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Big Changes in 6th Grade
My son was diagnosed with ADHD before entering K. I had him evaluated at this time on the advise of his preschool teacher. In 4th grade I had him re-evaluated to make certain we were doing the right thing. His medication was never a guessing game, he reacted well to Ritalin and Concerta and still is on Concerta although we have lowered the dossage due to social problems. We don't give him medication on the weekends or on school vacations and this works for us.
This year he is beginning to show real changes in school. His grades have dropped and he hates school.
I wondered if the onset of puberty was some of the cause for the changes and also factor in the new incredibly difficult expectations of his 6th grade team of teachers. I am a 6th grade teacher as well and know (hopefully) that you have to pick and choose your battles. My son's teachers don't seem to care about the fact that ADHD is a disorder and he can't help the things he does. He is not a behavorial problem in class, he just is unorganized and forgetful. The teachers all have their own teaching styles and rules. They may ask their students to do one thing one day and then switch back to another the next. My son can't operate this way and no matter what I do to try and show them that he is different they write him up and punish him (no free time) for the most mundane things. I am getting discouraged and my son of course is already there.
The biggest concern that I have is the anger. He is showing some very rageful behavior at home only. For example he gets very angry when he plays his video games and blames me for losing them when he does. He rages and shouts and screams at both me and his younger brother when things don't go his way. He never lashes out at me, he does throw his game controlers and occasionally he has thumped his brother on the back or head causing him to cry.
He also loses things and blames us for taking them. I have been looking into ODD and wondered if there was anyone out there who also has kids that show this angry side at home. I spoke with one Doc who said that with ODD the child really has difficulty in all places, not just the home, and the school says that he is not difiant there, just unorganized. Lowering the dosage of Concerta was supposed to help with the anger issues but i have not noticed it helping at all.
I am very worried and hope that there is an explanation to his sudden angry side.
I am also concerned that if the school does not realize that my son is not being a smart alec or uncooperative because he wants to, that they are going to push him towards really hating school and he will want to quit for real.
I am just so confused and feel helpless. I am my son's biggest advocate and will continue to be, but I need something/one to help.
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8 Jan 2008 @ 3:54 PM
8 Jan 2008 @ 8:33 PM