Frustrated Kindergartener

My son was one of those boys. Until being diagnosed with ADHD and started on the right medication (trial and error in finding the right one that doesn't zone the child out). The problem is that they like to mainstream children with learning disabilities (which ADHD is a part of) instead of having them in special education classes. It took us 10 years to finally get our son placed in special ed classes. It has been life changing for him and I'm sure in the "normal" classes also. The teacher can suggest that the boys be tested by their pediatrition or general practioner but cannot diagnosis the child/illness herself. Naturally, each state has their own laws regarding what the teacher can do or suggest. I'd suggest that you privately ask the teacher if there is anything she/he can do without compromising the child's identity.

Been there, done that...took 10 years to fix!

W. Q.

As a first grade teacher, yes, you are right. We do get frustrated disciplining and it is draining. We would like for it to be better also. One idea is to go to your principal, school board, or otherwise. Teachers have less say than parents. Another idea is to offer to stay in her class and help with those problem kids so she can do the teaching. What she really needs is another person in the class (ideally the parents of the undisciplined boys). If only every parent were as caring and involved as you. What we teachers see alot is parents of 'aweful' kids are drained and exhausted too. They are happy to send their kids off to school to get a break. Sometimes the teachers also don't communicate properly with the parents to let them know that their child is causing such a problem. Good luck! Tell your daughter to hang in there, because there will be kids like this in every class, and that her teacher is trained to deal with kids like this and she will be ok. ;)

My daughter had the same problem. She went to a "special" public school that was as close to a private school as you could get. The majority of student were gifted & talented. You had to make application to go to this school. Since this was a very small school everyone knew everyone - parents included. I also volunteered about 3 or 4 days a week so knew the children's behavoior quite well.

When my daughter was put into a specific teachers class and I saw the list of other students I asked that she be transfered to a different teacher. All of the disruptive boys were in her class. I had seen firsthand how much time the Kindergarten and the 1st grade teachers had spent disciplining these boys(this was in 2nd grade)and I didn't want that much time taken out of the learning time of my daughter. The boys were good students but just being boys. I had a hard time proving that my request was only due to the boys and not the teacher. I didn't know anything about the teacher but knew that no one could keep a learning conducive atmosphere with them in the class. The group was not even split between the teachers but ALL of these boys were put into one class. (It's been so long I don't remember exactly how many there were but in remembering some of their names I come up with about 10 and the classes only had 18-20 total. So you can see that there would be a learning time issue.

I sat in on class for about a week and kept record of the times she spent having to deal with these boys. And the outcome. She was absolutely great however 75% of the day was not spent on education. I then did the same thing in the other teacher's class and the education time was over 95%!!

I submitted this to the principal and my daughter was moved the next morning. Also, both teachers met with the principal and the boys were split up equally. Just splitting the boys up made them settle down tremendously!! Both teachers were grateful for my observation!!! Best of all my daughter was happy there was no more "yelling"!!

I am an educator and I would take your concerns to the principal of the school. Not that you are upset with the teacher but you are concerned with how much time she has to spend with the boys that are misbehaving. I would also check into "yell" and "bad boys". How is she yelling, a child's interpretation of yelling would probably be different than mine or yours. Kids do not get suspended for just anything so the little boy whom has been suspended has been in trouble repeatedly and has done something fairly bad. This usually has an affect on the entire class. You have every right to address the principal and on up if you need to. Let me know if I can be of further assistance for you and good luck.