Off meds for the Christmas Vaca, school starts next week.

[Peanut_Farley]

Trev has been sans Concerta for the Christmas Vacation and it's been going pretty good. He's happier and doesn't want to take it for school.  I have no problem with it except that he is having problems in school, math grade wise and I don't know what to do.  I don't know if the Concerta is helping him grade wise, he's never actually gone to school without it.  He went a week a few weeks ago and his teacher said that he was "Just all over the place."  I thinks she's spoiled because Trev is a good kid, but without meds he is more active...he's ADHD lol...but I think he can do it.  I just don't want him to start getting in trouble, he never is in school, and that be another think that he does "wrong"
He gets upset that he's not AB honor roll, like his bro and sis, he doesn't get really good grades, but he is NEVER in trouble at school.  He's the "most well behaved kid in my class" if you ask any of his teachers.
I really don't want him back on the Concerta or the Abilify (on Abilify only because of the Concerta...angry, not eating, ticks...you get the idea), but have no idea how to approach this with his teacher. 
HELP!!

[rccmom]

This is a hard one because his teachers are already used to him being one way. It is more difficult to teach a child with adhd, but there are things they can do to make it easier. I would try to talk to his teacher within the first day or so that she is back at school and help her come up with a plan on how to deal with your son. He can be allowed to go for a drink a bit more often, being allowed a fidgit in his hands can help when he is expected to sit still and listen, she can involve him more in the class-room as in handing out papers and stuff. She may have some other ideas, or the school counselor may have some ideas. As for how to approach her, tell her that you don't like the side effects of the concerta that then have to be medicated by an additional drug and you are going to do a non-medicated trial with your son.

Also, academically, there are things she can do to help him. Try finding the book "Dreamers, Discovers, and Dynamos: How to help the Child that is Bright, Bored, and Having Trouble at School". It has a great section on pratical solutions for school work, like high lighting math problems, or color coding sections that go from addition to subtraction.  

Realistically, there are going to be bumps on this road. Your child will get in trouble. However, trouble is not the end of the world, and you can pass that attitude onto him. Also, you can talk about the positives of adhd traits. Best of luck to you two!

[Peanut_Farley]

thank you for the reply.  I will be talking to his teacher on Monday.  Sorry about all the misspelled words, I got a notebook for Christmas and still working on the smaller keyboard!!  It's hard! lol