Mad, Sad & Frustrated! | ADHD Information

All of the kids have their names at their seats. Hubby complained to the school board. I asked son about his desk yesterday (in a very laid back sort of way) and he said they changed tables again and that he's now at the No. 2 table with a couple of his friends. So looks like the phone call worked. I'm excited about the IEP and getting some things in place but so worried about the actual follow through and policing of teacher and principal. Argh!They put his NAME on it? Whatever for?

That would be the first question, for me. {did he say he wanted his name on the table?}

Please let us know how the meeting goes.

I also hate the corner table and sitting alone. It is a flag for the kids to label, as well as the beginning of them chipping away at your son's self esteem!! 

Let them also know that you saw the table and want him moved NOW!! 

BETHANN39797.9487962963

I hate school more than any kid on earth! As background, my son is 6 and in all-day kindergarten. He's on Vyvanse for impulsivity, hyperactivity. We're still in a bit of a discovery phase as we think we may be dealing with some anxiety and/or OCD as well. He also can be very shy at school and is likely gifted ...

Anyway, I went back into school with my son last week to retrieve the snow boots he forgot and noticed his nametag on a single desk located in the far corner of the room. I asked him why he wasn't sitting at a table with all of the other kids. He said he didn't like the yellow table (which is smaller and thus different than the others; a quirk he has when things are different) so the teacher made him sit at the desk. I asked if he was offered a spot at one of the other tables and he said no, but said he'd be OK sitting at any table but the yellow one.

I was furious and about to cry at the thought of my son being shoved into the corner and labeled the problem child for all of the other kids and any parents who visited the classroom to see. How on earth could this possibly help a little boy who already needs encouragement socially? How could they even view this as an accaptable situation? I understand that there are rules and all, but with a little boy showing a lot of anxiety, giving him an unfair choice like the yellow table that he can't handle or an isolated desk is ridiculous! If he was interfering with other kids' work or whatever, fine, but that's not the case. I can't stand the teacher or the principal and what they're doing to my son.

Anyway, we have an IEP meeting tomorrow and have involved the school district, so hopefully we'll get some help. We're this close to hiring an education advocate/attorney.

Hope everyone else is doing better than we are!

Thanks for listening. :)

Speaking as an educator and parent--the stick the kid in a corner thing is really obnoxious.

I understand why for young kids, having name cards on desks makes sense. Actually, I also ask my college students to hang a sticky note on their desks for a few days so everyone can learn each others names before we begin class discussions. We only do it until everyone knows each other. It enhances their interaction when they can call one another by name (and it helps me, too).

But the desk in the corner thing is mean. It is old fashioned. If a child was blind or deaf, would they be treated in this fashion? No. Why does the ADD/ADHD exceptionality require it, either? It doesn't.

I'm glad to hear that your DS got to sit with the other kids. Be as involved as you can with writing the IEP. Make sure you get copies of everything. Ask questions. Let us know what happens==I hope it is a good experience and helpful to your DS.

Dee




I'm so glad he's with his little buddies

One step at a time--First the IEP--then the world!