My son is having issues at school. He is not having problems with content, rather with behavior. This week he began crying at night, complaining that he was sick, wanting a day off, etc. He just doesn't do that. I guess I'm just frustrated... I am a special educator myself in another district so I know enough to get annoyed and upset. He had a rough start with his biological family and was bounced around in foster care. Although we are pretty okay right now attachment wise, I know trust is a big thing for him still. He also has a number of sensory things going on, anger issues from time to time, and a number of ADD symptoms. I just don't feel like medication is the answer right now - he needs time to work things out - although at some point in the future I realize it may be needed. Meds were tried earlier on with awful results. And he's made so much progress. I emailed the school several times last year about his situation and needs, and we didn't even find out who his teacher was until the week before school started. They have a behavior program for the whole school (PBS) and cards in the class that are taken away, but this is all negative. I don't see him reaching the PBS standards at all this year, if ever. I've met with the staff twice this year, even gave them sensory items to try, ideas, suggestions, etc. I don't think anything is actually being implemented. He is sent out of the room frequently (which of course is rewarding to him because it gets him out of whatever the situation it is - noise, stress, etc.), misses special classes, isn't allowed to use the sensory items, and the card system seems pretty subjective. I had a good feeling at first about his teacher, and I'm sure she is a good teacher, but this week is so sad. He is so unhappy, and is talking about himself as "bad". I am laughing at myself, too, since I am so worried about calling them. I'm doing everything I can think of on the home side: social stories about anything specific we can target, role playing (he loves this), sensory stuff before school starts, keeping him off the bus (what a nightmare!), we use visual schedules and charts which he loves, and I'm trying to back up the school with some consequences but I just feel like giving that up. Some things he's been "punished" for are things that could have been stopped if they had allowed him to chew something, for instance. Which they know, because I told them myself and provided things to chew. Anyway... I'm interested in anything anyone has to offer. I'm trying to get myself geared up for something but I don't quite know what to do. I'm afraid at some point I'll say: well, duh! You should know that already!

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