Parenting. What do you say to the teacher during a meeting to discuss you kids Attention Deficit problem?

Question

Hey thats a shiny watch you got on!
Shaun Majunder

I have a blue bike!

I cant believe i got serious answers. Are you people retarded?

Answer 1

Hey dude, didnt i see you in Woodstock?

Answer 2

Ok, if the problem has been DIAGNOSED through TESTING as ADD...you explain that it is a mental disorder, not a lack of character or laziness or something social. If it has been diagnosed, there is a good chance that a stimulant will be prescribed. I have seen amazing results from these stimulants. They actually CALM kids with ADD down, while they won't do that to kids who don't have ADD.

Now, if your child needs to just pay attention...I would suggest not allowing the child to watch TV which trains the mind to have an attention span of 7 minutes.

The other possibility is that the lack of attention is social. If a student doesn't get along with hir fellow students or is shy, there might be a tendency to go inside--to escape the social situation. If that is the case, the teacher can do a lot to help that student.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Be a good listener. Come to the meeting prepared. Read about ADD and be knowledgeable. You may have some good reasons to argue against it. Maybe you need to change something in the child's diet to help with the child's concentration. You also need to formulate an opinion about medication for your child. Sometimes, just teaching your child life skills like making a list to get things done and organizational skills can eliminate some of the problems. Having ADD isn't the worst thing to happen to a person. I am an adult who has had it all of my life. I am able to multitask better than most people, am extremely creative, and am able to do a lot of things quite well, perhaps better than the average Joe. I can see the benefits of medication in some cases. I am middle aged and at a point where most people retire, but I am still waiting to see who I am going to be when I grow up. Meanwhile, I do some amazing things, organize amazing things and am a pretty interesting person who has had super experiences in my life. I wouldn't trade my ADD for anything. It is who I am and why I am who I am. However, I have had students who were extremely ADD and they created enemies with their behavior. They were only socially acceptable when on medication. Their penmanship was interesting. It is not readable when off medication, and beautiful when on medication. So, medication can be a very needed thing. Everyone deserves to be happy and liked. Keep an open mind and good luck. It is not a death sentence.

Answer 4

Ask questions.
Ask the teacher if they notice certain behaviors and if he/she suspects ADD. Ask what kind of accomodations is he/she making for the child. Ask if a meeting with the Committee on Special Education is appropriate at this time. Tell the teacher if your child is on any meds and request that the teacher communicate daily all assignments the child is required to do in school and out. I have more ideas but I don't know how severe the ADD or how open you are to being a supportive parent.

Answer 5

Try discussing strategies that may be useful in helping your child to concentrate, then both school and home are working to the same rules, you need to co-operate with the school and teacher if you want your child to have a chance at achieving anything.

Answer 6

The best thing I can tell you is to acknowledge the problem and try to work with the teacher to get to the best solution for your child. It's not as funny as you think. By not addressing the problem, you could be doing your child a terrible disservice.

Answer 7

I would think the teacher would be the first to bring it up. If he or she doesn't, then is there really a problem in the classroom?

Then again, the teacher may be an idiot. So I would bring it up, no sugar coating.

Answer 8

When she is talking, interupt her and say "What? I Wasn't paying attention."