a.d.d.

[Angie L]

My son was diagnosed with a.d.d about three months ago and has been taking medication. We see such a difference in him and when I talked to his teacher about a month ago she said he was doing so much better. But all of a sudden yesterday we get a letter from his school saying they are thinking of retaining him in kindergarten. This is the last thing we want. I know he has some problems but I feel it would benefit him better to move to first grade. How would you approach the school with this. I can use any suggestions.

[Angie L]

We set a conferance for Monday at 3:45 with my sons teacher. Hopefully we will get some answers. I think they could get one of the aides in the building to help him and I feel he would be okay. His main problem is the stuff they learned at the beginning of the year he doesn't know since he had trouble paying attention then. Thanks a lot just need to be able to talk to someone other then my husband.

[AnnW]

Angie, is this a public school? Are you having a "GERD" conference? Do they have a Reading Recovery program?

Good luck. I don't have any experience with ADD. Have you been to parentsplace.com and gone to their ADD boards?

[Angie L]

Yes this is a public school. What exactly is a GERD program. I do know they have tutors and aides and that they take the kids out of his class that are doing so well for a special reading program. I just feel like his teacher has written him off and could care less if he passes or not. I will check out parentsplace.com

[AnnW]

I forget what the acronym stands for, but it is an evaluation of your child...where they assess his needs, abilities ect
DEMAND that your child be put in reading recovery if they have the program and he is not reading at grade level. My dd is in it and it is wonderful!
Talk to the principal then and the counselor. It may be that repeating the grade would be the best thing for him after all, but if he just needs a little boostering then find out what programs are available.
Good luck.

[okbohn]

I homeschool my children and do not even formally have Kindergarten. Is it possible that thru the summer months you could go over letter recognition and sounds with your son so he is not labeled early on by his peers?

[yellowrose30]

Hi
I had trouble with my sons first grade teacher although she is nice I think most people these days are too quick to lable children and not work with them. That is why they are teachers it is their job to do so. My son went to summer school after kindergarden. He is in a reading recovery program as well. If you can since he missed out in the beginning sort of speak request if he can go to summer school. My son does not have add or any adh or any of those he is just a regular child having a little problem keeping up with the reading. He is a bright boy. I wish I put him in preschool before he started school but could not afford it. I am now working at my 4yr. olds preschool 2 days a week so now I get half off her tution and plus making some extra $$. Anyhow I suggest the same as the others. Demand that he be put in a reading program and ask about summer school. Also rember to stay calm and dont let them rule you. I hope this helps some.

[Angie L]

We are still fighting with the school. They are so determined to keep him in kindergarten or send him to TK-1. Finally on Friday I talked to the principal and they still want to hold him back. I told him we do not want this. He said it is their decision not ours he would talk with his teacher and see what she says. I hope to find out more sometime next week. I just hate not being able to keep this from happening. They mentioned summer school but that is $150.00 I do not have. Hopefully we will get some answers soon. Thanks for letting me vent here.

[kat]

What would be wrong with the TK-1. If he proved himself and did well, would they not then send him on to 2nd grade after the transition year?

[Angie L]

The thing with sending him to TK-1 that we do not like is that it is in another school in the district that we really do not want him in. Also they have told us that after a year in TK-1 then he comes back to the school he is in this year but he has to then do first grade. See we feel it would be better for him to go one to first grade and if he is still having problems then he can repeat first grade again. I just wish the schools would give him a chance. They just don't seem to want to help him.