Sorry, I am just beyond angry. Every night since school started after Christmas break my child has not only 2 pages of homework to do but also school work that she didn't get completed during the day. The first week back she had an appt and I sent a form the doctor uses to determine the effectivness of the medicene. The teacher gave a great report, thus the doctor didn't change her med.
Today, she comes home with 5 pages of schoolwork on top of two pages of homework. After school her medicene has worn off so, I find myself constantly fighting her to just get the work done. So far we have spent an hour on one worksheet. I am losing my mind!!!!!!!
I just don't get how her teacher and assistant teacher can sit there day after day and not see an issue. She is suspose to be in the Tier 2 system but there has been no evidence of it. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, most of my advice is probably stuff you've heard before. I'm assuming that your daughter doesn't have an IEP? If not, is that a possibility? You could stipulate that her homework be limited. Also, break the homework into chunks, with playtime in between. Beyond that, just let the teachers know that you are willing to allot a certain amount of time in each class to homework and after that, it will not get done.Ohhh, I am sorry... I too can feel like those faces on your post. My reasons are different, but ADHD kids can be very hard - even though we love them soo much and they are good kids..
Also, there is the 504. My son has one of those. You sit down with the teacher and and administer to work out accomodations. Look it up online. It is federally mandated.. Maybe your accomodations can be less work if your child undestands the concepts. I really never understood having kids repeat stuff over and over again when they know it already.
We also do homework in the morning. We have always gotten up early, gone to bed early. My son who takes focalin, takes it right away before breakfast. It is starting to work when he does his homework. My other son uses the daytrana patch which takes longer (he is also the harder one) I try to get the patch on while he is still in bed about 6. Then he does homework at 7:30. His Psyc. also said to try caffeine and vitamin C to give him a jump start.
This son is also really into sports. The meds wear off by the time practice begins in the evening, so I let him have half a cafeinated soda. It really seems to help him, like the meds.
I don't know if this is an option, but we go to a Montessori Charter school (no $). They don't really believe in much homework although there are some projects, but much more fun)They are very accomodating. My kids love school.
Thanks ya'll, I am cooled down. I will be setting up meetings with the school to find out what is going on all day. At the beginning of school, I sent a note asking that sw stay at school so I can focus only on hw with dd, along with spelling words and sight words. It is just too much all in the evening. But apprently the teacher is no longer following that request. The problem is she doesn't seem to really know some of the skills the school work is asking her to do. Also the teacher grades everything. This is a first experience with hw being graded for a grade. Last yr it was just checked to see if she did it. I also wonder how much of the problem is dyslexia and not adhd. We think she has dyslexia but the state of Mississippi does not recognize it as a learning disorder. So those specific needs are not being met. Thankfully we will be moving in June to Alabama which does recognize it. And she can get the help that she needs. You could pursue an IEP, but in this economic climate I think that you could most readily meet your child's needs with a 504 and then deliver the IEP evaluation request once you at least have the 504 in place. The 504 process moves at record speed compared to the IEP process.Jessica N40577.8911342593
UPDATE...... I sent an email to the teacher asking what was going on. And about the 504 plan. A meeting has been scheduled for next Thursday with the teacher, the TST interventionist, and the assistant principle.
She also stated that my child is not doing her work (Duh), getting up constantly, and has to sharpen her pencil two or more times an hour. (She does the same thing at home---she will break the lead on purpose.) Also that she likes a boy in the class and has seperated them. (I knew about him. He brought her chocolates for Christmas. And I recently took them to a children's night at Chic-Fil-A.)
I am awaiting a call from the nurse at the doctors office. I hope they will go ahead and up the medicene w/o me having to drive 2 hrs for an appt. The doctor is the best in the state of MS for ADHD. Their are too many quacks where I live. If they want to see her, I'll just have to drive up there.
Find out what the homework time expectations are and stick to it. My sonThe nurse called Friday evening and she is going to discuss my concerns with the doctor. She didn't think it would be a problem for them to mail us an rx for 20mg Focalin since it is in her chart that the doctor was considering it.
UPDATE.........
Okay, Dr's office mailed an rx for Focalin 20 mg. I will have to wait to give it to her on the 12th since I was only able to get an appt on the 11th of March for a follow up visit.
The meeting about the 504 plan was so so. The teacher stated her grades were 89 math. reading 83 (but not on grade level), and 85 in LA. According to her grades she may not qualify for the 504 plan. BUT, the issue of her not staying on task is very problematic. And they agreed to monitor closely so if her grades drop then they will let me know.
Also, since Monday, my dear child has not been bringing home incomplete schoolwork. I mistakenly thought she was completing it. However, last night, my husband started questioning her on it. (He is a therapist- specializing in drug and alcohol abuse/ marriage and family.) He busted her on lying about the work. She was hiding it in her cubby at school. I told the teacher about it and she was noticing that there were some assignments not turned in. Guess what was in her folder this afternoon.
Alot of the work that she is bring home incomplete is during the time of day when she can go back and complete it, she is in a Fast Forward intervention program which is part of the teir 2 system.
The meeting did answer alot of questions and at least I know she is not distracting other kids, only herself. Plus, the teacher and the administration know that I am doing all that I can do to help her.
Academic impact is a qualifier for a 504? News to me. You might get a letter from your doc saying that your son has a mental impairment (ADHD) and requires accommodations in a learning environment.I haven't been on this forum lately. My son is considerably older (16) than your child but homework as been a problem from the very beginning. We've had a 504, we've gone to Sylvan, tried sitting with him and helping, etc. When he was in 8th grade he became so angry he broke his hand when he punched the back of the car seat - all over homework.
The most successful thing was hiring a tutor to tutor 3 or 4 times a week on a regular basis and schedule. If there is no homework then they work ahead, review, or practice. For the most part, dh and I stay out of it. I occasionally remind but seldom actually help with the homework. His tutor has full access to his teachers and to his grades. She monitors his work and visits with his teachers about upcoming assignments and due dates.
It is not perfect, but it has defused the anger. He seems to be able to more readily accept help from someone other than us, his parents. As he has gotten older, we have reduced the number of times per week but increased the amount of time per session.
Hope this experience helps. It is expensive but it has been well worth it!!