better account to the therapists. I will be more diligent about copying notes that I send to school. I truly want to be seen as an advocate not an enemy or a bully. I am also a teacher. Not acedemic, I teach classical ballet. I have taught adhd kids for years from 3-18. I know that most of the time I fight their own perceptions of themselves rather than the adhd. I also know how frustrating it is not to be able to move in the direction you have planned for the class because of the needs of that child. It is frustratring for all. Trying to get that empathy across to the teacher is what I want. Your word of wisdom have truly helped. Any other suggestions are still welcome. Thank you being willing to be here to support others. It is a gift that will bless others beyond what you know. Good luck to all of you in your own endevors.Kindergarten is rough for our kids. It's new, hard to sit still, to much stimuli for them. Request a special education evaluation for your son in writing. Send it certified or take it in and get it date stamped in office. Keep a copy for yourself. Keep every bit of paper you get or send to school concerning your son's behavior. Be nice, but be firm. I would also ask the teacher about her yelling at your son, that is completely uncalled for and unprofessional. She will probably not admit to it, but maybe you can give her some ideas about how to deal and motivate your son in the classroom. They will not do an evaluation unless in writing, by law they have to do it if you do it in writing. They have I think 60 days. Someone here will know better than me.
Hi, I am new here and am hoping to get some support. My 5-year-old-son is currently being tested for adhd. We are seeing both a psychotherapist and a clinical psychologist to get a full comprehensive evaluation. I held him out of kindergarten at the first of the year because I was worried about him being a bit too young. He just barely turned 5. Then because of loosing my job I had to pull him from the private pre-school he was attending.
I spoke to the guidence counselor before enrolling him and told them of my concerns with possible adhd and that I was going to have him tested. I explained to the VP the situation and that I knew he would be a handful. I asked for a good teacher placement and a child study as soon as possible so that we can work out an IEP for him. I was met by her with resistance. As though I was out of place by bringing this to their attention instead of them contacting me. They placed him in a class because they were trying to balance things out. She needed a boy. The VP defensively assured me that all the teachers were very experienced. I was very frustrated but decided to give it a chance. On his first day of school when I met the teacher I asked if the VP had talked with her about my son. She knew nothing about him other than she was getting a new student. I had 30 seconds to tell her I was starting testing.
It has been a week and the behavior reports are what I expected. calling out during circle time. not keeping his hands to himself. Pretending to clip others with scissors, breaking crayons, . . today I talked with him about how things were going. I found out that he is being yelled at by the teacher. she is yelling "DO YOUR WORK". I am so frustrated !!!
Jaden's self esteem is still in great shape. He is the youngest of 5 children. The other siblings are a bit older and encourage and praise him. Our home is orderly, structured, he has responsibilities that he meets very well. He has consequences that he can count on.
My greatest fear is that Jaden will believe the perception the teacher has of him. That he is trouble and a burden that complicates her day. I know the power that that perception has on his peers. A little boy at target the other day say us and when his mother asked her son Jaden's name his response was "he's always in trouble". I am much more worried about that factor than the adhd. Tomorrow my husband and I have a goal setting conference with his teacher. I need her as part of our team. She a vital to Jaden's well being. Any advice on how to approach this with her would be much appreciated.
Thank you all.
I just realized that i didn't make it clear that I have now enrolled him in public kindergarten because it is free and I can't afford the other school.Been there before i had a teacher who would not communicate with me. Have you tried to call this teacher? If you get no response call the Principal. Did you write a letter to the CSE (Committee on Special Education)? That is the first step in getting an IEP also did you already do so? If not do so to get the ball rolling and they have 3o school days to respond to you for a meeting and to do necessary testing. Either your post confused me or I am tired. I wish you the best. Worse case scenario if you had to contact the Principal request another teacher. Actually you can have the school do theirs first and if you still want a second opinion you request in writing to the school whom you want and why and they can be responsible for paying for it unless you do not mind. I have to agree. I had 2 years of trouble. My son kept telling me this or that and I felt the teacher wasn't working with me. I finally met with the teacher and principal and said we all need to help him, how can I help you Mrs XX to teach my son. I am more than willing to be here, be available, daily communications, etc. It worked out better but he was still a handful and she knew I was backing the school. Then he was diagnosed in 1st grade and that teacher worked wonders with him but it took 4-5 months for the evaluation. so that was the toughest 4-5 months of my life. she found something he liked and rewarded him with that daily. for him, he loves stuffed animals. so he could bring one and put it on the counter. if he finished his work early or behaved, he could have it for a few minutes. no one else could have one but because of the circumstances it worked for him. 2nd grade this year, teacher is doing the same thing. He is doing 100% better and realizes he gets this little bit of special treatment but due to his condition if it works, that is what matters most. he gets A+ now and has a ton of friends and is WELL behaved for once.what I was getting at in my post is maybe there is something special that the teacher can learn of that will help his behavior/study habits. maybe you know of one special thing he might enjoy if he does well or has good actions for one hour, he gets to hold something (book, stuffed toy, car) and then he can put it away for a few minutes til he makes it to antoehr milestone. rewards, almost constantly, work well withmy son.