I am so glad I found this website. I know this website is for parents, but after the day I've had, I need some help and fast. I am an administrator in a school district. My school is K-8 and I have several years of Early CHildhood expereince. I have a 5 year old student who displays many of the symptoms many of the posts describe. At times he is the sweetest little boy in the world, totally compliant and helpful. At the blink of an eye, usually when he is asked to do something he doesn't like, he changes into a screaming fit, with cursing, hitting and destroying of property. His teacher and I have come to an understanding that we will work with him to move through his behavioral problems, however, as I have been at my new school for about 2 months, a CST evaluation had already been started. It came back that he qualified for the classification of ED (A term I do not like, but the only class. that fit). His mother rejected the district's recommendation for placement. The school relationship was strained at best, however when I started, it began to improve. However, we went right back to square one today, since her son did not qualify for an outside agency which was her last hope. He was suspended for biting his teacher (he broke the skin and it bled). I would never presume that I am more overwhelmed than the mother, but what I am is at a toal loss as to what to do next. I am used to difficult preschool children, in fact I prided myself in helping teachers meet the challenge and create stategies and plans in which students would be successful in school. But this time, I am really stumped. Mom is at her limit. She screamed at me today, "MY SON IS NOT AN ANIMAL!" and all I could do was agree with her, he is not. SHe further stated that he doesn't have any of these problems at home and if the school would gets it act together, he'd be okay. Where do you go now? I feel like, she is now unable to hear me due to her frustration- did I mention, she and the teacher don't have a good or any relationship- , the teachers are doing what I ask and we are giving him the interventions and accomodations that are appropriate for an Early childhood student, and the child still meets with minimal success?
Again, I know parents deal with it on an ongoing basis, and I just deal with it in school, and if I have overstepped my bounds by writing to this parent wesite, please forgive me. But if anyone has any tips with how to deal with mom, I am all ears. She is very frustrated, defensive and hurt. I fully understand why- it is heatbreaking to have to call her to tell her things like, he has hurt other students, his teacher, ran out of the building, etc. I am fully committed to his success but know feel like I am painted in a corner and don't know where to turn. I have a meeting with our SD Director of Special Education, I have convened a meeting with our social worker and counselors, and I am now investigating new techniques in trying to help him.
Thanks for listening. I am open to any advice in dealing with this situation.
Again, I know parents deal with it on an ongoing basis, and I just deal with it in school, and if I have overstepped my bounds by writing to this parent wesite, please forgive me. But if anyone has any tips with how to deal with mom, I am all ears. She is very frustrated, defensive and hurt. I fully understand why- it is heatbreaking to have to call her to tell her things like, he has hurt other students, his teacher, ran out of the building, etc. I am fully committed to his success but know feel like I am painted in a corner and don't know where to turn. I have a meeting with our SD Director of Special Education, I have convened a meeting with our social worker and counselors, and I am now investigating new techniques in trying to help him.
Thanks for listening. I am open to any advice in dealing with this situation.