Need Advice re: Teacher | ADHD Information

When a person has a preconceived notion about something, thier observations will be colored by that and will be unreliable. If you need feedback there are ways to get it. Including having the principal or special ed teacher observe in the classroom.

A friend of my husband's is anti-med and commented that my youngest looked "zombie-ish" because she was sitting quietly waiting for her turn on the video game. As my husband went to respond, both kids got up and ran screeming through the house because the other child got to the next level on the game. My husband replied that he did not see anything different about our daughter and let it drop. This person had been told that she is taking meds and he was looking for signs of her becoming the zombie that he had been told the meds did to kids. She was not even on the stimulant that day.

So its almost been 1 week now that DD has been taking her meds at school (5 mg in am 5 mgs again at 11:30, Ritalin.)  I've been noticing improvement in the work that comes home, her handwriting is actually legiable, and her practice spelling test came home yesterday, she only missed 2 (YEAH, big accomplishment she usually doesn't get any right.)  Well I dropped DD off at school this morning and ran into her teacher.  I asked the teacher if she thought she was doing better in class, the only response she would give me is, "she seems sedated."  I've known from the start that her teacher is pretty much against giving children medication, believe it has to do with her religion.  But what am I suppose to do when I can't get a straight answer out of her!!  DD doesn't seem sedated to me when she's on the meds, just calm and not going 100 miles a minute.  Any advice?  Thanks

Thanks for the support.  DD was so proud of herself for her spelling test, usually she hides them from me because she doesn't want me to see them.  I was so proud of her as well!!  I agree at this point that there is nothing I am going to be able to do to change the teachers mind.  Even though the teacher was the one telling me that DD couldn't sit in her seat, and that she kept getting up and disrupting the class, and didn't seem to be learning!!!  I feel like yelling at her, HELLO, if shes not doing that then the medicine is working!!  I think I will take your advice though, they have set up a Student Study Team for her and I have a meeting on December 7th with the principal, her teacher and the special ed coordinator.  I think I will ask at the point that someone come in and observe.  Thanks for the advice ;}I agree people that are anti meds will always see the worst. you do what you feel is best for your child!! :-)oh and congrats to your daughter for getting spellings words correct!!!! I wouldn't bother with her. Just ask someone else on the SST team to observe once in awhile, go in for a classroom observation yourself, and monitor your child's work that comes home. The school year will be over in 6 mos.Hi, my daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in Kindergarten and was put on Adderall which helped so much in the classroom.  Her K teacher asked me what was different and I told her she was on the meds.  Her K teacher was extremely supportive and understanding.  Her first grade teacher was also wonderful, very understanding of "bad days" when the meds just didnt seem to work.  Unfortunately, this year, her teacher who came out of a six year retirement to teach this class doesnt believe in medication and doesnt believe in the diagnosis of children with ADD or ADHD, she says "it wasnt like that in my time".  (I might add "her time" wasnt in this century, she needs to go back into retirement.  She also doesnt believe that mothers should work).  This teacher is not very easy to talk to, she's always right no matter what happens.  It is very hard when you have a teacher who is not understanding of children with medical conditions.  I am hoping this year goes quickly and next year we will have a teacher who has some compassion.  I agree with NoTellin, some teachers just want to complain about the kids. You're not trying to please her, just help your daughter, you know how she is and her work is showing improvement. Good for her. There are others on the team that can help you.

I'd let it go too.  By choosing the word "sedated" definately suggests a pre-conceived notion.  To me, "sedated" means a person is kind of sitting in a catatonic state, not moving, very passive , drugged.  I seriously doubt your daughter's behavior was that way but the teacher probably did see a dramatic difference and being antidrug chose that word.

What does this teacher want from your daughter anyway?  She seems to be doing better and as long as she isn't sleeping at her desk I think the teacher should be happy.

If you feel any "antimedication" vibes in the future, I'd address it with the principal.

Can you request another teacher I would. 

I'm sure I could, but being half way through the school year don't know if I want to get all acclimated and all to a new teacher.  The SST meeting is Friday, so i'll get the chance to talk with the Special Education director, who saw that Taylor was ADHD in Kindergarden.  I think at this point i'm going to stick it out with this teacher and continue to monitor her work as it comes home.  The teacher isn't going to be able to argue the fact that she's doing better in her work.