Is it time for accommodations?

[jdmom]

Jarrett, DS(7) is in first grade. He is on 54 mg. Concerta.
He has always maintained high A's. He attended a 5 day a week, 1/2 day preschool for 3 year olds, 5 day a week all day preschool for 4 year olds and kindergarten. He was diagnosed in kindergarten.
He is probably gifted, but his school will not evaluate until 3rd grade. This last report card, he brought home low A's, which I was not happy with. He is capable of better. At his 4 week progress report he brought home mid-range B's. So I went to have a talk with his teacher. I like his teacher. She is patient with him and has an ADD foster daughter. She has complained throughout the year of his talking and singing in class. His handwriting is very sloppy because he won't take his time and write neatly. So many of his answers, she marks wrong because she can't read them. Today she told me that sometimes the other children come to her desk and ask her to make Jarrett be quiet because they can't concentrate. She told me that during their SAT 9's, which they took last week, she had to stand over him the entire time to keep him quiet. She said that twice a day, she had to take his answer form and erase all the scribbling that he had done on it. She said some of the scribbling was so dark that she didn't know if the machine that grades them will be able to read it.
The entire time we talk, she just looks at me like she expects me to give her answers on how to control him in the classroom. Short of me going to school with him everyday and standing over him the entire time, I don't know what to tell her.
He is not a discipline problem. He is not mean to her or other kids, and always does what she tells him immediately. He just forgets and 5 minutes later he is doing it again. What can I do about this? I'm at my wit's end. It makes me want to cry, but I know that won't do any good. I just feel helpless.
I know that it is the ADHD that makes him feel the need to keep in motion. The scribbling and the singing are his ways of letting out the energy. At the beginning of the year, she had problems keeping him seated at his desk, and admits that he is doing better at that.
We just increased his meds a couple of months ago and his doctor informed me that he will not increase them anymore any time soon. I know the meds help, because Sunday I didn't give them to him and he was like a child on speed. Bouncing off the walls, talking a mile a minute, totally chaotic.
Do I need to have the school make accommodations for him? He is not failing, he has not trouble learning, he just can't sit still long enough to do his work correctly. Would he qualify?
Maybe he just needs to see a behaivoral psychologist? He has never seen a psychologist. His ped said he was confident enough in his diagnosis of Jarrett's ADHD that he didn't feel it was necessary. He said he was a classic case. I really don't have trouble with him at home. He minds me and respects me. He is just bouncy and we are used to that. The problems are just at school.
He is such a smart kid, with so much potential, that I don't want his grades to suffer because of his ADHD. How do I prevent that? I want to get a jump on it before it really causes him problems, and he falls behind.
I basically get daily complaints, all in writing, of his behaivor. He has been to the principal's office several times, and even suspended from the bus for a week, for his behaivor on the bus (not sitting in his seat and talking and playing too loudly). Is this enough to make them give him accommodations?

[catseye]

Well for my sd in first grade also (second time around ) in her school they dont do actual letter grades yet... Its probably a good thing because I dont know if my heart could take all the d's and e's I know she would get... I would be jumping for joy over mid b's!

My sd also has the sitting still problem, which the school gave her a "stress ball" (those squishy ball shaped things) for her to squeeze in one hand, while the other hand writes... It helps but is not ideal... Maybe something like that would stop your son's scribbling/doodling?

Unfortunately I dont know if the school would try to accomodate him easily if he is doing above average in school work grades though... If you can get the teacher to give the stress ball a try, it is worth a shot... Good luck

cat

[jdmom]

Thank you for the reply. I have considered the stress ball but am afraid he would end up playing with it in class instead of doing his work! In fact, I know he would.

I know I should be ashamed of complaining of B's when other children struggle to pass. It's just that he is so bright and capable, and I'm afriad that this is the beginning of the "downward spiral". I know how short his attention span is, and he's done well so far because he is such a quick learner. I'm afraid of what is going to happen when he actually starts having to learn more complicated things. He's known addition and subtraction since pre-school. But what is going to happen next year when they start learning multiplication? Reciting and memorizing multiplication tables is such a boring task, yet it is the basis of all the math that he will do for the next several years.
Am I overreacting? Should I wait and see how next year goes? I think sometimes maybe he is just bored with the review of subjects over and over again that he has worked on since preschool. But I don't want to wait until it is too late either, and he falls behind because I didn't react?
And I am tired of the notes sent home and the blank looks of help from teachers as they explain how their day with him goes! What am I supposed to do? He does all his homework, I make sure it's neat, I make sure he understands it. I don't have trouble making him do it. But I do have to sit there with him and keep him on task, and I understand that a teacher with a classroom full of other students does not have the time and patience for this. But I cannot help her control him in the classroom. That's her job, and though it seems impossible, it could be much worse. At least he makes attempts to behave. It's just that his little brain is going so fast that 5 minutes later he has forgotten all about it. He says he gets songs "stuck in his head" and that's why he sings and that half the time he doesn't even realize that he's singing aloud. I can't punish him for this. So what am I supposed to do about it? I just feel so helpless. I am at my wit's end and don't know where to go now.

[catseye]

Oh I certainly didnt mean you shouldnt be concerned! I just was compareing my sd's ability to your sons... Parents should always be concerned when there is a sudden change in grades... Guess I was just wishing out loud that sd could do so well!! LOL

[mommy007]

jdmon,

I feel for you. My son was exactly your son in 1st grade. Did your son always sing and talk? My son started singing and babbling to himself once we increased the concerta. It was tic like. My ds in now in 5th grade and still struggling - he gets b's and B+'s. I don't think you can ever please a teacher. My son's handwriting is terrible as well, in fact even with OT this year it is worse - it has gotten worse since 1st grade. You can't read it. My suggestion is spend the time now teaching him to type or get a typing class. If I could turn back the clock that's what I would have done. My son only got an IEP this year. He had accomadations, but they are never constantly followed, so if you want accomadations go for a 504 or IEP. He can get one under "other health impaired". Has he been seen by the school psychologist? Thats the person that you need to push the IEP with. Even then you need to keep on top to make sure the IEP is being worked at school. My son also scribbles on everything - I dont' think it's bordom they just can't attend for such a mundane event. Our kids tend to be very visual learners and the teachers are talking heads!

We are currently waiting on a May 6th transistional meeting for moving into middle school. I am lucky and have just found a parent advocate to attend the meeting. The school needs to meet the childs needs.

We tried every medication - we found as they increased so did the need for movement - sure the attention was better - but he would still be a distraction. My son has an above IQ - we are always being told he is not "working to his potential.

Push the school for testing, it will lead to a meeting - put it in writing and they have to do it! It's been too long a road for us, don't wait, early intervention is key to success. Make sure your husband attends the meetings. It can be overwhelming - they have an adgenda - you need to have one too!! Get a letter from the doctor stating that your son's meds cannot be increased. Ask the school about OT for the handwriting - if you can get OT support - drive them nuts for updates, and get samples of progress and compare them to the "daily" work in writing. Push Push Push.

We started out with simple accomadations - I wish we pushed harder in the beginning. I have been through changes with the school staff, they can't be made to understand - they teach inside the box.

I hope this helps, I wish you luck and success for your son. The only other thing is to keep records of everything. That's been my saving grace.

He will qualify if you advocate for him, be prepared, have an adgenda, don't take no for an answer - good luck , you can do it - you know what's best for your son.

[TexasMom]

I would see about taking him to a psychritist. 54 mg concerta is quite a bit for a 6 year old. My 10 yr-old, 5'2" 136 lbs son takes that much. He may need to have his meds adjusted, and a psychrist would know how th meds work better than a pediatrician.

[adhdtimes4]

There are a bunch of ways to allow movement in a child other than by using a stress ball - or other object that can be lobbed across the room LOL. Our school gives some of the kids little cushions to sit on. Some rock, and some have texture that stimulates a child. There are also foot rests that allow movement without noise. One teacher emailed me that she puts a strip of velcro under her ADHD kids' desks so they can feel the texture. There are lots of things that help a child channel energy more appropriately. These are very inobtrusive accomodations that your teacher might want to try.

[jdmom]

Thanks for the input, guys!

Our school does not have a psychologist on staff. However, I did notice on the district's website that there is a job posting for one to start this summer. So I hope they get one hired and that I can talk to that person before the school year starts next year.

Jarrett has always been a talker. I was too, at his age. Probably still am, LOL! His dad is one also. And he says he sings all the time because he gets songs "stuck in his head". I've threatened to record him when he's in the bathtub, LOL. You can hear him all over the house.

I also get the "Jarrett is just capable of so much more." His teacher always complains that his accelerated reader testing never is accurate because of his ADHD. Last time she tested him he came out a reading at age level when she knows that he is at least a couple of grade levels ahead of the rest of the class. Which I agree to that, he can read anything he picks up. He even reads the instruction manuals that come with all of his Nintendo games. To me that is just a warning sign that things aren't going to improve without some sort of accommodation.

There are no ADHD specialists in my area. But last night I heard of a place in Tulsa, which is over 2 hours away, called the Tulsa Pediatric Development Center that has a specialist. I have some family there, and know that city well, so I think I'm going to try to have him seen there this summer.

So that's my gameplan. Get him to the specialist there this summer, try to meet with the new psychologist before school starts, hopefully have a hand in what teacher he gets next year...and then take it from there.

I also heard that there is a group of parents trying to start a support group here locally.

Thanks for the suggestions, adhdtimes4. I will talk to his teacher and see what she thinks.

[catseye]

little cushions to sit on

Are those called "bubble seats"? They mentioned maybe getting sd one of those at the last IEP, but I dont think they actually did that accomodation... I like the velcro idea under the desk! That would be very limited disruption I am sure.. Thanks for those suggestions, our IEP is comming up soon, and I am pretty sure it is still an issue with sd (sitting still I mean)..

[jdmom]

Are they also called "waffle cushions"? I work for the corporate office of a nursing home chain, and I know that some of our residents use waffle cushions to relieve the stress of sitting in a wheelchair all day. They are a beige color and have holes in them and they slightly inflate. Is this the same thing?

[mskris]

JD mom:

I think your ds could definitely qualify for accomodations via a 504 plan, regardless of his high grades. The 504 doesn't depend on test results; a diagnosis of disability (which adhd comes under) is enough, though they may require an evaluation. Usually a private doc's evaluation is acceptable.

The 504 covers seating arrangement, lighting, stimulation items (like the squishy ball and seat cushions mentioned), and much more. This may help your son with his impulsivity.

Also, we had a similar problem with ds in 3rd grade with the disruptive (though not negative) behavior. We instituted a charted point system to make him more aware of how his actions affect others. There's no punishment or reward (other than us discussing the day's points at home with him), but it seems to be working well. He has the ability to earn 24 pts daily, split up into class periods. So far the best he's done is 19 pts, but that means he only needed 5 reminders all day. We lavish praise on him when he does well, and ask if anything is wrong when he does poorly. I usually just chalk low point to the occasional "bad day" we all experience. My not making a big deal out of it seems to help, too.

Do some research on 504 plans in your state - check out your state's education web site and ask at the school and at your doctor's office. You should be able to find info on this. I will try to find some websites for you.

Kris

[adhdtimes4]

I can't remember what you call those cushions - they aren't made out of that waffle foam, though. You can get the cushions in the Integrations catalog: www.integrationscatalog.com/index.jsp, but there's not a picture. This catalog has everything, by the way, and it's free. I'll find out the name of the cushions and let you know.

A couple of other modifications worth mentioning: having two designated seats for your child - one at his desk and another somewhere else in the room. And how about allowing him to stand up? One of my boys (non-ADHD, but wiggly!) was much happier standing at his desk, and his teachers let him.

[adhdtimes4]

Okay, I found some links:

www.headsupnow.com/hu4adhd.htm

www.aqtoys.com/therapists.cfm?storeid=1&CFID=2813880&CFTOKEN=51602208

www.neatinfo.net/equipment/movinsit.html

Some of the little kids in our school even carry their wedge to lunch!

[TWHSFH27]

jdmom- Tulsa Pediatric Development Center is very good, we took Alicia there when we lived in Tulsa. I highly recommend it!

Anglea