very emotional

[ange65]

Not sure where I should post this but this seems the best place for it so here goes.
Here is Australia, our school year goes from January thru to December.
My son Jack (8 & ADHD??) has has 2 job share teachers this year who I think have been wonderful.
Today was the day that all kids at school were told who their teacher will be for next year. They are all divided and they go for a short time to meet the new teacher and to experience where their 2008 classroom will be.
Well, I was very happy with the teacher given to him next year and he does not have a problem with her as such, but, tonight I have not been able to console him as he is devastated that he is leaving his teachers of this year.
I did not see this coming at all, I actually thought that he was really looking forward to the holidays ( 6 weeks) but I think that this has really thrown him.
I know that he is the type of kid that keeps a lot of his feeling to himself, and then when he cant cope he has a meltdown, but I'm not sure haw to handle this other than to reassure him that
1.He will still be able to see his old teachers during to say Hi during class breaks
2. His new teacher is a wonderful kind person
3. We will always be there for him and love him always.

Is there any thing else that I may try? Has anyone else been through this?

He is already on Lovan (fluoxitine) for anxiety.

Cheers, Ange

[misty]

When my daughter was little I kept her in kindergarten 2 years (because she was the youngest in her class & needed the extra year). She LOVED her Kindergarten teacher & was very sad to have to move out of her room for 1st grade. I remember going through much of what you are and telling her most of the same things you are telling Jack. Really nothing helped until she finally got to the 1st grade & saw that it wasn't as bad as she had imagined. Here we have summer break so I just told her not to think about it & we kept her busy with summer activities. Hopefully Jack will be busy enough with Christmas activities not to dwell on the change in classes. I think most times its the fear of the unknown that scares them the most. I also made a note to point out things as we bought them for school like "look at these cool book covers....1st graders use these! What kind do you like?" That kind of thing to help reinforce to her that it was COOL to be in the bigger grade.

I hope some of that helped a bit.

(((((((hugs to you, Ange)))))))

[charliegirl]

My son was mad about leaving his teachers in preschool and kindergarten both. I did basically what you are doing. Once he started the next grade and realized he could see his teachers even though he wouldn't have them teaching him, he was happier.

I have to admit he did ask several times if he could go back instead of staying in the grade he was in, especially with kindergarten. He wanted to go back to ps so badly but I think 1/2 of that was because it was the most fun.

[jill]

Change is hard for most kids especially when you have a disability.