[lucyjoy]

Had S's P/T conference today. His regular teacher is not having an issue with him but said he is really acting up in specials. The art teacher wasn't there but I did visit with both the library teacher and the music teacher.

Now the library teacher was able to give me concrete examples of the behavior and was very excited to have the suggestions I gave her for dealing with it. If she uses them, my son will not act up in her class anymore. She also was excited about the Captive in the Classroom videos I told her his regular teacher has.

Now the music teacher is the one I don't know what to do with. This is the first time I've met her and she says to me-"I am not qualified to teach someone with S's issues." Well, S's biggest issue is that he's highly skilled at getting teachers off track so he doesn't have to do anywork. I tried to get a feel for what exactly S is doing and quite frankly, it sounds as if she has no control over any of the class.

Honestly, S has a lot of trouble in small rooms with lots of background noise and life would be simpler if he didn't have music class. However, I refuse to give him what he wants for bad behavior.

I did inform S that I had clued all his teachers in on his game and given them my phone number and it would not be good for him should they need to use it. We also went over respect for teachers and what I expect him to do in a classroom.

Any other ideas?

[Lylac]

We have our parent-teacher conference tomorrow. I'm so not looking forward to dealing with these morons.

No idea's for S..just hugs for you!

[momraine]

I think it's awesome you got one teacher to listen. M just cons his teachers so they all think he is soooo sweet. Oh brother! I guess the music teacher has no confidence in her teaching and does not want to learn, so S is probably not the only child who acts up in her class. So she kind of deserves what she gets. M is doing great in school, though I am having trouble with dd. She is failing everything, but since she passed the big test last year, she gets no help. She only passed the test by two points and that after lots of tutoring. According to her teachers she is falling through the cracks. They all say she is great, no disclipline problems except occasionally too much talking, like most of the girls.
She has actually wanted to do homeschool in the past so she can spend more time dancing. (she lives for dance)

[qs mom]

I just got a letter for CSE too. They want to do a review on Monday. They did a Functional Behaviour evaluation recently. So this should be fun.

[ajjhmf]

Lucy,it sound's like you are doing all you can. As for the music teacher's comment, that's more her problem than yours. It doesn't cound like she has control of her class and that always makes for a bad scene with our kids. Maybe she'll take a look at the videos and get some ideas.

It's hard when the adults in charge of our kids can't handle them. Every year I have the conversation about how J needs a strong, structured classroom with a good balance of kindness and discipline. You'd think by now they'd get it.

[crick]

Wonder if music class is just too stimulating for him? Maybe he could have some light headphones to help mute the noise in there?

If he absolutely hates background noise and has a hard time filtering it out, it might bother him more than he lets on and instead chooses to act out.

[ajjhmf]

Something interesting information that the doctor who did J's neuropsych told me about a link between CAPD and ADHD.

I told her that J had been tested for CAPD over the summer. Before the testing, he had so many of the markers for CAPD that the audiologist thought he was going to test positive for it, but when they did the actual test, it came out negative. Much like S if I recall.

Our neuropsych said that new research shows that some types of ADHD is a lot like CAPD. The processing problem though occurs in a different area of the brain than it does in CAPD.

I see her again next week and am going to ask her for some more info. But seriously, the 2 specials J had the hardest time with are phys. ed and music. He LOVES them both, but is "easily distracted" and "many times unable to stay still or control his body."

I'm curious to see what recommendations they will have for J's IEP in this regard. I'll be sure to pass them on.

[aspenhall]

I'd threaten to just go sit in class with him during the ones he "needs help" behaving in.

And the teacher just flat out told you "He's smarter than I am"....I'll bet S already figured it out!

[lucyjoy]

I did let the teachers know I am available to sit in class with him. I also informed Seth that the teachers job is teaching the class and if he needs a babysitter that's my job.

Seth was never screened for CAPD which the school suspected he had, because his hearing problem was discovered at that time and they were unable to do the testing. This school doesn't have the resources or knowledge to test for it. ADHD was ruled out by 2 docs.

[ajjhmf]

Sound's like you have a good plan. Don't forget to mention your by-the-hour rate of payment for this services. I pay $10-15 an hour for my kids. Paying you $60-80 a day to babysit him might really cut into all that money he'sbeen trying to earn and save.

[lucyjoy]

Oh, we covered the babysitting fee!

[ajjhmf]

LOL...

I'm sure you did!

[lucyjoy]

One of the teachers told me she thought they made some kind of earplugs that filter out background noise. Anyone heard of those?

[Peggy]

I have a friend who has a son with Autism. He wore special headphones to filter out ambient noise. That was a few years back. They may not be so big and clunky now.

[qs mom]

I'm not sure about ear plugs, but I know they do have headphones. My son used a regular pair of headphones with the cord cut off throughout kindergarten and a good part of first grade for lunch and hall walks.