Quote:
Originally posted by AXO_MOM_3
We are doing a few mods - preferential seating, a buddy to help with organization (packing things up, unpacking bookbag, etc), some modified assignments. The teacher does not seem to have time or is not willing to do much more.
Okay - all you really bright people that have ADD and struggled with school, help me out! Anyone gifted with a learning disability? How about gifted, learning disabled and ADD? Ya'll always have great inputfor me to consider, so please share!
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Ok, so the 1st one I'm going to answer as teacher DolphinChica. It difficult to remember everyone's modifications. Espcially since I can't legally write them down because someone might find the paper and the "out" the child as having a disability. I'm lucky if I can remember the kids who have problems, let alone the kids whose parents have asked me to do something extra for them. Seeing how your daughter is in 3rd grade and I'm sure the teacher has less than 30 kids, she should be more accomidating (I'm 7th/8th grade and see 150 kids a day). But, as crappy as it sounds, unless your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan, or whatever the equivilency in your state is) then the teacher legally doesn't have to give any special modifications. I pay more attention to the IEPs cause I can be bought to court on them vs the "can you help my child by doing this request from the parent. If you haven't already, try talking to the teacher and explaining everything again. It might help. Just make sure you make an appt; I've already gotten pulled out a class because of a surprise visit from a parent, and that didn't make me happy.
Now, as learning disabled/slight ADD DolphinChica: Maybe there are other things you can try, small things that won't involve other students or the teacher. My mom (who is a special ed teacher and realized that I had learning problems despite the theory back in the day that "smart" kids can't have problems) had a small index card placed on my homework pad and on my desk and above my hanger in the coat room. It said something, "Do you have all your books? Have you checked your assignments? Do you have any papers to bring home? Are you sure you have all your books?" Seeing it 3 times and in my mother's handwriting, I could hear my mom asking these things and it helped me remeber to do all those steps. Another you can try (at home, which should carry over eventually) is everytime you see your child start to lose focus say something that will bring her back. My phrase is "Time on task." Even now, when I start to drift the phrase automatically goes through my head and I come back to what I was doing. I found ways around my disability (dyscalcula, like dyslexia with numbers) but I'm not gonna lie, it took me years. Hell, I'm still working on it. I would have loved to have help with this problem when I needed it, when it surfaced, in the 3rd grade instead of struggling through grade school, high school, college and post grad with it. Early intervention is always a better thing.
Try the meds. Give it time, too. Don't expect next week for everything to be fine. If it doesn't work out, try something else.