School rec for inattentive type ADD

[Anonymous]

What schools would you recommend for a 1st grader with ADD inattentive type? He's also got a slow processing speed but high verbal score on wppsi. We are in a mainstream private, where we had a great experience for Kindergarten but off to a very rocky start in 1st grade. Not clear exactly what's going on but there appears to be significant regression in ability to attend and work independently. And for the first time we are getting reports that he is getting pulled out of class because he is being disruptive--which has never been an issue before. I'm out of my wits with anxiety, and while we are working to figure out what's going on and what we can do about it at the current school I want to consider all my options. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Do you want MD, DC or VA? Commonwealth has been highly recommended lately and I know several kids there. But I can't remember what year it starts. Newton is good but it is in Sterling, VA. If you are nearby it could be a good option. McLean in Potomac, MD has small classes but they won't deal with behavioral issues.

[Anonymous]

PP had some good suggestions. I would also add the Lab School in DC.

[Anonymous]

Maddux has been very good for a child with adhd and language processing issues.

[Anonymous]

I believe Commonwealth academy starts in 3rd grade but there has been talk of expansion to younger levels. I'll check (happy dad of high school student there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP had some good suggestions. I would also add the Lab School in DC.

Lab won't deal with behavioral issues either.

[Anonymous]

Is he medicated?

If not, no school will help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maddux has been very good for a child with adhd and language processing issues.

Maddux ends in 2nd grade, so it wouldnt seem worth it to change for just a year -- transitions are hard!

[Anonymous]

Time for meds.

[Anonymous]

Have you spoken with his current school about options? I would think they could suggest alternatives. You also need to keep in mind that it's still early in the school year. He may just be settling in and could improve as the 1st grade routine gets more familiar. In the meantime, ask the school for resource suggestions. Perhaps a good counselor who works with ADHD kids could help him and offer suggestions to his teacher.

[Anonymous]

OP - wow does this sound exactly like my now 10 year old DS. What your child is experiencing now is exactly what happened to my DS at the parochial school he was attending for kindergarten.

One thing you need to know is that his mainstream private does not have to accommodate your son, and many will not especially if the accommodations are a disruption to other students. The school will slowly force you out by constantly reprimanding him, pulling him out of class - and then you will come to the conclusion that you don't want your DS in that environment and you will pull him out. That's pretty much how it goes down. That way their hands are clean.

First, Who diagnosed your DS? was it a psychologist?

Is he medicated? I know no one wants to medicate and we too were in total denial with regards to meds but it was either that or continue to watch our DS spiral downwards, lose friends, not access the curriculum because he cant concentrate etc. You get the picture. It is something you might want to give serious consideration to.

Do you live in a strong public school district? I would consider that route, and perhaps get him on an IEP. Many times as kids get older their symptoms get worse before they improve.

with regards to non-mainstream privates, no one will take a child who is even mildly disruptive Yes, even SN schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What schools would you recommend for a 1st grader with ADD inattentive type? He's also got a slow processing speed but high verbal score on wppsi. We are in a mainstream private, where we had a great experience for Kindergarten but off to a very rocky start in 1st grade. Not clear exactly what's going on but there appears to be significant regression in ability to attend and work independently. And for the first time we are getting reports that he is getting pulled out of class because he is being disruptive--which has never been an issue before. I'm out of my wits with anxiety, and while we are working to figure out what's going on and what we can do about it at the current school I want to consider all my options. Thanks in advance.

OP, I have to agree with the PP who said it is time for meds. My DS was the same way, disruptive in class and always getting in trouble. There was a time when a day did not go by that I did not receive a note or a phone call from school. It was stressing me out big time, more than the demanding job I have. Once the pediatrician got him on the right meds, the impulsive behavior stopped. He went the entire school year last year without a call and may be one minor note about not listening but nothing like before. I also stay connected to the school counselor to ensure he/she is checking in with him and making sure there are no issues going on. Instead of looking at other school options, you should consult with your pediatrician about whether is it time to start you DS on meds. Believe me, it is not going to get better, it will only get worse because your DS cannot control the impulsiveness. And, grounding or punishing your DS is going to make him feel like he is a bad and "stupid" person. Going to another school is not going to change the behavioral issues. And, my DS is at one of the schools named that does not tolerate behavioral issues and for the most part, he has fallen in line because of the strict administration of medication. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

It was recommended to us to send our son to an all boys school that had lots of recess time. We did that and it worked well.

[Anonymous]

Does the teacher know his diagnosis? Did the evaluator suggest things that would help him in the classroom?

I would first try a parent teacher conference to see if the teacher/school is on board with providing accommodations in the classroom. Some teachers (private or public) are just better at dealing with kids like your DS. After all, most accommodations are just good teaching practices.

The disruptive behavior and the resulting punishment is the big signal something is not right with the environment especially if it is not typical behavior for your son. He may be acting out because of frustration with the task. Kids can also act out because of overstimulation or boredom. It would be important to talk with your son and the teacher separately to find out what the trigger was so the issue can be resolved and more episodes prevented. What happened just before the incidence he received the punishment for?

Talk to your child and see if he is happy with his class and his school. Is his self esteem being affected or is he happy where he is? How often is he punished at school? Are there timeouts, etc. that the school has not communicated with you? How well would your son adjust to a new school?

Try to persuade the teacher to use positive reinforcements in the classroom for the things your son does right. It could be a behavior chart that he gets stars for task completion, raising his hand, class participation, etc. Have the teacher email you when things don't go right or if there are skills he needs further support at home.

A good tutor with a background in Special Education would be worth the investment. There are areas the teacher will not be able to work on with your child - organization, monitoring his difficulty of sustaining attention, strategies to work around attention difficulties, etc. I would try the tutoring route before beginning meds. The meds. have side effects and it takes time to find the right dose. Also, the effectiveness decreases with time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP had some good suggestions. I would also add the Lab School in DC.

Lab won't deal with behavioral issues either.

being disruptive as a first grader does not equate having behavior issues. there is bound to be some fallout for a kid who cannot learn at school.

also, OP, for everyone telling you to medicate, if you do, I would suggest doing behavior therapy in conjunction (or even by itself). even with all these things, the teaching strategies may not work for him. a new environment may still be necessary. good luck.