upset with the teacher | ADHD Information
nope I am not a teacher. Just a stay at home mom =]
4myadhd son - maybe I have mixed up users, but I thought you are an elementary school teacher?I will tell the store. More or less to kind of vent my stress because I know most of you know what i am going through. I got my daughters dr appt mixed up thought it was this week and it is actually this next week. Well we ran out of her meds. I sent her to school any ways because has missed at least 1 day a month or more of school each of the months so figured hey the teacher should be able to handle it. Well I get a phone call on Thursday from her teacher. I understand that kids with ADHD are a handle most of the time and he tries but come on. you can usually tell when a kid is not on their meds. He called to tell me how bad she was on Thursday that she was sent to the office like 10 times. I was so mad and felt so bad for her I cried after I got off the phone with him. He is always asking us if she is on meds and we tell him yes and then thursday I told him she had been out he is like oh that explains allot I guess the medication does work. I wanted to say durrrr hehehe. I am going to talk to the dr and start the process for the IEP and I hope that i can get her a aid that stays with her through out the day. She needs it. it breaks my heart that she has to go through this kind of stuff at school. She has another girl in her class with the same thing and they get along great but what about next year when they are not in the same class =[ so many things to worry about and just want the best for your child. You never want to get that phone call saying your kid is bad or they are doing this or that makes you feel like you are a bad parent =[ sorry for venting just had to get it out.
Don't worry about venting. That's what we are here for!
I've had similar issues with the attitude of teachers. I'm currently planning for my son's next IEP. I have listed all his symptoms and all the things I expect the teachers to do to assist my son to be successful. I tell you, I walked out on a meeting with his teachers a week ago, because it was so negative. I have written letters, sent emails to all the administrators to let this be known. I have never been so angry in all my life! So...make yourself be heard, even if you have to go above the teacher's head. There needs to be better training for the teachers.
I have found with some of the teachers that they just don't care any more. They are there to get a paycheck and that is it and we have made them that way. It ruins it for the parents that do care and also the teachers that do care. I am not saying her teacher is a bad person but I wish they would be a little more understanding. It seems like they think you are making up a excuse for them having ADHD but do they really understand what a kid goes through that has this?
I AM an elementary school teacher, and an ADHD mom. I understand your frustration. Please also try to understand the teacher's frustration as well. While I don't agree with the teacher's methods, it is extremely hard to have some children that are ADHD in the classroom when they do not have meds. Especially when you are used to seeing this child's behavior being controlled, then suddenly they seem out of control. I do understand what an ADHD child goes through, and I know how frustrating it is. Just please try to understand that while it's frustrating for you to deal with the behaviors at home, it is even more frustrationg for teachers to have to deal with it in the classroom while being expected to keep 21 other little bodies under control AND still teach them something. Most principals do not want to hear "little Johnny did not take his meds; that's why his test scores are so low"; they only care about the bottom line. So again, while I am not trying to say that the teacher was completely justified in the way he acted, please understand that there are always two sides to every story.
Mistakes happen and you ran out of meds. Communicate with the teacher
through email or a note if possible when these things arise. I write a note
to my daughters teacher and let her know if our morning is really difficult
to give her a heads up that it might be a tough day. My daughters teacher
is GREAT, but I can feel for her. I know how on edge I get dealing with only
one adhd child, and I can't imagine having her and 20 more kids. It sounds
like you are doing everything you can to help your child be successful and I
wish you luck. On a postive note, yeah that the meds are working! I do understand how hard it is for teachers. I have a whole family of teachers =] but seems like all the teacher cares about is if my daughter is always medicated. I know the meds are a big part of helping her out right now but upset that when I asked if their was any more programs that could help her he looked away and said no. Also the fact that when i did tell him we ran out of meds he kept going on about how mad she was that day. It is hard for the teachers and some teachers can handle it and some can't. I agree with mamamia to send notes. I will have to start doing that. I am going to talk to the school either today or tomorrow and get the IEP started. Talked to the dr yesterday and she thinks having a aid with Allison throughout the day would help her out allot with her schooling. Thank you all for posting your comments it helps me in so many different ways. I know I was more less venting and it is frustrating when you are trying to do the best you can and stuff like that pops up in your face. I feel for my daughter and it breaks my heart to see her treated like this.
purplemama81, any chance to request the other girl in your daughters class this year to be with her next year? It sure can't hurt.
I think the teacher sounds like he has labeled your daughter. did she really need to be sent to the office all those times?
Hang in there, and keep advocating for your daughter!!
We are here for you when you need us! 
yeah that is a good idea. when I go into the school to see if they will evaluate her I will ask if they can be put in the same class again. I think it would help me both out in the long end. We might be moving to a another town which will be hard but either way i am going to make sure she gets the help she needs now that I know