6th grader gets "stamp" after forgetting homework in locker
Would you be oK with this? Son, 11, in 6th grade has Bipolar and ADHD. He came home today with a straight faced "smiley" that says, "keep trying." It was on a "report" that he had to fill out telling why his homework wasn't done, what his plan of action is, and several other questions. My son's handwriting has always been laborious, and I'm sure it took him a good 20 or more minutes to fill out the sheet. He got the straight faced, "keep trying" smiley for forgetting the assignment in his locker.
In his IEP we have written that he gets to leave class 5 min early at the end of the day to gather belongings and homework and check with a teacher (usually his special ed teacher) to make sure he has everything. To me, it sounds like one of the teachers should be filling out this stamped questionnaire.
I am quite angry about this! I am a former spec ed teacher and we have been impressed with this school's 6th grade team so far, but this one teacher ~ ooh, I'd love to march in there and....(not writing any more....just too angry). We've had IEP's for two of our sons since they were in preschool, so we've been doing this for a while, but this is maddening.
Thanks for listening.
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Me (38) Bipolar; lamictal, abilify, cymbalta, adderall, trazodone, ativan
DH (39) Depression, ADHD
DS (12) Asperger's
DS (11) Bipolar; ADHD; Restless Legs Syndrome; tic disorder; metabolic syndrome; nocturnal enuresis; seasonal allergies which trigger reactive airway (Lithobid 900 plus lithium carbonate 150), abilify 7 mg, allegra 60 daily, multivitamins, Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega fish oil, Metformin 1000 daily, DDAVP .4 daily (weaning off because it's not working)
DD (9) Anxiety and ADHD
using Positive Discipline and Beyond Consequences parenting models
It seems like filling out this report will do nothing to help your son remember to get his completed homework out of his locker to turn in. Therefore it is really jus a punishment and a waste of time. I'm not sure how the homework is detailed in the IEP, but it seems like a first step would be to contact the teacher and discuss your concerns, and to problem solve how to help him remember to get his work.
Many MS kids struggle with getting organized and turning homework in on time. Maybe this approach would help those kids (although I'm not so sure it would), but I doubt it will have a positive impact on a child who is already struggling.
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Brenda,51, TBMF Parent to Parent Volunteer
Mom to A, 17, BP, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD: Eskalith CR, Trilafon, Lamictal, Seroquel, Cytomel, Allegra
E, 15 1/2, BP,AS: Seroquel, Eskalith CR, inositol, Buspar
B, 14 & H, 11
Married 18 years to DH, 50
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