I just dealt with this same exact thing. My son is almost 7 and I was pretty annoyed when it was on his progress report for things that need improvement and there was nothing academic on it. However, his teacher is great so I just emailed her about what we had been doing and how we have been handling it. It is a health issue, especially for them, BUT it's a compulsive habit and continually making them feel bad and telling them that they are doing something wrong is emotionally harmful to them.

We've been working with his dentist and had done everything that we could up till that point, with the last being the thumb guard. Finally since his front teeth have fallen out we were able to have the dentist install a crib appliance for him. We went over everything with his teacher about how we were explaining the reason for the crib appliance to him because we don't want him to feel that he is being punished. We've told him that it is there to help his teeth grow in nice and straight. It's lessened a great deal but he'll sometimes still do it or stick other fingers in his mouth but it's not as often as it was (when they were just listening, standing in line or watching something).

I'm sorry that her teachers aren't as supportive as my son's. I would go up to the next step too, because she isn't bad, it's just a compulsive habit and what is being said is obviously affecting her and making her feel bad.

Laural

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