Consider this fact.
Statistically speaking, in North America, there is at least one child with ADHD in the classroom.
That's each classroom.
What does that mean for teachers and parents of children with ADHD? By the end of this article, you'll have a better idea of the challenges posed by ADHD in the classroom, a new way of considering the curriculum that's used for these kids, and some ideas or suggestions on ways of dealing with the unique situations that can be present in the classroom where there's a child or children with ADHD.
Think about the picture perfect classroom.
All the children facing forward, paying attention, answering your questions by raising their hands, or maybe it's working quietly and co-operatively in a group setting on a particular project that requires multiple steps in a particular order.
Not that you would have picture perfect without kids with ADHD but throw a couple of those into the mix and it's a whole new ballgame.
Now teachers have to deal with kids talking out of turn or kids that can't sit still if they were crazy glued down.
When there's children with ADHD in the classroom, be on the lookout for kids who forget to write down what they're supposed to do, or they forget to bring their completed work once it's done.
They'll often have trouble with long-term projects or work that requires multiple steps, especially if they're not closely supervised.
These are just some of the trials teachers can be dealing with when there's children with ADHD in the classroom.
When considering how to present or teach a particular curriculum, there are several things to consider.
Children with ADHD may have difficulty with certain content or maybe the associated task that they are required to perform.
Deficits in the areas of memory, higher level language abilities and cognitive processing can make things like writing an essay, or completing an abstract math problem a trying event.
Learning new content when prior knowledge is required or tasks that must be completed within a certain time frame may prove to be difficult as well.
There are various methods you can implement for teaching when you've got children with ADHD in the classroom.
Here's just a few to get you started.
Experiment with and employ as many as make sense for your particular situation:
Often parents can be frustrated with similar behaviour patterns displayed in the family home.
If you can be comfortable talking with the parents, you can open a dialogue about treatment or coping techniques.
You may find you learn something new or are able to often a suggestion which they may find helpful.
Of course, you don't want to step on any toes so that's why developing a relationship where ideas can be exchanged is important.
There are lots of parents out there that think only prescription medication is the only answer and are not willing to go that route because they've heard too many bad things about them.
They may not know there are many natural treatment options available.
Options that are effective in suppressing ADHD symptoms and are completely safe.
They might not be aware such things even exist.
Natural treatments may be an option they would consider.
This is could benefit you as well as them.
So there you have it.
As a teacher or as a parent of a child with ADHD in the classroom, you've got your hands full.
At least if you're armed with a few ideas to help cope, it may help to make dealing with ADHD in the classroom or even at home, a little easier.
Statistically speaking, in North America, there is at least one child with ADHD in the classroom.
That's each classroom.
What does that mean for teachers and parents of children with ADHD? By the end of this article, you'll have a better idea of the challenges posed by ADHD in the classroom, a new way of considering the curriculum that's used for these kids, and some ideas or suggestions on ways of dealing with the unique situations that can be present in the classroom where there's a child or children with ADHD.
Think about the picture perfect classroom.
All the children facing forward, paying attention, answering your questions by raising their hands, or maybe it's working quietly and co-operatively in a group setting on a particular project that requires multiple steps in a particular order.
Not that you would have picture perfect without kids with ADHD but throw a couple of those into the mix and it's a whole new ballgame.
Now teachers have to deal with kids talking out of turn or kids that can't sit still if they were crazy glued down.
When there's children with ADHD in the classroom, be on the lookout for kids who forget to write down what they're supposed to do, or they forget to bring their completed work once it's done.
They'll often have trouble with long-term projects or work that requires multiple steps, especially if they're not closely supervised.
These are just some of the trials teachers can be dealing with when there's children with ADHD in the classroom.
When considering how to present or teach a particular curriculum, there are several things to consider.
Children with ADHD may have difficulty with certain content or maybe the associated task that they are required to perform.
Deficits in the areas of memory, higher level language abilities and cognitive processing can make things like writing an essay, or completing an abstract math problem a trying event.
Learning new content when prior knowledge is required or tasks that must be completed within a certain time frame may prove to be difficult as well.
There are various methods you can implement for teaching when you've got children with ADHD in the classroom.
Here's just a few to get you started.
Experiment with and employ as many as make sense for your particular situation:
- partner the child with a peer tutor
- ask the child who's attention you're seeking a simple question to regain his attention
- give straight forward simple instructions
- try to incorporate physical activity into the lesson
- include the child's name as an example in the teaching
- increase the variety of methods included in teaching, i.
e.
flash cards, films, cd's, etc.
Often parents can be frustrated with similar behaviour patterns displayed in the family home.
If you can be comfortable talking with the parents, you can open a dialogue about treatment or coping techniques.
You may find you learn something new or are able to often a suggestion which they may find helpful.
Of course, you don't want to step on any toes so that's why developing a relationship where ideas can be exchanged is important.
There are lots of parents out there that think only prescription medication is the only answer and are not willing to go that route because they've heard too many bad things about them.
They may not know there are many natural treatment options available.
Options that are effective in suppressing ADHD symptoms and are completely safe.
They might not be aware such things even exist.
Natural treatments may be an option they would consider.
This is could benefit you as well as them.
So there you have it.
As a teacher or as a parent of a child with ADHD in the classroom, you've got your hands full.
At least if you're armed with a few ideas to help cope, it may help to make dealing with ADHD in the classroom or even at home, a little easier.
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