Appointment

We had our appointment with the psychiatrist that had a six month waiting period today. I got put on the cancellation list and they called me last week to let me know there was an opening.

He was wonderful, so incredibly knowledgeable and kind. We left feeling like we are in great hands. We spent an entire hour with him. He ordered a bunch of blood work and an ekg. We did talk about medication but he wants to see a full psychological done before we decide. The other part of the good news is that we got a call from the University of Georgia and Samuel's name is next on the waiting list. They are going to complete all the testing probably within the month.

After all this is done, we should have some answers. Things are falling into place. Of course, school is still not going well but better than last month. Dr.Sanders is not fond of how most public schools deal with ADHD kids. He recommends the Waldorf School in Atlanta. It's the bargain price of $11,000/year. They do have scholarships so I might look into it. Here is a bit of their philosophy.



Academics are de-emphasized in the early years of schooling. There is no academic content in the Waldorf kindergarten (i.e. pre-class 1) experience (although there is a good deal of cultivation of pre-academic skills), and minimal academics in class 1. The letters are introduced artistically in class 2, with the children learning to read from their own writing in class 2 or 3.

During the primary school years (classes 1-8) the students have a class (or "main lesson") teacher who stays with the same class for (ideally) the first eight years of their schooling.

Certain activities which are often considered "frills" at mainstream schools are central at Waldorf schools: art, music, gardening, and foreign languages (usually two in primary grades), to name a few. In the younger grades, all subjects are introduced through artistic mediums, because the children respond better to this medium than to dry lecturing and rote learning. All children learn to play recorder and to knit.

There are no "textbooks" as such in the first through fifth grades. All children have "main lesson books", which are their own workbooks which they fill in during the course of the year. They essentially produce their own "textbooks" which record their experiences and what they've learned. Upper grades use textbooks to supplement their main lesson work.

All children learn a stringed instrument from class 3 onwards. This often includes one-on-one tuition as well as orchestra.

Learning in a Waldorf school is a non-competitive activity. There are no grades given at the primary level; the teacher writes a detailed evaluation of the child at the end of each school year.

The use of electronic media, particularly television, by young children is strongly discouraged in Waldorf schools.


Sounds like it might fit my boy. Wish money was not an issue!