ADHD and organization at school -- DS is struggling

[redheadbaker]

DS will be ten next month, and is in 4th grade.  

We got an email from Liam's teachers that he's starting to display more ADHD behaviors at school than he was when school first started (blurting out answers, humming during quiet time, crawling on the floor, making animal noises). We sort of expected that -- when he settles into a new situation and gets more comfortable, he starts pushing to see what he can get away with. 

But I've also been forgetting to make sure he takes his medicine before we leave for school. I think we've remedied that with an Alexa reminder.  (ETA: I'm not convinced we've found the right dosage, but his pediatrician is very conservative about using only the bare minimum of meds)

But part of the complaint was that he's not organized at school. This is the first year they change classes. They say he often forgets to unpack his materials or doesn't have what he needs with him for subject area switches. I ... don't know how I can help with that from home. I struggle with organization myself. The teachers say they provide organizational supports ("Morning To-Do List" -- a list written out on the Smartboard), and several verbal prompts, but he doesn't take advantage of those.

[redheadk]

Can you or they help him make a list of what always needs to be unpacked, what always goes to the next class, etc? Laminate and tape to the front of his binder or attach to his backpack or whatever it is that travels with him all day long. IME, some kids with ADHD struggle using a list on the board and need something smaller and more personal. Then the teachers can just make a point of helping him if something out of the ordinary needs to be taken when they switch classes.

[mrsGreeko]

I don’t know about the school organization piece, but I will mention how we manage meds. I have 3 kids on meds. So I bought little med cups and every morning, first thing I go into the laundry room where the meds are locked in the lock box (side note: meds should always be locked up especially as kids get on to teen years). I put everyone’s meds into the cups and set them on kitchen counters. That way I can see who has taken meds that morning and who hasn’t. Each person has a different colored med cup so it’s easy to tell. And for my DD who take morning and night meds I put them in a divided container with a lid so that we remember the night med also because I can see if it’s been taken before I go to bed. I also monitor med intake because my teen is depressed and previously was hoarding meds “for later just in case” so I watch every med going into every mouth (again PSA all meds should be locked up at all times!!).

ETA: something Like this for the med cups: GMS Stackable 7 Day Pill Organizer with 2 Lids and 7 Adhesive Labels for Organizing Vitamins, Supplements, and Medications (Large Rainbow, 7 7/8 Inches in Height 2 3/4 Inches in Diameter) smile.amazon.com/dp/B07817MR5W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_QNVEH1ND42GRS5B2RQXD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

ETA2: lockbox for meds: Limited-time deal: Lockabox One | Compact and hygienic Lockable Box for Food, Medicines and Home Safety | One Size 12 x 8 x 6.6 inches (Crystal) smile.amazon.com/dp/B01KVKMGBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_dl_M4QTAMR2XQW260FEYJ1M?psc=1

[redheadbaker]

Oct 22, 2021 16:02:54 GMT -5 redheadk said:

IME, some kids with ADHD struggle using a list on the board and need something smaller and more personal. Then the teachers can just make a point of helping him if something out of the ordinary needs to be taken when they switch classes.

I didn't know that -- thanks! He has a similar list for things that need to come home every night taped to his desk, so I'll message them and see what we can do about a more personal list for changing classes. 

[mrsGreeko]

Oct 22, 2021 16:20:18 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Oct 22, 2021 16:02:54 GMT -5 redheadk said:

IME, some kids with ADHD struggle using a list on the board and need something smaller and more personal. Then the teachers can just make a point of helping him if something out of the ordinary needs to be taken when they switch classes.

I didn't know that -- thanks! He has a similar list for things that need to come home every night taped to his desk, so I'll message them and see what we can do about a more personal list for changing classes. 

Actually I do have advice on the organizational piece. Haha. DS has ADHD and we have visual checklists posted all over the house for him. I think some small laminated lists of what he needs to do that are attached to his folder or whatever he carries his stuff in would probably be hugely useful!

[erbear]

Executive functioning is really hard for kids with adhd. The teachers need to provide supports (checklist, reminders) for him. Does he have an iep? Put it in there.

[redheadbaker]

Oct 22, 2021 19:26:24 GMT -5 erbear said:

Executive functioning is really hard for kids with adhd. The teachers need to provide supports (checklist, reminders) for him. Does he have an iep? Put it in there.

He has a 504 plan.   

[expectantsteelerfan]

Agree with the lists, and 2 other things...my ds (12 and 7th grade) basically needs to carry a HUGE binder with any and all materials he might need with him at all times, or else he'll forget. And I am the one who unpacks it with him regularly at home (just removing stuff that isn't needed anymore, plus organizing where he puts things). He has a folder at the front of the binder where he puts everything during the day, and then we organize at home. But if he can't find something he needs, it's probably somewhere in that folder. But he also has his calculator, pencils and pens, any supplies, his composition books, etc. inside the binder.
If a class requires a material that won't fit inside the binder and he's required to have it in class and at home (like a textbook or an English novel they are reading, etc.), we have in his 504 that he gets a copy to keep at school and one for at home. And for other classes that require materials brought on a non-regular basis, he keeps the materials in that classroom. This does make it difficult if he is missing work in that class (like right now he keeps all his German materials in the German classroom. He has German twice a week on the rotating 6 day cycle. He missed an assignment when he was pulled out for something last week, and it's still a zero because he can't do it at home because he needs his German notebook, which is in the class, so he will need to wait till his next German day to make it up, and he'll need to REMEMBER to ask to make it up, so in this case I will also email the teacher to ask her to remind him as well).