week14

This week was an interesting week as one of my students with an IEP did not have a new presecription for his medications so was without them Monday and Today. I could not believe how different this student was off his medicine, I knew their would be a big difference but I honestly did not think it was going to be this vast.

It did not occur to me until this point how hard it could be to reason with a student when they are not on the appropriate medications because they cannot listen to what you are saying, do not understand what you are saying and most of all do not care about sitting still and getting work done. I have never seen this student unruly like he was Monday, it was as if he was a whole different person. When we asked him why he did not bring his afternoon/night medication like his mother had said he was going to in order to take it after lunch rather than after school, he said he forgot. But when we asked him again he began to tell us how he did not enjoy the way the medicine made him feel. He said he hated how it made him sleepy, not hungry, and most of all just out of it. It was sad to hear this little boy describe how he hated taking this medication he had to take every day yet, he knew when he was off it he could not comprehend the lessons or even behave.

While talking to this student I realized how difficult it is for the students with IEPs who take medication. They understand that they have to take it regardless of the side affects as the medication is beneficial to their learning. I never realized until this point how difficult it must be, especially when you do not feel like yourself. After today, I have a new found understanding and respect for these students as they not only have to learn the material that the rest of the class does, but they also have to learn how to deal with their behaviors, coping methods when they get angry or upset, and have to take medication constantly. They are certainly taking a lot more than the students without these problems.