| |
Teaching ADHD
Kids
Teaching a kid with ADHD / ADD is something you're
likely to experience, and you probably have already. ADHD kids are
just as bright as any other kids you'll teach, but they require some
special handling and structuring your lesson appropriately.
Teaching ADHD kids is easier if you first understand and accept that
ADHD is a real disorder of the mind and though there are
environmental and brain chemistry components to ADHD-ADD what
matters is that the kid or kids you're teaching are able to learn
what you have to to teach them.
If you don't accept that the child is a victim of the situation then
you will probably believe at least to some degree, that the child is
willfully misbehaving and giving you trouble personally because he
or she doesn't like you or doesn't want to be a good student. This
would be a flawed way of thinking and you'd be setting yourself up
for failure as a teacher of a child with ADHD as well as a failure
to the child who deserves every chance to learn despite external and
internal environmental variables.
Kids diagnosed with ADHD - ADD want to succeed as much as other
kids. They are no different from other kids in this way - please
understand that.
There are a number of ADHD lifehacks you can you can use in the
classroom when teaching groups that have an ADHD kid as a
participant in the group. Here are some...
Teaching ADHD Kids in a group tips:
1. Say to yourself - ADHD is a disorder of the mind that was not
caused by the kids themselves. They are victims of it, and deserve a
chance to learn in my classroom as much as the other kids.
2. Adjust Your Expectations. ADHD kids are a couple years behind
their same-age classmates in acceptable social behavior. Have very
low expectations going into the teaching setting.
Notice how the first two tips are focused on getting you ready for a
challenge? :)
3. Focus on being considerate, having patience, and being a calm
role model in the ADHD children's classroom.
4. Read this list of
ADHD Myths about children and adults with
ADHD/ADD.
5. Focus on the ADHD child's positives and strengths. Find
opportunities for them to learn that may present themselves outside
of the usual style you're accustomed to.
6. Catch ADHD boys and girls being good. With most children you can
focus on them when they're bad, if you're only focusing on a child
with ADHD when he or she is bad, you'll be missing the other half of
the opportunity. Practice looking out for the children doing good
things and compliment, and encourage more of the same behavior. In
time the behavior will become assimilated into the child's
personality and the percentage of good versus bad activities will
increase. Any increase in good activity is a good increase!
7. Lead the child with ADHD through using encouragement... lead him
into productive activities and behaviors.
8. Don't give lengthy directions - give them one at a time instead.
The capacity to focus just isn't there. If instructions aren't very
short and to the point - you'll lose the kids with ADD/ADHD in the
first step.
9. Query the child's parents about best ways to discipline their
child. They'll know what responses succeed and which fail.
10. Help the ADHD Child "Switch Gears" Slowly
11. Create learning environments that are structured and
predictable. Switch focus to new instructions, ideas, projects,
slowly and give time for everyone to get on-board before barreling
ahead.
12. React to negative situations calmly and with self control
because you already expect them. ADHD kid responses are without
self-control - yours shouldn't be also! :)
To sum it up...
Encourage, praise, lead, and structure the learning environment when
teaching an ADD - ADHD kid in a group situation. Focus on catching
the child doing something good and reward him with praise.
ADD / ADHD is Serious -
Please Treat Your Kid's Symptoms... |
|
