Classroom Practices - Need advice please
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| Sun, 09-16-2007 - 9:29pm |
Hey gals,
We found out this weekend from Nick (in bits and pieces of course) that Nick's kindy teacher has this checkmark program for discipline. If they act out in her class, they get their name on the board , one checkmark and they lose snack. If they get another checkmark, they lose recess. Now having a child with ADHD, I am vehemently opposed to losing recess and I am certainly opposed to withholding food from any child! What if they didnt have breakfast or lunch and they are hungry. Nick said he has lost snack before, but not recess. He has also, in the last week, started saying things like "I'm stupid", "I'm an idiot", "I cant do anything right". To me, this sounds like a self esteem issue. Now in a conversation with her last week, I know he has a hard time with his fidgeting, sitting still, he hums sometimes and sings when he is doing his work, all typical ADHD issues. I wrote her a letter today reiterating his issues and that we have issues with his losing recess/snack, especially recess, that it is detrimental that he not lose recess, that it will make his hyperactivity worse. His ADHD is worse when he is bored/idle. I also brought up his comments and that he mentioned that he said sometimes he sits by himself at lunchtime. I asked her if she thought it was time to involve the school psychologist for a classroom evaluation as we dont want him slipping. He loves to learn and I dont want to have to fight to get him to school. He still says he loves school and so far we havent needed an IEP.
What do you guys think of all this? Thanks!



Well I just think thats wrong.
Christine,
I agree that witholding recess and food is unacceptable. Especially at that age, and especially for a child with a documented disability.
Don't ask if you need to get the psychologist involved. Put in a call and do it.
-Paula.
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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Christine
We are having the exact same problem with our kindy teacher, who has won "teacher of the year" in our county several years in a row!
Welll I can definilty relate to all of you. I am sure you guys have seen my posts on Chad's kinder teacher too.
I spoke with both the psychologist and his teacher today and had good conversations with both. I did get more information from his teacher about her checkmark system and basically it is this. In order to get their name on the board, they have to be repeatedly told about something, not just once. If their name goes on the board, the lose playtime (1 of their freetimes during the day) where they will sit and read quietly in the reading nook. One checkmark and they lose snack, two and they get a call home. The principal is the only one that can take away recess and this is for the really bad offenses, biting, naughty words, the outright disrespectful offenses. Nick has never had his recess taken away and his name has only been on the board once or twice a week. Now she did say his offenses are for things like fidgeting, tapping his pencil, humming/making noises when he works, typical ADHD things which he hasnt learned to control yet which bothers me. But she also lets some things slide because she knows he has a hard time with it too. I asked her about lunchtime and he does sit with his class at the table so I know he isnt eating alone. She has also never heard him say he is stupid or dumb, but she sees that he puts alot of pressure on himself, something that she has seen bright kids do to themselves, they dont like to do something wrong. She also sees that he parallel plays more than he joins in a group, all typical aspie behavior. She also said she noticed he has been chewing on the collar of his shirt alot, as we have too, which for Nick, means his anxiety level is way up. We actually give him a tshirt at home to chew on so he doesnt ruin the one he is wearing! He has also been picking at his fingers. He has also been very agitated at home, very short tempered and yelling, very verbally abusive. I explained that this weekend we had to physically restrain him as he had 2 meltdowns and she sounded shocked as she has never seen this side. I am concerned that his anxiety level is getting elevated and he is trying to keep it together, that this class size of 19 kids is too much for him, that there are too much pressures for him. I expressed this to the psychologist as well. She is going to be at the school this week and talk more with the teacher and call me back on Thursday. I think it is time we get the support in place we need for Nick before he slips more. Is there anything more I need to do right now? I have been documenting his behaviors as well both for the school and doctor who we see again the first week of October. Thanks!
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Christine
Well, I think we are living parallel lives!
Hey Katherine!
Sounds good to me.
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Christine
My aspie is much older (almost 15) but when he was in elementary, we had all kinds of stuff in his IEP to address fidgets and other distracting behaviors.
Katherine,
OMG...that is SOOOO illegal to not let your child eat his lunch! They are NOT allowed to keep him from eating his lunch at the appropriate lunchtime for ANY REASON! I would NOT let this issue go AT ALL! That punishment is VERY inappropriate and should be reported to someone at a district level. And if it isn't taken care of at that level, go to someone at the state level. No child, ASD or NT can or