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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/7/2007 3:43:18 PM | I have never read a post that I felt more sympathy for.
The frustration of dealing with your sons school is no doubt where that twitch came from.
I strongly suspect the test will come back that your son is very bright BUT has ADD. That is because it seems to be a catch-all term that even professionals use to cover a myriad of things.
I am glad to see you are unwilling to just dope him with Ridalin. If you DO get convinced he has an attention deficit disorder understand there ARE behaviour modification and dietary changes that can help a great deal. I had a gf who was a single mom with a now 22 yr old and she went through this. So I know there are other options before you need to go the pharmeacutical route.
I am not opposed to using a drug IF it is necessary but they do tend to be given for a long time and create issues of their own. You will probably want to examine other options first and I wish I could give you more explicit help.
And your fight with the school is only going to get worse. I really don't mean to scare you but no matter what the test results are your battle is not even begun yet. (the biblcal expression 'gird up thy loins' comes to mind here)
I say this because when your son is shown to be HOWEVER exceptional the teachers will in fact just give up. Not openly but watch them. They will start to bit*h about how they don't have the resources. They don't have the specialized training your son needs. When you complain about their lack of initiative and motivation to help your son the YOU will be labelled the problem. "Poor little johny, if only his mom wasn't such a nutcase" is what will be said in the teachers lounge.
So be prepared to keep on top of them. Try to organize local parents in the same boat. Laugh at them. (Maybe not to their face). Don't overindulge him because he is getting a bad ride at school, but keep on doing the great job you seem to be doing now. If they hold him back don't worry about his self image. He will deal with it fine. After all you thought about giving birth a week later didn't you?
Good luck and keep us posted.
ooh that was a bad pun , keep us posted. My bad. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/7/2007 6:42:14 PM | When my Son was 12 years old in grade 6 the school he attended at the time was adament that he should be tested for ADD.
With him being our only school age Son at the time, we didn't ask alot of questions and did as they asked. We were very concerned obvioulsy and naturally figured they must know alot more about it than we did.
We took our Son to a specialist and he first talked to just my ex and myself alone and discribed what ADD was and what could be done if our son if he had it. It was very nerve racking as if our Son had something seriously wrong with him.
After the Doctor had talked to us, he then called in our Son for a one on one discussion with him while we waited outside. It seemed take forever and it gave us both a very helpless feeling as if our Son was being diagnosed for having something genetically wrong with him.
After about 15 minutes the door to his office opened and he asked my ex and myself to come back in and for our Son to wait in the reception room.
Expecting the worse we went in and sat and waited for the prognosis. The Doctor looked at us and could see our concern on our faces.
The Doctor then suddenly broke into a huge smile. He assured us our Son definately did not have ADD and even more so wanted to have him tested for the genius program. He told us that our Son was obviously bored in class because he simply wasn't being challenged enough and the work assignments were to easy for him.
Both our jaws litterally hit the floor as in about 25 minutes we had gone from being told our Son had a learning disability to possibly having an extremely high I.Q.
We had our Son tested at a later date and he just failed qualifying for the genius program. This certainly was fine with me as it showed he was just a normal healthy boy.
The point in all of this is I feel Teachers, School Boards, etc. who are not qualified jump to easy today to rush judgements. Its as if the catch phrase ADD is tossed around and the answer to every student that doesn't fit a certain mold.
Concerned Parent | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/7/2007 7:06:16 PM | I agree with harviej, your fight has just begun. I have a 15 year old grandson who all through his school years was a problem for his teachers and we were also told that he had ADD and ADHD. He too took hours to do his homework and had to be supervised, and never seem to do anything in school, got to the point that they just didn't want him there.
He got bullied all the time from the other kids and even some teachers picked on him.
My daughter relented and finally put him on drugs for a few months when he was about 13. He seemed gifted and after watching a movie could repeat every word, he knew statistics on animals from all over the world that were on the endangered list, when he was about 7 or 8 . There is alot more to this story but turns out that he is not ADD or ADHD but has Aspersers, a high functioning form of autisum. Finally got the right diagnosis just before his 15th birthday after many years of tests and fights.
Good luck to you. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/7/2007 8:03:45 PM | let me give u an idea try enroling him in some summer school with smaller classes they usually have summer courses for new teachers in training with less than 5 kids and see how he fairs with more personal attention i had been having alot of trouble when i was in public school but when they put me into some of these summer courses i came out with high 90's then when back in regular school when i would have trouble and the teachers would complain my parents would just say it must be poor schooling because when i wasn't there i did awsome to many teachers today don't want to or don't know how to or can't deal with bored kids and try to get them drugged up so they aren't a problem i think u will find that your kids will do well with teachers that they like and poorly with ones they don't like thats real life whatever happened to kids just being kids? usually all they need is a bit more attention and some good direction and to be allowed to be kids
just another addition u will find when kids r different, very smart or good at something they usually get bullied and made fun of by others who might be jellous they then learn quickly to play dumb to try to fit in exept that this only helps to make the problems worse
social life in public school and high scool can be very hard on kids who don't fit the "perfect" kid mould only attention and good guidence can help this and it rarely comes from the teachers becuase its usually not in the class room
i'm definatly NOT bashing teachers here i'm just saying that there is way more that kids need than teachers r able to provide, most try their best but its a loosing battle its more a product of our much to busy lives, slow down abit take some more time with some kids they don't even have to be your own it will pay wonders later in their lives | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/8/2007 5:53:37 AM | Tailpipe...this made me think about something. The smaller classroom has less distractions too.
Went to a communications class lastnight from the Spectrum.. Found that the teacher was amazing. He didn't just stand there writing notes on a board. He was animated and really believed his stuff. And had handouts. There were about 20 adults in the room. Most worked together. Thing was the seats were in 2's. 4 of the women would chat constantly about something that happened at work. They were doing this while the teacher was talking/teaching us who cared to hear + listen. I almost asked them to move their conversation to the hall as I'd paid to hear him speak not them. This was a COMMUNICATIONS class on learning to listen and speak. These ladies were chatting like they were sitting in a timmies. AUGH!!
In school I couldn't take notes. Was always the last one. The teacher would have 6 boards full and want to erase the first one or 2 only to find me still on those. Got to point I wouldn't respond when asked if they could erase it. My parents had me tested when I was 10 but never bothered to get the results. Yes unreal. Would have helped me lots if had known the issues.
At age 35, the company I worked at closed. UIC sent me to some classes to see if any other professions I'd be suited for. They had a woman come in and do intensive computer and paper testing. After it was done she talked to us individually and taped the conversations for our records. I still have the tape. She sent me to LEADS to get further testing and get the "tools" needed. After 5 more hrs of testing came back with results that floored me. I was in the 98 percentile on some things but 25 - 55 percentile on others. What got me was when he said with the new tools out there I could have easily done university. Here I am with barely a passing high school education. Working for about $10/hr and could have had an education/job to be proud of. No savings to afford school or the tools needed to take the classes now.
I did learn that people have different ways of learning. I can watch a movie at home and tell you word for word. Take me to a theare and sometimes get distracted by people around me chatting or anything. I'm a visual learner. Show me something then stand there and watch me do it once. If I have questions during the 1st time be available to answer. Can't pick up a textbook to learn. There is a program they use where reads and highlights the stuff. I pick it up faster that way. Can read a novel but a whole different concept.
Have problems writing stuff down trying to get things across for others to understand. I can talk it out but to get it on "paper/computer" forget it. My mind works faster then my hands. There are computer programs to help this. Somebody told me about Dragon Naturally Speaking. Supposedly you talk and computer writes it down. Would be cool to try. Thinking is the same as when drs or lawyers talk into a taperecorder and have a secretary type it later.
Mae, get the testing and keep pushing the schools. You don't need to put the child on the meds. But maybe a chance to use the tools available. Some of these computer programs they use range from about $100 to $4000. Better if can use it at schools. Plus believe they might have to include home copies for homework sometimes.
Please remember one thing we all learn differently. The schools seem to teach one way. It is the cheapest and easiest way but not always the most effective. Why think their are so many people doing apprenticeships.
Sorry so long but think this original post is very important. Might want to mention this took me over an hour to type as wanted to include all the important stuff. LOL!!!
Becky | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/8/2007 8:26:27 AM | A gifted child can easily be diagnosed as being ADD due to the lazy way out of medicating them into a state of no-effort learning supported by teachers of non-effort teaching!
Can you imagine how many of us would have been put on medication when we were in school if it were around then? If a child is not stimulated, they get bored and distracted. If your son is not being challenged, he will get bored.
I would certainly have him tested for two things first; first off, if he is gifted. Secondly, I would take him to an allergist to be tested. It’s amazing how certain foods can cause mood and personality changes in a child. Nitrates and sulfates that are common in sandwich meats are a direct link to behavior issues as is sugar. If he is having a reaction to something in his diet, it may not show in the normal ways of an allergic reaction but in behavior changes.
If in fact it is ADD, I would look at other forms of treatment than a prescription. You may find a homeopathic remedy that may work well for him. There is a product called White Sparks you can find on www.nativeremedies.com that appears to have a high success rate and all natural.
Good luck with it. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/8/2007 8:38:00 AM | | never had ne of these problems yet but i know in school there was a kid deller i will never forget him everyone thought he had add or something he was soo funny always joking never did his work wasnt till h.s they found out the work was too easy for himso he just didnt bother doing it. some kids r more advanced and lash out because of it . although he was always a d student so we did think he was kinda dumb but he really wasnt | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/8/2007 9:09:52 AM | I do not believe in labeling children.
I grew up with a very active, intelligent, wonderful brother that had full blown problems with this. He is an amazing, successful, human being today.
Your son is smart. He is capable and he is wonderful and loving. I suggest if at all possible, finding a different school, or working with your current school to make sure he is not bored and working on things that he enjoys doing for smaller increments of time.
My son, is just like my brother. Very special little guy and I refuse to put any labels on his behaviour.
I did pull him out of JK in March of that year, and he has now spent a year in a private Montessori School. He does his work on his own time, and they have never had any behavourial problems with him over the past year. He is now excited to be going into grade 1 next year.
I do not believe in medication for this problem for children. IF later in life, your child feeling like he may need it to focus on his job/career then that would be his decision.
My brother has chosen meds on and off during his adult years, but is much more "himself" without it, and his wife of 6 years finally got him to stop taking it 2 years ago.
Anyhow, I am new to responding in the forums, but just wanted to add this information as it is something that I know alot about.
Testing is good,not a perfect indicator to see where your child stands depending on what is going on for him the days of the tests and all. But, follow your gut and your heart when it comes to any "treatment" or decisions. Your son is most likely a genious.
Good Luck,
Enjoy | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/8/2007 4:12:16 PM | I was an all out ADD child, your son sounds just like I did when I was younger. I did test after test for learning since I was born there's pictures of my at a learning center when I was a baby doing tests at 6 with the blocks and everything, when I was 14 I did tests too see how I learned and took in information, it showed that I was an adavanced reader I was reading at a first year college rate then but I understood what I was reading at a grade 3 level. When they put me on the pills I had no idea what the hell was going too happen and now I can't really remember the effects, but I do know that my dad told me this to help me take em and it made alot of sense, we used too go to the horse track all the time so he explained that basically its like blinders on a horse ( they hang on the side of the horses face too block its paraphial view) some horse need them too keep them focused on the race and not other things going on around them, thats what I was taken lol I always loved that description helped out alot  what helped me out alot though is been taught different methods of learning, been sat down and finding different ways too do things drawing pictures instead of notes because I'll remember an image better then words. One thing is though not everybody is meant for school. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/12/2007 5:23:31 PM | My son is visually impaired and the school swore up and down that he was ADD, and they wanted him medicated for it. I got my hands on some internal documents which stated that he was not only was he not ADD but the problem was that he couldn't see because they weren't providing him with the proper materials, and had him in the back of the class (he was legally blind so needed front row).
I was livid they wanted my son drugged to save money on materials! 
Yer son is doodling on his books, sounds to me like he is bored, or just not grasping the information the way it is presented. Is he a visual learner that is recieving oral instruction? or the complete opposite, an oral learner recieving visual instruction, is he a hands on learner being asked to watch but not touch? It really sounds to me like its more to do with presentation then with yer son.
Demand a non drug approach at first and find a doctor that has other options available to be tryed. Some kids do need medications, but i recomend you explore other options first to be sure.
btw, I was an assistant teacher and this is more common then people realise, advocate for your child if you don't no one else will. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/13/2007 7:50:08 AM | my son's teachers (grade 1 - 3) requested that i take him in for testing - not only ADD/ADHD but a hearing test amongst a whole bunch of other ones. so while i was waiting for appointments for the hearing another other tests, i did take him to see a pediatrician - who did prescribe the minimum dosage of ritalin for his age and weight at that time. i had him on it for about 2 months. no change in the way he was at school or at home - my parents didn't notice a change in him (they looked after him before school and after school) his teachers didn't notice a change in him, nor did i. he figited while in his seat, he was unfocused at times and he would have a lot of incompletes. - there's been no medication since he was in grade 2, just alot of one-on-one time after school, and him staying in at recess for the little things he didn't want to take home.
he's been in a special program now where there are less kids, more attention by the teacher, more hands on learning than book oriented. my son is very much like myself, show us how to do it hands on rather than tell us to read the instructions. my son is brilliant in math - as for other subjects when they are learning something that truly interests him, he's giving it his all, when it's not something he's really interested in he's often re-focused to the task at hand. we've also come to find that he's got a hard time when he's asked to write things - he's got great ideas in his head and a wonderful imagination - but to get them down on paper (hand-written) it just takes him longer than the rest, but put him down in front of computer and ask him to type them - he's got no problem. he's now going to high school next yr and they have a program geared towards his needs and i feel he is going to do great - the resource teacher there is a wonderful woman - made my son feel very welcomed and looking forward to attending the high school. it's finally nice knowing that you have teachers and a school board willing to work with you and not against you. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 5/13/2007 8:17:26 PM | Mae, I highly recommend you check out the site allkindsofminds dot com. A great book, a great site, and a fantastic spin on this epidemic. There has been some valuable information given here, and other threads. I would, as a parent of a child diagnosed previously, advise just a few things. Read...in particular the posts from adults that were A.D.D. children ie: A.D.I.D.A.S. they've been through it. Explore...different ways to teach your child, everyone is different genetically in the physical sense, why not mentally? We all learn differently. Question...the professionals. Do NOT assume that they are the authority on your child. Be his advocate, and like the others here have said, trust your gut.
Scarlett | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 8/15/2007 11:07:44 AM | So here I dig this oldie up again.
I am absolutely FLOORED at the bullshit the school board can fork out.
Finally now that all the testing is done.. (well not all done we do have to go back and look at some memory tests again)
He has scored in as extremely intelligent (which we knew) and as a result is having attention & opositional isssues(frustration & anxiety). These should clear up when the learning disability is dealt with.
He has been diagnosed with a LD involving the inability to get things down on paper.
I first gave the school copies of the psychologists report, back to the Ped to have her decide he was in no way right for Ritalin or any other drugs (yay!)
Then we had a few meetings at the school to show me what kind of assistance he'll be receiving in the fall with his IEP.. it was all great~!
Then the letters start coming over the course of the summer.
The first letter stated:
The school board does not provide EA's for any student unless they would be physically unable to attend school without that assistance. If there is an EA in the class room for another student, they may be able to provide limited assistance when time is availible.
I knew that already, it had been discussed informally that they would in fact try to get him into a class with EA's in place so he would be that bit of extra help. Although I thought the letter wasn't really necessary, I hadn't seen the pattern yet.
Second letter:
upon review of the assessment report, it has been decided that the report is not specific enough in the diagnosis of the learning disability, therefore we cannot recognise it as a learning disability. The IEP and assistive technologies are to remain the same, but we feel in discussion among the peers that there is no need to pursue any further testing to re diagnose any disability, and there will be no board hearing at this time to have him recognised as having a disability.
This letter made me nervous.. I felt like i was being put off and placated.
Letter 3: (which I received August 14)
It has come under review that the report given was not specific enough to require the purchase of a keypad for (name). We suggest you have him type daily on a computer over the entire summer to practice and we will assess him in the fall, to see if this type of assistive technology will be helpful.
GREAT FLIPPETTY JESUS!!! Type for the whole summer eh!!! for 17 days!
and the saga will continue | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 8/15/2007 2:07:01 PM | They thought I had ADHD and the teachers wanted to put me on Ritalin. I also had serious behavioural problems in relation to other children bullying me.
Then they discovered I had food allergies when I was 8 years old! Got rid of most of the foods I am allergic to and my concentration and behaviour improved DRASTICALLY! Been trying to deal with the environmental allergies allergies as well but food is easier to do. LOL!
Also it wasn't discovered until I was 15 that I have Cerebral Palsy and a myraid of learning disabilities such as Discalclia and medical disabilities which is why I was such a frustrated child. Today no one can really tell unless I tell them. My ability to walk, talk etc has been attributed to my playing drums from an early age. People can seem perfectly normal on the outside until some little sign says hey get a catscan on that kid. I occassionally have really mild seizures, I thought this was normal until a school nurse caught it. I'm also abnormally strong so that helped hide problems as well. LOL!
I once suggested to a friend to get her son tested for allergies. She did so immediately and within a month her son was an absolute angel! She still thanks me to this day for the change in her son and all I did was tell her about me having food allergies and what it did to me.
Get him tested for food allergies, it only takes a few minutes.... You may discover that he is allergic to citric acid which is found in most foods. All you do is cut down on foods high in it such as oranges and lemons and you'll see.
And yes I too was frustrated by having to sit through other kids slowly and painfully making thier way through books that only took me moments to read. I was reading by kindergarten thanks to my keen interest in stories, poems and music.
After that go out and buy him a drumkit, having a drumkit helps me tonnes! :D | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 8/15/2007 8:59:05 PM | Just a couple of things first...my first daughter quit high school for a gov't job...she went back and got her Gr 12... my second completed high school but when she went to college, she failed miserably...my 3rd daughter quit high school in Gr 10...I stuck it out until 12 but was left two credits short...my youngest is now following the same path!
However...with that background being said...we have also found out that ALL of the females in our family have had similiar experiences and ALL of us turned out to be in the 97-98 percentile gifted in languages/writing/reading and comprehension...ALL of us failed miserably at math and sciences (unless it was "hands on" or "kinesthetic learning" for us)...again, ALL of us also had mothers who fought the school system for years before finally giving up...and ALL of us ended up going back to school/college and are now living life to the fullest, enjoying it and living the way we want/need to.
It was suggested that medicating some was a plan and was vehemently protested against by ALL of us every time. As a mother, I KNOW what is best for my child. YOU as a mother KNOW what is best for your own child. YOU carried that child. YOU raise him. THEY did not, do not and should not attempt any type of interference in that communication.
It is of the utmost importance that you do NOT allow them to push anything on your son. Make them do their jobs. Fight, scream, yell and do it all over again until they understand that you are not going to get on that particular ride with them. In the end, I promise that you will have made all the difference in the world to his life, his skills and abilities as well as perhaps leaving the system with a firm belief that we as mothers and parents are refusing to do what is their job.
I'm not going to get into the difficulties here but if you would like to contact me via e-mail, I will share what I did, learned, try to share and since I lived in EL...which, if you are in Suds, is half way between you and the Soo so that means that I am a Northern girl and know that system up there rather well...there are things that I know of and programs that you may not be aware of. (not that I am implying anything here either!!)
The choice is yours. Either way...good luck to you both and best wishes for all in life that your son becomes through your advocacy. 
As Always,
NPY | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 8/16/2007 5:57:06 AM | Wow, Mae, thanks for the updates. At least you got something back from the school. We had a big meeting in March with all of the recommendations for programs and testing for my son. They did the enrichment testing and he tested over the 90th percentile in everything except on one math test. I couldn't figure that one out until I saw the test. It was a timed test and started out with 1+1, 2+1 etc. he would have balked at doing it until the harder questions came along. They put his class level as grade 5-8 on every subject (he's in grade 2). However, since enrichment programs don't start until grade 5, andhe's just entering grade 3 he'll have to wait. They said they'd look into creating some personal enrichment program for him. I called the school in June just to get an update on what was happening. They hadn't done anything in the way of enrichment, just had counsellor sessions to deal with his social issues. They even went as far as to suggest I put him in private school where he'll get more attention and be exposed to childrem more like himself. I asked if they were going to pay it. 
He's been tested for ADD, ADHD, Aspergers etc. Although he falls just below the criteria for Aspergers he does have some definite qualities of it. Funny thing is, I had asked the doctor about it when he was 4 but they don't test until they're older. He's seen a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, done tons of social skills programs etc. The Psychologist will be doing more academic testing this year. Still no answers and I've pretty well given up on the schoolboard. Even my sister and friend are frustrated with it and they're both teachers. Thank God both have been in the position of working with kids like him and have given me some valuable pointers. Thankfully my job benefits cover a lot of the testing as well so that has been a big help.
Keep working away at it and demand answers - truthful ones. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 8/16/2007 3:40:01 PM | There's an alternative for people, not just children, who have learning disabilities (LD), aquired brain injury (ABI), ADD/ADHD, tourette's syndrome, even asperger's, and conditions which stem from them including panic-anxiety disorder, OCD and depression, etc . It's called neurotherapy or neurofeedback. It's non-invasive and helps one to focus, relax and be calm through training the brain to "behave" properly--adjusting the brainwaves.
As an adult with LD and some of the stated conditions, I find this therapy better than any prescription or other therapy I've tried (and I've tried them ALL), though it may go hand in hand with them. If you have any questions or want more information on it, feel free to ask me. I'm a real advocate for neurofeedback. It's been utterly miraculous for me. I highly recommend it. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 8/18/2007 4:25:47 PM | Mae
Please keep letting us know how things go. I'm keeping an eye on this thread and would love to hear how things went for you and your son. Hopefully something good has come from all of this.
I had a thought about something else since I last posted. How old is your son's school? If it is more than 15 yrs old...I would also like to suggest that you ask for the air quality test results as they can play into your child's difficulties especially if there is asbestos present as those older buildings are FULL of the stuff and/or the O2 levels drop by even .05% in a maximum size class, you will run into a few children who are affected by these changes.
The reason I am sharing this is that I raised my two youngest in the Algoma District of the school board, there are many schools in the North who have had asbestos/O2 issues and if we do not share our information then how is anyone else to learn? The board won't offer this information up to parents on their own, so it is up to you to ask for yourself and btw...legally, you have the right to see those tests.
Hopefully, things will have changed this year for him and you.
Take care.
As Always,
NPY | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 8/18/2007 4:49:28 PM | They thought there was something wrong with me all through grade school.
I was just bored out of my mind. Didn't find the work challenging enough. They tested me many times as a child for different things but when the IQ tests came they were just so mad they tested me 2 more times.
I'd say make it fun and interesting.
Find things that he likes to do and use it as a reward to get him to focus.
I got help in the 4th grade when one teacher got me into Origami. You learn to focus and take your time with things. All it is, is paper folding but it is an amazing pastime.
Why not try and find out what he enjoys academically. I was a math and science buff. maybe finding the Academia he enjoys is the key, then he'll learn to adapt himself to what he doesn't like. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 3/26/2008 6:02:33 PM | He should be tested for sure. Most people are very frightened to have their child "labelled". But worst case is he got labelled, was allowed extra teacher help in school, was given extra teaching tools and attention, more time for exams, a computer to take home, some special software to help with typing out assignments,,,,etc.......
Make sure to go to the library and read a few books......it is a very difficult thing for a parent to "accept", after you get past that point, you will see the huge difference all the extra help, encouragement, is doing for him... | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 3/27/2008 6:26:41 AM | Mae,
I realize this thread is a little old now, but hope your son is doing well and that you have received more co-operation from his school.
I have a son (now 28), who was also born on December 24th, and I too had concerns. His inability to get work completed on time (yet he always knew who had whose eraser or ruler, or what they had packed for lunch, lol), to remain focused instead of wandering around, to concentrate on neatness instead of doodling on his work papers, that sort of thing ...
In my case though, he was in a terrific school, and the teachers were the ones who re-assured me that there was nothing wrong with him. They gave me to understand that being born so close to the cut-off date for entering school was the only thing that was the cause of all this. That a child of that age and still in the early grades of school, is often behind that of his/her fellow classmates' level of maturity (= ability to stay still, concentrate) , and becomes less apparent as they get older. Let's face it, had he been born 8 days later, he'd have had to wait another year before entering school. I accepted their persuasive arguments and decision, and gave up on my persistence he be put back a year. And I'm glad I listened. It all leveled out for him around Grade IV. He went through all of the remainder of grade school, high school and university with honours
I hope I have given you something to take heart, and I wish you both the best.
hnh
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 3/27/2008 7:03:01 AM | the other thing that parents should try and do, if they can, is be a strong presence in the school. you have the right to sit in on classes. sometimes what is labelled behavioural, learning issues, etc is more to do with a clash of personalities and expectations. a child might be lyrical, artsy dreamer type and he/she is working with a teacher who is less fluidic and more rigid. that means that the teaching style might not correlate with your child's learning style.
get to know your school, your teachers. be in the school volunteering. sit back and listen and observe. how do teachers reprimand the kids who are running in the hall--do they yell, are they derogatory, do they speak with them, do they ignore it, etc. check out the work on the bulletin boards...is the only work that is posted that which is perfect or is their work that is posted that is completely wrong. how do they mark the incorrections--big, bold, red marker with no positive or a balance between positive and negative or do they ignore the errors.
and don't be afraid to use that information to make requests. fight for resources and take it as high as you need to some days. | |
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| Son going in for testing.. any advice Ontario oriented?
Posted: 4/23/2008 10:39:23 AM | Wow I hadn't realized that I'd had recent comments on this.
To update you all,
We have had a fabulous teacher this year for him in Gr 3, the complete polar opposite of the woman we had last year. The hardest thing I think has been getting him over the aggression and frustration he has, mostly stemming from the way he was handled in the classroom last year.
I was giving him herbal & vitamin methods to try to help with the Inattentive ADD that he has tendencies in, and it didn't seem to be helping. I agreed to have him put on a low dose of Concerta to see if it helped us any. I was very torn about medicating him. What broke me down was the thought that I'd exhausted every avenue but medication..what if I'd been jerking him around for a year and the pills could have been helping him all along?
We've decreased his dosage again about halfway through the year, and he is doing well. I still have alot of inner conflict about the medication, he had the flu twice at one point in March and I had him off the pills for 3 weeks with no one noticing any change in his behavior. So when we go back to the psychologists in May for some follow up testing I think I'm going ask about pulling him off of it entirely.
The school board has been letting him use a keyboard to do his work at times instead of writing, and he gets use of a special calculator that shows the complete problem you type in instead of the answer popping up and the equation disappearing. We have had to get letters for him to apply to have his own equipment, which has been the biggest pain in the butt on the face of the earth. The wording has to be so specific. I got 3 letters from the Pediatrician to get the wording finally correct, and then after a few months the school board comes back and says the letter has to come from the psychologist that did the educational assessment.
So here we are at almost the end of the school year again, a bit further along than we were before, but almost as far behind.
My youngest starts JK this fall, the middle in SK and he'll be into grade 4 so I'll be in the school more so than I am now.
Our school is an old school. It's actually up under review with a bunch of others to see how to where they can build a new school to join together a few areas, but really by the time thats all sorted, he'll be in highschool.
Thanks to all for your concern and advice.. it is greatly appreciated | |
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