Teacher refuses to let me use my "fidget toys"!

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Joined: 3 Apr 2010
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04 Apr 2010, 8:32 pm

I need them to concentrate and I alway shave to have my hands busy to concentrate, but my teacher took mine and refused to give it back. I have no idea what to do now!! !! !!

Julia_the_Great
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04 Apr 2010, 8:57 pm

Ask her what bothers her/him about them.

Do they leave residue or make noise? Do you throw them, drop them, or leave them lying around?

I like having a squeeze ball that I keep under my desk and...squeeze it. The only problem I've had with that is that teachers have sometimes thought that I'm texting.

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sugarmagnolia_
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04 Apr 2010, 9:13 pm

He claims that if If I'm fiddling with something in my lap I'm not paying full attention to his lessons. Not true at all, if I'm not fiddling with something I'm doing something destructive like drawing on a textbook or chewing on my nails.

I have a few, the ones he took are a squeeze ball with tentacle type things on it, silly putty, and a thing called a tangle.
None of which were distracting anyone else...

jat
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04 Apr 2010, 9:33 pm

If you are in school (not college), in the USA, and have an IEP, your IEP should state that you have access to your fidgets whenever you need them. Then it is not up to the teacher(s) whether or not you can use them - it is your right, and if they don't let you, they are violating the law. It is very common for people on the spectrum or with ADHD (or others, actually) to focus better if they are using fidgets than if they are not. If there is a school counselor, special education specialist or school psychologist at your school who understands this, and who can help you advocate with this teacher, try to get that person's assistance. If you have a private support person, outside school, maybe that person can help. You might need to involve your parent(s) in this as well.

AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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04 Apr 2010, 9:44 pm

sugarmagnolia_ wrote:

. . . I have a few, the ones he took are a squeeze ball with tentacle type things on it, silly putty, and a thing called a tangle.
None of which were distracting anyone else...

These sound like pretty reasonable fiddle toys. Maybe the guy is authoritarian or for whatever reason not on the top of his game. And he takes you using a stress toy personally, when there's really no reason for him to.

I concur with jat about having someone advocate on your behalf. It's a good negotiating tactic. It gives the teacher some buffer. He's not likely to take it as personally talking with someone else as he might talking with you. Another option might be to write him a polite, matter-of-fact half page letter

sugarmagnolia_
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04 Apr 2010, 9:49 pm

My good friend who has extreme ADHD has been severly picked on and punished by this guy to the point his parents reoved him from the class. I think I may be senseing some kind of discrimination against people who are different for lack of a better word.

Thanks you guys, I wasn't aware that it was against the law for him to take my things and I probably will involve my parents and possibly chat with my counceller. I could see a problem if they were large or noisy but they really aren't.

I get really upset and panicky without them. One of my quirks I guess.

By the way excuse y spelling please, haha.

Last edited by sugarmagnolia_ on 04 Apr 2010, 9:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Athenacapella
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04 Apr 2010, 9:51 pm

Perhaps in the meantime you can find a pen or pencil that has something on the end that could be used in its place? Might be tougher to take a pencil away, but this guy sounds like a piece of work.

sugarmagnolia_
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04 Apr 2010, 9:55 pm

Mabey.

I usually dismantle pens if given the change, or break up pencils. Thats why I have strong substantial little things to mess with.

AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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04 Apr 2010, 10:03 pm

sugarmagnolia_ wrote:

I usually dismantle pens if given the change, or break up pencils. . .

I often do that, too!

And it does sound like the guy's an authoritarian

As a temporary measure, could you get a pen that's almost indestructable?

sugarmagnolia_
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04 Apr 2010, 10:07 pm

My mom was goofing around online and found something called a fiddle pencil that has a cap that hooks on and has all kinds or randome levers and things to play with, she bought it for e for a late easter present and it should come in the mail in a few days.

untill then I can use this metal pen of my dads.

Again, thank you all for the suggestions!

chaotik_lord
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04 Apr 2010, 10:32 pm

My high school teachers always let me draw my floor plans in class so I could concentrate, but once, during AP American Government, Mr. Grodd made me stop because we had a guest speaker whom he didn't want to offend with my "inattention," though it was quite opposite. I protested because I couldn't possibly listen to the guest without drawing my floor plans, but he made me stop. It was only half an hour, however, and he never objected any other time, so it was never worth a fuss to me. But if this is a long term issue, you have rights and you must assert them. Explain you are there to learn just like every other student, and your fidgets make it possible.

Avarice
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05 Apr 2010, 12:04 am

chaotik_lord wrote:

I draw floor plans in class too... usually ones from games. I never thought there was a reason behind it but it is quite relaxing.

AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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06 Apr 2010, 1:31 pm

chaotik_lord wrote:

Two days before: 'Mr. Grodd, maybe you could give the guest speaker a heads up, and tell him I learn in a different style. And that I don't mean any disrespect, but my drawing of my floor plans IS how I concentrate.'

(Now, if you did that, and I doubt I could do that in real time, you would be operating at the excellent level of social skills! Yes, we as people with Asperger's can sometimes operate at the excellent level. And no, we are not somehow required to do this all the time. For afterall, we are human beings just like everyone else!)

PunkyKat
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08 Apr 2010, 12:35 am

Threaten to sue for discrimition

torako
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22 Apr 2010, 9:25 pm

my teachers never seemed to have a problem with my silly putty, when i used it... but then i lost the silly putty =P

sometimes i draw detailed pictures of random parts of the room but i can barely draw a straight line, let alone a picture lol

your teacher sounds like a jerk. he should try being autistic for awhile and see if he can concentrate without stuff to fiddle with XD

Dots
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23 Apr 2010, 3:33 pm

I dismantle pens and pencils, too.

That fiddle pencil sounds cool. Does it help?

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