Hi everyone,

My son has ADHD, and with his medication and our behavior mod system at home, I think he has a fighting chance now.

BUT he's starting Kindergarten next week, and so far the information I've gotten about the curriculum is giving me a sinking feeling...

He's in the Gifted range with verbal and analytical skills, and then learning delayed with motor skills. So, all the cutting and pasting is going to be a big frustration for him.

And at the same time, the teacher says they'll learn addition and subtraction up to 10. Miles can already do that, before the first day of school.

They'll be playing phonics games about letter sounds, for pre-reading skills. Miles can read 1st grade level and higher books, unassisted, already.

They'll be doing lots of cutting and pasting and coloring. Great, just what he hates the most! LOL

Oh, and they'll be learning to count to 100. Guess what Miles can already do?

HELP! I've got an appointment with the school counselor on Friday, and I'll make a time for a conference with the teacher.

Honestly, she seems like a very caring, nice lady, but probably not an appropriate teacher for gifted kids. And no, there is NO gifted K program in my son's school. They have to wait until 1st grade.

Sheesh, all this, and I'm not even thinking about what will happen if he gets put down too much for bad behavior, and starts letting it all hang out, like he did all last year... the bad boy of PreK. We're praying the Adderall he's on will help at school as much as it has at home, the past month, in that area.

Worried to the point of physical symptoms, here...
~Amanda

My son is in 1st grade, kindergarten was definetly a HUGE hurdle, teacher called me everyday!She was old and did not "believe" in ADHD, and discouraged medication, my child was the bad boy of kindergarten,and the other kids laughed at him (I believe he thought they were laughing with him) BUT we got through it and you will too!What doesn't kill us can only make us stronger,right?Keep in constant touch with the teacher.My sons IQ test showed that he was above most kids scores,but he got SO bored he had to "entertain" himself by acting out.He is on Adderall as well now, and I do believe after months of trying we have found the right dose.And you will also see that the older he gets,maturity kicks in and things do get better.Oh by the way..that teacher is retired so maybe noone else will have to go through what I did.

As a teacher of ADHD kids and a teacher with ADHD, I know that kindergarten is a very important step, even if a child already knows things. More important than reading and math and science are the social skills a child picks up. Keep in close contact with your child's teacher. Offer to volunteer in the classroom as often as you can (hey- they'd be CRAZY to turn down free help!). Just sit back and let your son learn about standing in line and sharing on the playground and how to sit in a circle and be read to. Also, for the teacher's sake, remember that unless she's fresh out of college, she's had a student with similar behaviors as your son's. She's a professional. She also has a whole slew of people around her to help her out. Including you! Best of luck, to you AND your son!

Marie

I was going to say the same thing as Quilting Marie. The social skills are very important especially if they are gifted. My daughter (now older) went through that. She was reading before Kindergarten (taught herself). The academic work was boring but the other kids were fun to be around. They need to learn all the rules of being in school. First grade you can be tested and then they will pull your child out for a time period to pursue other things that are more interesting. They will also be expected to catch up to what is going on in class. My daughter had no problem.

Your strength is in knowing your son's strong points as well as his week points. This is good because you *don't* want to come off as the mother-who-thinks-her-child-does-no-wrong. If you let his teacher know where you think your son needs help, and, where he needs a challenge, she'll probably appreciate the insight. You'll be a great advocate for your son, it is always good for kids to know their mom is in their corner!

There are a lot of ways for the teacher to challenge your son in the classroom. A little girl in a kindergarten class could read well, so, the teacher had her read to the class during story time. There will be plenty of ways to keep him challenged and engaged. In my daughter's class, the kids were in different reading groups and were grouped by ability. Each small group was able to work at their own pace. It worked well for both the kids who were reading and those who were gaining pre-reading skills.

I think, though, that the main things kindie's learn at school is what is *expected* of them at school. So, while it's great that he is advanced academically, he will still have plenty to learn! Stay in line. Quiet in the Hall. Don't run with scissors. Keep your hands to yourself. Don't eat paste. Wait for directions. Use your words. Treat others with respect. If your trying your best you're doing great! etc., etc.

Your son sounds like mine with the motor skills delay. I think his teacher's biggest challenge will be trying to convince him that cutting and gluing is fun! But then again, children will often do things for their teacher that they will *never* do for us!

My son gets frustrated easily when he doesn't understand verbal directions and I made sure his pre-k teacher knew what to look for *before* he got to the point of frustration. But, I shouldn't have worried, she was so tuned into the kids, it is almost like she has a sixth sense. She is able to guide him so gently that he doesn't even realize that he was about to lose it.

My daughter's kindergarten teacher had a similar affect on the kids, she could help a child regain control just by saying his name, quietly! And, she could restore a child's confidence just by smiling reassuringly and letting them know she knew they were working really hard.

Good luck. It is so hard to let go of them when they still seem so young and vulnerable. I think that your concerns are *completely* normal and that you'll *both* be fine.

Take care,

wheezie

I would request the teacher have a higher curriculum for my child. I am going through a similar dilemma with a 2nd grader who is reading at 4th grade level. The teacher had my daugher reading at 1.8 level books, and my daughter was letting me know that the books she reads at school are baby stuff. After I contacted the teacher, and challenged her assessment that my daughter was at the appropriate reading level, she had a reading specialist test her the next day, and the result was 4.0-4.4 level, which is 4th grade. Now I am challenging the school to put her with 3rd graders reading groups, which would be more appropriate for her, and to assign her extra homework on reading. The school has complied with the extra homework, getting her 4.0-4.4 books to read, and assigning her a book report every week. Waitiing to see if they will adjust her classes to put her with 3rd graders for reading.

I told the teacher she is a kid who will do as little as possible and I don't want school to be EASY for her or she will not learn any study habits and she will be bored. I asked the teacher to up the bar on her till I report back that she is crying and then we will notch it back a dash.

I did the opposit with my other daugher, and in that case told the teachers to give her less homework. Each kid is different and i think as parents we are pretty good judges of what is best for our children. Teachers have to know we are involved, it makes them pay more attention and customize what our chidren get out of school

Good luck and hope that view helps

Jon