| Let me say this right now: I am not an expert on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I wish I were! Several of you have expressed an interest in learning how your colleagues help students with this disorder succeed in school. Here are a few tips from my teaching experiences, but mostly, I’m counting on y’all to share your insights and success storieswith us! |
Tips for Teaching Children With ADHD:
• Interject activity breaks in the school day by inviting all students to stand and stretch, do jumping jacks, or run in place.
• Choose a silent technique to help the child refocus. For example, make eye contact and gently tap your chin.
• Use the child’s name or interests in neutral ways during discussions.
• Acknowledge even the smallest of improvements in behavior and schoolwork.
• Work closely with the student’s family.
Now it’s your turn. Please share!
Diane
I love the silent technique idea to help them refocus! I can’t wait to read some other suggestions!
When I work one on one with a AdHd child I often tap the side of my mouth while talking to them about the activity. It seems to keep them focused on me vs what else is going on around them.
To help children with ADHD:
1. Be consistent with your expectations and consequences
2. Find a way to establish trust between you and the student
3. Work closely with the parent and have high expectations for the parent’s involvement
4. Provide a quiet area in the classroom where the child can work if needed and find a “personal space” even during whole group activities
5. Keep it positive and highlight the positive
One thing I use in my classroom is a posted lesson/class agenda. I refer to it at the beginning of the lesson/class to set expectations. Then as I go through the lesson/day, I refer to it. I will often have a student that needs to get up and move around or a student that needs to focus attention go up and check off what we have done or tell the class what is next. The agenda keeps both the student and I on task
My son is adhd (as am I) and he needed repetitive movement to calm himself and focus. He rubbed a silk blanket at bedtime so we glued silk fabric uder his desk. He could rub it but the other students couldn’t see it. It worked wonders! I suggested the same for my sister’s daughter, but she used stuffed animal fabric. I have seen so many adhd kids rub carpets, certain clothing, etc. See if you can find fabric for your student. I offer all sorts of fidgets for my students. I need them myself to get through staff meetings! Try cutting up old spiral cords from corded landline phones. They are fun to twist around fingers, are small enough to be used without distracting others and old phones are cheap at yard sales!
Great ideas!!! At story time (one of the hardest for them I find) is to pretend to be doing what the character is doing. Like this week we read the first leaf of autumn and we pretended to be swaying on the branch or in the breeze or twist and tag. All the kids love being part of the story. I know I need to be working on doing our job at circle for kindergarten prep but I have kept everyone enthralled with the story this way so I am sticking with it!
love it!very educational and a great resource tool for teachers.