I just wanted to add that the writing problem is a writing disability called Dysgraphia. It is very common with children that have ADHD and learning disabilities. The teacher cannot penalize the child for what he has no control over. Because Dysgraphia is so common amongst those with ADHD, a computer lap top is used for long assignments and homework and added in as an accomodation if the child is recceiving special services. This teacher is clueless and needs a serious reality check. She is also violating the law if she is not following the 504 plan. She just cant do what she wants and not be held accountable. ADHD is a legal disability and if the school is viewing it as anything other than that then they are in violation of the law as well. If the 504 is not being honored contact the supervisor of special education in the school and call a meeting but go in there armed with information. Make sure the supervisor of special education is at this meeting as they act as your advocate. If the school continues to make the rules as they go along after several attempts on your part to get everyone on the same page, contact the district superintendent but in the mean time start a paper trail. Below is information on Dysgraphia. Perhaps you should print out the information and bring it with you to the meeting in order to educate and enlighten these so called educators
Good for you getting the meeting with the principal. I wouldn't haveheatherr1,
how is it going?? Have you had any feedback from the teacher/school?
I am late responding but I say you go over the teacher's head and talk to principal and superintendant.
Call a meeting if necessary!!
Please let us know how you are all doing!!
DS is in 5th grade. He is typical ADHD with hyperactivity and impulsivity. He is on a 504 plan(teacher does not follow) for a few accommodations such as a behavior plan with tangible reinforcers, teacher helping to make sure that papers come home and are turned in, chunking assignments, and preferential seating. We are also supposed to have a system of "teacher/parent communication".
DS has really struggled this year with writing, typical of ADHD. One area that she consistently marks off for is handwriting. We have never had this problem before because his teachers were more experienced and understanding, and were happy that he has got something on paper, and they helped him with his handwriting, but he rarely got marked off. It is totally legible, but it is not completely neat. In January he completed a take home project. He had two weeks to finish it. We broke it down for him at home, and he completed it little by little and turned it in on the due date. Today on the school system website I looked up his grade. It is an 83/100. I thought it was low, and suspected that he had been counted off because of neatness. He worked HARD on it here at home, and the parts that he handwrote he wrote over and over until it was ready to use. The major retelling of the story was typed to avoid the neatness situation. So I called the teacher to ask her how she graded his handwriting...
I told her that I don't understand how he can be held to the same standard as everyone else for handwriting when he is not of the same ability as everyone else in that area. Kids with ADHD typically have problems with handwriting, and are often a few years behind their peers in this area. She said that she holds everyone to the same standard, including my son. She said that if she lowers the bar for him he will continue to do the "mediocre" work he is doing now. I told her that this work is the best that the can do right now, he is doing it to this ability and should be graded as such. She wants him to feel successful by trying harder to get it right. I asked her how can he feel successful when he does the best of his ability and gets graded down?
Also, she never answers emails. The class is doing a new thing starting this week. My son brought home some papers on Monday, and I asked him if they were homework. He said that he couldn't remember. I emailed her that night, never heard back. I emailed her again today, never heard back. Since I was on the phone with her I decided to ask her about it. She told me that she explained it to DS yesterday and told him to tell me. WHAT?! He is a 10yo with ADHD who has to write everything down! Does that seem like a good idea? I almost laughed when she told me that. She told me that she did it that way because she is trying to give him more responsibility for his work, instead of using us for a crutch...Excuse me?! I told her that in the future, unless she plans to call or email to be sure that we have received the message that it is preferable that she email or call me. Duh!
I want to know if I am out of line here. I DO NOT expect him to be babied, or to receive unfair treatment. We make sure that he does every assignment, everything that she requires of him But, in guaranteeing a "free and appropriate" education he is supposed to be "equaled" with his peers, that is what the 504 is for. She said that this is an area where we may just disagree, I told her I am trying to understand but that I am not satisfied with her answer. I know at that point I may have crossed the line, but this year has just been one big power struggle to see who is the boss. I told her that I totally respect what she does in the classroom, and I know that she is the teacher and makes the rules, I understand that. But, I am meeting with the principal tomorrow to discuss this situation, plus others this year, and to frankly ask if it is the view of the school that ADHD is more of a cop-out than a legitimate condition. This is a 5-8 school, and DS in in the 5th grade, I don't know how I am going to make it three more years!
Thanks for reading!
Heather