[arkansas parent]

That how long it took before T got a note sent home. He was one check mark away from being paddled. He would not stop talking, then got mad at the teacher and slammed his fist on the desk.
He use to make fist and hit things/shake it at us, but I put a stop to that a long time ago.
I know he is just testing his new teacher, but it is not like pre-k they will NOT up with his crap. I swore I would not let his behaviors at school this year stress me out. ( waiting for TPR on baby A has already got me STRESSED!!!!! )

[greenrobin]

I'm jealous. One whole week.

Bubba made it 2 days.

It's a new situation with new stressors, more competition from classmates, and new rules. It's ripe for notes. And consequences.

Bubba is a fc and as such cannot be paddled, but he sure as shootin' can be suspended. We're trying very hard to get his teacher to understand his "issues."

I know how frustrated you feel. No advice here, just commiseration!

[momraine]

So far we have made it three days with no notes, however home behavior, yikes!

[lucyjoy]

Sounds like he could be testing his teacher and she's not passing.

My sons tended to test out teachers like they did new parents to be sure they were safe. If I'm lucky, when I explain this to a new teacher, she gets it. My kids need to know the teacher means what she says. Once she establishes that, they do fine. If she's wishy washy and handing out tons of chances, my kids would be wild and out of control all year long.

Sometimes something a teacher would do or say or a tone of voice would spike a kids trauma. Can you figure out from the information your getting if that is the case? Often times, I can teach my kiddo how to block the trigger if I can figure it out, or I can get the teacher to use a different phrase or whatever.

Hope the year improves for your son. Kindergarten is suppose to be fun.

[chickymum]

Don't let it stress you out! YEAH RIGHT! Easier said than done I guess. I tell myself that every morning before I get out of bed but it doesn't work, LOL.

But wait, I don't get this paddleing thing you are talking about. Is that a school thing?

[waited2long]

I was wondering about the paddling myself. I thought that was now illegal?

[arkansas parent]

If a kid get their name on the board with 4 check marks they get paddled. Either the teacher does it or the principle You can write a note saying you don't want your child paddled.

[chickymum]

Hmmm I bet that works well. Does the threat of that work for T at all?
It just became law here (BC) that not even a parent may spank their child at any time.

[waited2long]

I really did think it was the law here as well... Not for parents, (though they are restricted to a certain area of the buttocks) but for schools.

A principal threatened to spank my brother once, (this was in the 70s) and my mother threatened to spank the principal if he tried it!

[momraine]

Spanking is legal here, though our school does not do it.

[coachmur]

Wow, what a relief to find out that I am not the only one with school troubles after only three days. You all make it not quite so bad. Why is it that I take comfort in the fact that I am not the only one who is going through this? School started on Monday for our second grader. (placed at 4, tpr'd at six, adopted at seven because that is how long it took for paper work to get done) After behaving perfectly for me all summer long, sitting still and coloring for hours, reading with me, etc, not one potty "accident" she got off the bus with pee running down her legs the first day, got in trouble the next day for ignoring numerous warnings before the teacher finally followed through with consequences and the same thing today. I am soooooooooooooooo frustrated. I told her is she can't find it in her to be respectful to her teacher or us (mom and dad) we may just have to homeschool her. I have thought quite seriously about it. She doesn't want to because we live way out in the country with no neighbors or friends to play with and that is what she loves about school. she is very bright but hard to figure out. hellllllllllllllllppppp me please.

[chickymum]

I have to say, Coach, that I began homeschooling last March and ABSOLUTELY, it is majorly stress reducing. That was the main reason we decided to try it (and to get more one on one time in with DD) It is such a relief for me with no meetings trying to explain where we are at with her and what kind of things she will do. Also I don't need to have the school set up extra supervision for just her. My heart no longer starts pounding when I see the the schools number on my call display and best of all when someone puts a note in the bulletin because they have lost a gold ring then I don't have to search every inch of where she could have hidden it because she was not there to steal it. I feel like I am very fortunate to be in a position where I am able to do this especially after hearing what many other parents are going through. It really does seem that a lot of people here are on high anxiety mode somewhat because of the new school year starting. Oh well at least everyones not alone in the boat!

[stevenstwin]

Oh great. Paddling a child that has been traumatized and most likely physically abused....what an excellent way to reinforce the idea that the world is NOT a safe place!

[arkansas parent]

Unfortunately the threat of a paddling is the only thing that may keep T from causing a lot of trouble. Last year he was awful because he knew the only that would happen was a time out. If he doesn't want to do class work or listen to a book he will get himself put in time out. But I am hopeful (more like wishing) it wont get to the point he is paddled. Instead of a time out during class time (like pre-k)they have time out during recess. He cant stand someone else having fun without him.

[Robbin]

Lucyjoy, my daughter is the same way. If the teacher is nice and kind and sweet, my daughter will WALK all over her with spiked combat boots! Only when the teacher is firm/strict, puts the rules in place and enforces them EVERY time, does she NOT act up. She has cursed out bus drivers, lunch aides, substitute teachers, etc. And that started in kindergarten!