[nicoleb2]

My daughter is in 4th grade, has been diagnosed adhd since she was 6. She is on concerta.

She is not getting her work done at school. They are keeping her in from recess because she is wiggling and unfocused and therefore doesn't finish the work.

She has a 504 plan (accomodations to help her due to adhd), she attends the largest school district in the state. Teacher told me today I should come sit with my daughter at school to keep her on task. I can't do that.

Does anybody have any ideas or thoughts on what may have helped you get through school?

[Maus5321]

Has something changed in here environment? room painted, new kid, anything that may have changed. has she mentioned anything that may have thrown here off? We are adhd'ers depend on structure and consistency. I was not treated when I was in grade school or high school.
One thing my school did do though was put me on a contract system and each day I had to have the teacher fill it out. It worked sort of. but I was still kind of hit or miss. It is a natural part of adhd for us to be consistently inconsistent. There were times I was awesome and in tune then the trap door would fall open. sometimes you have to step back and not force the issue see if it pass. Or maybe try finding something she like,s such as a snickers fun size bite as an example. Try tieing a reward to her homework, giver here a reason to want it done.

Also the school saying you should go in and sit with her. I do not agree with that at all, my father did that with me at the schools request and it cause me torment and grief from the other children, it followed me everywhere. All the school cares about is numbers and grades, but what about the child.

[venusss]

Is she having hard time understanding the instructions? Or maybe early "teenage" defiance? I used to get the "why we are learning this, it sucks and is useless in real life" thing since very young (I was right... but that's not really the point. ONe gotta get through school... so if it's the case try to encourage her will to learn).

how is she liking the school and teachers in general?

[montanan4ever]

I'd be talking to the treatment team ASAP if I were in your shoes. Taking away her opportunity to move around is counterproductive to say the least. She NEEDS to move.

What are the plans for summer? Any way to get her AND you involved in a treatment program of some kind?

[Miswimmy1]

first i agree with above poster, talk about the consquences.... she should not have recess taken away as a punishment. she has to move.

I would definatley talk to her teachers to fine tune her 504 plan. you sitting in on every class is not reasonable and not realistic. you can't do that her whole life... what happens when she gets to high school? something has to be figure out now.

i also agree with above posters that consistency is key... having concrete structure. do you know how she learns best? maybe the teaching style is not matching her learning style, and therefore she is bored and frustrated? there are many variables... but i would definately set up a meeting with her teachers.

[growlithing]

For me, I need to jump topics a lot. My medication only makes it possible for me to concentrate for longer periods of time. It doesn't prevent me from getting bored and needing to do something else for a while.

I'm a musician and in my practice, I've found that I'm most effective on my off days when I spend only a few minutes on each exercise and allow myself to take frequent short breaks unless I become hyper focused. So if I were to complete a bunch of worksheets for school, I'd do math for 10 mins, then jump to English for 10 mins, get up and walk around the room for a few seconds, return to math for a few minutes and then maybe history. That style of work keeps my focus and refreshes my attention span.

I think that keeping the kid in for recess is a horrible idea. She needs to go out because there is no way that any amount of drug is going to make her be able to focus on something boring for 6 hours.

[nicoleb2]

Her 504 plan has not been updated at all this year!!! And what WAS on there from last year has not even been followed. I am so incredibly angry. I brought in a whole list of ideas, none of which will go on the 504 plan till we meet again in the fall.
I cannot believe the sheer ignorance of school district employees (such as the social worker) who should know something more about adhd.

[Maus5321]

Originally Posted by nicoleb2

Her 504 plan has not been updated at all this year!!! And what WAS on there from last year has not even been followed. I am so incredibly angry. I brought in a whole list of ideas, none of which will go on the 504 plan till we meet again in the fall.
I cannot believe the sheer ignorance of school district employees (such as the social worker) who should know something more about adhd.

I would make it a point to pester your daughters team. If they ignore you and things do not move forward. I would send in letters to the district super intendant until something is done. Adhd is not a condition where you can meet only once or twice a year. The treatment plan revolving around it needs to be ready to make changes and evolve readily as things change, the persons needs change. One mold does not fit all as each person has a different mold that will help them. Kinda like me and miswhimmy, her and I are completely different and many things that help her would not work for me and vice versa. Also to I think the schools try to be cheap and save money at the expense of letting your child grow and blossom. Such a big stink needs to be raised that they will have no choice to move there asses into gear and help your daughter to the maximum!

[Maus5321]

One more addition. You said your daughter is in the 4th grade, she is starting to creep up on the grades in school where things might actually start getting tough for her, I was ok in 7th and 8th, it was to bad at that point but looking back on it now I could see the seams of me starting to burst but when I hit I high school, all was good the first year then I fell apart, it was the hardest thing. I was told I was lazy and could do something if I wanted to etc etc. could do something if I wanted is the key statement for adhd, I knew I was failing but no amount of will power in the world could make me do something my mind didn't want to do. My high school years were hell and I try not to look back at them. So I really do hope your daughter gets the help she needs and as she gets older be more proactive about here own treatment!

[montanan4ever]

I would be very methodically, with cold, calculated MAMA BEAR rage, be climbing the chain of command in my child's school district and beyond if I were in your shoes. And I'd be thisveryclose to lawyering up to do it.

Originally Posted by nicoleb2

Her 504 plan has not been updated at all this year!!! And what WAS on there from last year has not even been followed. I am so incredibly angry. I brought in a whole list of ideas, none of which will go on the 504 plan till we meet again in the fall.
I cannot believe the sheer ignorance of school district employees (such as the social worker) who should know something more about adhd.

I'm in Texas, and my son qualified for special education services as a student with Other Health Impairment (OHI) for ADHD. Special Ed law carries more weight and bite so it helps in getting accommodations implemented and enforced. Rattle some cages and insist on an evaluation; be sure to arm yourself with your own doctor's evaluation.

There is some evidence now that indicates exorphins in gluten contained in wheat, barley, and rye may have an effect on ADHD. More research needs to be done, but you might
try removing those grains from her diet temporarily (and substituting, nuts, seeds, and
more green vegetables to see if it helps).

I wish I could offer more, but it's a condition that needs much more research.

I very much agree with considering lawyering-up if you can't get a positive response
from management in the school system. Your child deserves the best attention and
care.