lisle
Full Member
Posts: 142
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Post by lisle on Sept 6, 2004 16:52:11 GMT -5
MY seventh grader has a habit of putting his head down on the desk at school. I am not sure why but it could be in order to focus by blocking stimulation. He says he gets a headache or "bored" a lot when he tries to concentrate. The teachers have been treating this by making him stand all period or by putting him in the corner all day. What do you think of this? He isn't tired, not any more than usual.
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Post by rosyred45 on Sept 6, 2004 17:35:33 GMT -5
I'd ask him a bit more on what he thinks bored is. I like the idea of standing in the corner for certain circumstances, but this is NOT one  My husband used to sleep in class all the time because he was bored, so ask him if htere is something else that might be getting to him. Let him spill and be honest. Is it the teacher, is it the class in general-subject matter wise, or is it over stimulation. I can see that point of it, as long as he's not using it as a crutch, I'd look more into why, PLUS ask the teachers what the point of him standing in the corner is....opps, I just re read, is he standing in the corner or his desk is in the corner? not facing anyone? |
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Post by AustinsMom on Sept 6, 2004 21:32:42 GMT -5
lisle, I guess my question to them would be: What is he not doing because his head is down? Is he not participating in class discussion? Not doing written work? It seems like they are setting him up for failure to focus on something like this if it's not impacting his class performance. However, if they can relate it to his educational goals, then it is another matter. But it seems they should then deal with that goal (i.e. turning in work at end of hour, or whatever) instead of the behavior. Maybe you could ask for an OT eval to look at posture and related issues and it would let the situation defuse a little. If it was my son, he'd be doing it more just because they were making a big deal about it. Good luck.  |
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Post by rosyred45 on Sept 7, 2004 7:49:14 GMT -5
I agree with the doing because they were making a big deal out of it, being a smart aleck about it Gee we don't have those do we |
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Post by ohmama on Sept 7, 2004 12:20:46 GMT -5
Whatever his reason is for putting his head down MUST be explored first. Standing in the corner in 7th grade? I don't agree with that at all!! A childs self esteem should never be sacrificed as a means of, or as an excuse for discipline. I can only imagine the embarrassment this must have caused him.
The teacher must have concluded that he was being disrespectful? It would seem that she does not know your son very well. I hope you can inform her of possible problems for this decision and how it would be wrong to punish a child for what could be a reasonable explanation of trying to cope with a disability.
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Post by eaccae on Sept 7, 2004 12:55:43 GMT -5
Well said, Oh Mama!!! I echo this!! Not to mention that if you put me in the corner to stand - I would be spending so much thought on how umcomfortable I was or how much I hated it, etc. - the LAST thing I would be concentrating on is what is being taught!! That is the type of thing I can see the teacher calling up a parent about - to find out if he is tired or what could be causing it - but standing in the corner? What year is this?
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Post by Angelia on Sept 7, 2004 21:49:41 GMT -5
This is seventh grade for crying out loud not the 1st! What are these teachers thinking!! I do not expect my seventh grader to come home, and tell me that he has had to stand in the corner all class period!! I just have to wonder who if anyone is getting any work done in this class!! To me this seems like an unnecessary distraction to the whole class!!
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Post by rosyred45 on Sept 8, 2004 6:40:20 GMT -5
All very good point: self esteem, and distraction to the rest of the class brings really good points.
Is the class disrupted by him putting his head down on his desk? Or are they disrupted when he is in the corner not wanting to be there?
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Post by Linda on Sept 8, 2004 9:02:09 GMT -5
I agree standing him in the corner is barbaric....how embarrassing for your son!When Paul was in7th grade he had to stand in the hall for whatever reason...and that was non productive as well!!
Go to the school...explore the reasoning...and get him out of the corner!
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Post by mskris on Sept 9, 2004 12:29:56 GMT -5
My son's third grade teacher stated that he put his head down on the desk occasionally. I started monitoring if he did this at home, too, and guess what? He does it when homework gets "too hard" for him (overwhelming or he loses focus). It's a coping mechanism for him. It didn't mean he wasn't listening to the teacher. I asked that she try to ignore it unless it seemed to be excessive. It wasn't disturbing the class, just her! We didn't hear any more about it.
Putting one's head down shouldn't be punished! I totally agree with the other posters - find out why he's doing it and then make sure the teacher handles it appropriately, without making him a spectacle for the rest of the class.
Kris
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Post by Honeysmom on Sept 9, 2004 22:32:07 GMT -5
Very well said Oh Mamma.  I spent many an afternoon in the hallyway in HS and it was embaressing, everyone is paying attention to you and you feel stupid. He might be bored b/c the teacher is boring. I'm not trying to be a smart a##, but if I have to read something that I don't find interesting, I HAVE to listen to my headset. I don't know why, it is more of a mental thing to get me more into the work. You also said sometimes he says he has a headache. Maybe he really does. Does he strain to see the chalkboard? Maybe his eyes need a break or a rest. At any rate, standing in the corner is not the anwser. I wonder what she'd do if he sat down and said he had a cramp in his lead? Make him stand on his head?? |
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lisle
Full Member
Posts: 142
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Post by lisle on Sept 13, 2004 11:17:19 GMT -5
Hi,
Thanks for your replies. They pretty much echo my feelings and thanks for explicit reasons for yours, as that always helps. He isn't STANDING in the corner all day. They are calling it "alienation." They put his desk in the corner at the front of the room, not facing the class.
He misses all classes for the day and P.E. included. He just gets homework from his classes to do. He is in the same room all day, whatever teacher gave him the punishment determines which room. He gets to sit through all her classes while he does other work. It is ostracizing to the extreme as all different grades come through there. As the new kid at the school he has quickly acquired a reputation for being a troublemaker. I can't say it is just this he has done, but still...I will bring up what the consequences are of his head being on the desk--is he just being "disrespectful" or not learning? I have asked for an FBA but it hasn't been done yet.
lisle
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Post by rosyred45 on Sept 13, 2004 11:36:34 GMT -5
That's tough being the new kid. We actually have Mikey to be separated for part of his seat work time, but not as a punishment.
I'm sorry, I'll be thinking of some more here in a bit
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Post by finnmom on Sept 14, 2004 14:32:31 GMT -5
alienation  Doesn´t sound good at all, I think they´re treating him as a troublemaker without digging in to the reason why!! WHY does he put his head down, I think Oh mama said it well, it should be explored first. I doupt that he is doing this just to be trouble, there is some other reason for that. Getting him "cornered" hole day just make´s him to be the one in the corner, not goot social-wise for a new kid in the school Consentrating, vision, too overwhelming work There is something that bother´s him.... Dont let them get away just by blaming him to making trouble,it´s an easy way for them, not good for your ds. Hat and broom, anyone, I see a time for those in here too  Good luck!!! |
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Post by mskris on Sept 15, 2004 12:47:38 GMT -5
They are calling it "alienation." They put his desk in the corner at the front of the room, not facing the class. He misses all classes for the day and P.E. included. He just gets homework from his classes to do. lisle Sorry, and this is supposed to HELP HOW? Seems like he's certainly not being taught if he's sitting at one desk and just doing "homework" from each class. I'd be up at that school protesting asap!!! Not only is it giving him a bad reputation, affecting his self-esteem, but it also must be affecting his education! OH, THIS MAKES ME SOOOOO MAD!! Who's bright idea was this "punishment?" It sounds totally useless to me, especially for a child with adhd. Kris (seething) |
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