This sounds so much like my son.  In our experience, it gets better.  What I did was really tried to help the teachers understand that he is not trying to make trouble, rather he is easily distracted.  Also, help them to understand that the constant negative feedback has a negative effect on the child.  My son would hit himself in the head and call himself dumb.  Usually when I tell that story they start to understand a little.  Every year gets a little better because the teachers/ school understands him more.  They need to look past his behavior and see his heart.  It doesn’t happen immediately, but lots of communication helps.  I write a letter to each teacher at the beginning of the year explaining this, including “special” teachers, like art and PE.  I can point you to some materials to share with them if you’re interested.

Also, the teachers now try to help him move around more by having him run errands, go get a drink, etc.

I laughed as I read your description of me in first grade.
We also diagnosed my son in first grade. You have to use your judgement with your child as only you can read his conditions.
Check with the school nurse and the school board to see what services they offer. This falls under the learning disabled category.
Please do not be afraid of the meds, they work for millions of kids with great success but side effects. Your job is to monitor them and weigh the cost of the help vs. the downsides.
It took changing from private to public school to get the resources and help we needed for my son. We arranged for an IEP and 504 with the principle over the summer with final accommodations decided in September. My wife still refused meds. The nurse, teacher, school psychologist and pediatrician finally convinced her in November to go on Ritalin. Amazingly we had a different son. School was great, the teachers were thrilled grades were great. But those side effects drove my wife crazy. Lack of eating, lethargy while on the meds and more.

We went from Ritalin to Adderall to Concerta through High school. We gave him weekends and summers off the meds. Middle school he hated, very few friends. Honor roll every semester all 3 years.
Magnet high school, that he loved because they taught better for his style. In his senior year by second semester he met all high school graduation requirements and only took meds for tests or large projects.
Now he is a mechanical engineering freshman in a top school taking meds as he needs them. I was not happy with his first semester results and advised him how to accommodate and better anticipate his short acting Ritalin needs. That’s all I can do, he is an adult and I will treat him as such (as much as a parent can).

You are just starting on this road, I just wanted to let you know that there is light on the other side and things will get better. (I didn’t tell you about the hole we found and repaired in his heart at 14 yo., no change in ADD meds per cardiologist and neurologist) .

Good Luck and God bless.

Augie
http://addshepra.com

We are in first grade as well. Diagnosed in kindergarten.  Things did not get better until we started medication and OT. But, we are ADHD and SPD. You are doing the right thing by testing.  And unforturnately, the process is arduous and it always seems like something else pops up. 

We differ from Augie in that we do not give our DD a break from meds.  We give them all summer and on weekends.  Our Dr. told us that our DD should not have to “fight to focus.”  So that has been the best path for us.  But, go with your gut.  You know what is best for your son. 

We also see an OT twice a week.  Our OT is OUR LIFELINE.  She works on EVERYTHING with our DD.  Writing is a HUGE issue for us with major meltdowns and tantrums.  UH… we also have anxiety.  But, OT has been fabulous for us if you can find a good one. 

I work full-time and so does my husband.  We do not have family where we live, BUT I have made it a priority to be in my DD’s classroomm once a week.  I can get a bird’s eye view of her behaviors and interaction with other kids.  This has been good too because we can discuss what I saw while I was there, and what she could possibly change to make things better.  I don’t even work with her when I am there.  We are talking 1 hour a week only.  But, the BEST thing has been communication with the teacher.  She appreciates me being there to help with other kids and seems to talk more freely with me about my own DD.  (What works.  What doesn’t work.  Her behaviors, etc.)  It really opened up communication in a Big Way.

Just from my experience.  Educate yourself.  I have read everything I can on ADHD and this site is a GREAT resource.  I’m not real active here, but every once in a while, I read something from someone that might can benefit from my two cents. 

HANG IN THERE.  IT IS OVERWHELMING.  But remember that you are your child’s BEST advocate.

BLESSINGS ~

Karen

All sounds familiar. My son is in 2nd grade now and was diagnosed in 1st…which was a disaster of a year for him. We started medication over the summer and his teacher reports he is 70% improved over last year. (we were lucky enough to have his teacher move up to 2nd grade with him this year). He has had very few side effects from his medications. His biggest problem is that he has trouble sleeping on occasion. It’s not horrible though. When he first started the medication he had headaches and didn’t want to eat, but that all got better within a month or so. Please don’t be afraid of the side effects. Most families are able to find a medication that works for their child. It really helps them focus and sit still long enough to learn. My son gets in trouble much less now and his self esteem is much improved. By the end of 1st grade he was really down on himself. Now he sees himself as “super smart”.... just like “Albert Frankenstein”. LOL. Try working on specific problems with his teacher and try to be well informed. If she isn’t experienced with ADHD students buy her a gift of a good resource book. I bought the CHADD Educator’s Manual for my son’s teacher this year for us both to refer to. Good luck. It’s a long road and we’ve only just begun too.

Ps - look into Omega 3 supplements too. They are also helpful for many kids with ADHD.

There’s a main link at the site listed below about “how to find a support group” in many different formats. There’s also this open letter to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, with an encouragement to help reinvent Education to reflect the release of our ADHD students, to empower, rather than label what we don’t understand:

http://adhdfordummies.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/an-open-letter-to-facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-regarding-education/