I understand your frustration! I have been where your at…. You and your son’s doctor is doing the right thing. Just know that some teachers don’t have the skills or knowledge to deal with children w/ ADD/ADHD. As you said you just started the meds so your going to have to try different things before you know what excatly will work with your child. Teachers have to know that meds don’t take away all of the behaviors that we don’t want. It also takes other solutions like maybe interacting with your child different. I have learned that after lunch my son acts up. Sometimes it has to do with what he ate. So maybe you can look into what he’s getting in the afternoon to eat since that is when the teacher is having a problem.  Just a thought. Each child is different and this is an arguement I have w/ my son’s school. They have to find diffrent ways to deal with each individual child. (Sorry for rambling on) but seriously try to go to the school if you get a chance and see the behavior in the afternoon. That’s what I did when I 1st rceived complaints about my son behavior before he was every diagnosed w ADD.

I understand your frustration! I have been where your at…. You and your son’s doctor is doing the right thing. Just know that some teachers don’t have the skills or knowledge to deal with children w/ ADD/ADHD. As you said you just started the meds so your going to have to try different things before you know what excatly will work with your child. Teachers have to know that meds don’t take away all of the behaviors that we don’t want. It also takes other solutions like maybe interacting with your child different. I have learned that after lunch my son acts up. Sometimes it has to do with what he ate. So maybe you can look into what he’s getting in the afternoon to eat since that is when the teacher is having a problem.  Just a thought. Each child is different and this is an arguement I have w/ my son’s school. They have to find diffrent ways to deal with each individual child. (Sorry for rambling on) but seriously try to go to the school if you get a chance and see the behavior in the afternoon. That’s what I did when I 1st rceived complaints about my son behavior before he was every diagnosed w ADD.

I know how hard it is to stay removed from the hard adjustments parents have to make with ADHD, but my concern is that everytime you mention your son and his meds, you say “We” not “He.”

It sounds like he’s doing ok in school, in fact much better than pre-medication, so it might be a big help to ask for a meeting to discuss the improvements so far and if any 504 accomodations are needed. This will help you step back and it will put the teacher and the school on notice that you are a serious advocate for your son.

One thing to remember: kids do better at home because the stimulation level is much lower, so it’s possible he is having more problems at school. This was very true with my daughter.

Learn all you can—it will serve you well.
Patricia Aust: author of HYPER HARRY for kids 8-12 (available at Amazon.com or the Amazon Kindle Store).

I use the term “we” because this is a “we” thing. my son, my husband, myself. My son is only 5 and although he can tell us how the meds make him feel it is not his ultimate decision on the next course of action.  All of us work together to come to the best decision.  ADHD affects all of us (including my 3year old son) so we go through all the daily inn’s and outs together because we are a family unit. So yes all of my post will state mainly “we” while if I feel a sentence deserves a “he” then I will adjust from “we”
when I am refering the the pediatrican I will use that term or “the doc” and his teacher is referred to as such.

Hello¡Ä I understand your furstration trust me. My 9 yr old has ADD no ¡ÈH.¡É He is not on any medication however I recently had a simillar issure with his teacher and her attitude was ¡ÈNOT¡É helpful to say the least. To aliveate the problem because it was making my son feel horrible, I switched him out of the teachers class. I think it maybe too soon for you to switch up on your sons meds, try moving him out of the class first. Just my thoughts.. BEST OF LUCK

Hello¡Ä I understand your furstration trust me. My 9 yr old has ADD no ¡ÈH.¡É He is not on any medication however I recently had a simillar issure with his teacher and her attitude was ¡ÈNOT¡É helpful to say the least. To aliveate the problem because it was making my son feel horrible, I switched him out of the teachers class. I think it maybe too soon for you to switch up on your sons meds, try moving him out of the class first. Just my thoughts.. BEST OF LUCK

Have you tried altering his diet.  Seriously, research several topics.  Artificial food colors and ADHD, Gluten and ADHD, Pesticides, etc. 
It’s like Vitamin Cottage is our new BFF!  Huge difference in behavior, and moods for my now 10 year old son.  ADHD, Dyslexic, Dysgraphia, a few learning disabilities, and we have chosen not to medicate.
Tried 2 types, so just what we went with after side effect issues.
While I understand the meds can work well for some kids, and that’s great, but why not alter a childs diet now, and really help too!  You may find less medication is needed.
Just learn as much as you can about foods and all the pesticides, and otherwise toxins people consume everyday! 
Check out Dr. Doris Rapp.  google.  Celebrate Calm, and I would difinately make some phone calls to the school.  STrict and ADHD huge conflict!  Sorry, it’s not military school, and 5 year old are 5 year old! 
My feelings are that many teachers hear a child has ADHD and BOOM that kid now has this huge target on his back!  Yep, they watch them like hawks and every other word out of their mouths is FOCUS, CALM DOWN, Pay attention…..while classmates have been doing the same things!
Get a different teacher, ask who is the most patient in nature, the one who hopefully knows a little bit about teaching kids with ADHD.
Learn to be an advocate now, and work together with the schools to help your son.  HE is what matters, and he needs the help.  Reward program for not talking out of turn.  Prizes, or can she have him help “go to the office”, to allow him to move around.  It is kindergarten for crying out loud.  Should still be a bit fun.

I totally agree with ima33167. I am currently in school for my BA and I have plenty of research papers. I have made it my mission to do all my papers on AD/HD if possible.  Needless to say I have come across several articles that link symptoms and diet. I recently put my son on a two wk cleanse which was not hard at all.  No diary, 90% less sugar n salts, no dyes or artificial flavor. I also added omega 3 vitamin n protein shakes. After two wks slowly implement new foods to see what triggers symptoms. So far so good.  My son even notices a difference.  I say try it. It can’t hurt.  Stay strong and remember nothing is constant and with this disorder it is forever changing as theI child growsis so be flexible.

It kind of sounds like your son’s medication might just be wearing off too soon to get him through the school day completely. I agree with previous posts that they usually do better at home than at school. The pressures and expectations are different at school and ADHD symptoms are generally worse there for most children. I know you said that your son’s appetite suffered while on a higher dose of Focalin. Out of curiosity, how long was he taking the higher dosage? My son had quite a loss of appetite when we first started Focalin XR and as we slowly increased the dose. That side effect has lessened though as time has gone on. He still could generally skip lunch, but he now eats more than enough before he gets his medication and after school to more than make up for it. It’s possible that side effect would improve for your son as well over time. You also could perhaps consider trying a different stimulant.

All that aside, it’s very possible your son’s teacher has unreasonable expectations for a 5 year old with ADHD, as you suggested. I also don’t think it’s her place to tell you the medication isn’t working. Teacher’s at our school are not allowed to make those kinds of comments / suggestions. Also, if she is too strict and punitive, she could be contributing to your son’s symptoms just by dealing with him incorrectly.

Hang in there and Good luck!