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Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) may show the following behaviors in the classroom: impulsivity, chronic procrastination, difficulty remaining on task, extreme inattention, inability to concentrate and focus, daydreaming, emotionally immature, hard time with personal relationships, immature social skills, and difficulty interacting with peers. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) may show some of the above behaviors as well as display excess energy, anxiety, and the need to be in constant movement.
As you may have probably noticed, oppositional, non compliance and aggressive behaviors are not listed as symptoms of ADD/ADHD. While it is common for children to show some form of self directed and non compliant behavior, these behaviors should not be used to diagnose ADD/ADHD and are not as common as impulsivity and inattention. A child with ADD/ADHD may be seen as disruptive in a classroom due to their short attention, hyperactivity and forgetfulness but with the appropriate interventions, a patient and willing teacher can make all the difference in the world.
Behaviors related to ADD/ADHD in children will change as the child grows older and changes. A child in pre-school or kindergarten may release their energy through constant jumping and climbing, while an older child or adolescent may be extremely fidgety in his/her seat, be restless and impatient, and deliver sloppy or incomplete homework assignments. They key is to remember that every child, no matter what age, has unique strengths and talents as well as weaknesses and thus, there is no one intervention or program that can address every child's needs.
It is my opinion that our school system does not provide the appropriate environment nor the necessary tools and resources for learning. Many children with ADD/ADHD are of average or above average intelligence but because of the way our classrooms are set up, some of these children will end up failing. The truth is our children are trained to sit, listen and follow instructions or directions. They are told it is wonderful to be creative but are not given the space or the motivation to be so. They are not given the opportunity to uniquely approach situations and will eventually have to conform. When a child conforms to what's around him/her they loose what made them special in the first place. Unfortunately, many of our schools are not open to the possibility of change and would rather medicate our children than to implement creative and unique modifications and interventions, which will help them into adulthood.
The following are a few tips and ideas that teachers and parents can do to help their student or child perform better at school:
Easily Distracted and Difficulty Remaining on Task
1) Provide the child with the opportunity to sit in the front row or close to the teacher. This will help the child pay more attention to the teacher and less attention to what's around him/her.
2) The teacher and the child should come together on deciding on an appropriate signal the teacher could use to help the child stay on task. For example, the teacher could walk by and pat the child on the shoulder or tap the desk with her hand or pen. These subtleties will bring the student's attention back to the task at hand.
Forgetfulness
It is extremely common for ADD/ADHD children to forget homework assignments, trip slips, projects, keys, hats and other personal or educational material.
1) Give your child short and clear instructions and have them reiterate what was said to them. Repeat your instruction several times.
2) Provide your child with a homework book where the teacher will sign after the child has written down his/her homework for the day. Have the child write down the exact pages and books he/she will need. The parent should also sign the homework once it has been completed.
3) Parents can speak with their child's school and find out if their child can use a pocket recorder to record assignments, projects, lectures, etc.
4) Find out if assignments and other projects could be emailed or written down for you ahead of time. This way you could begin reminding your child of what they are expected to bring home that day.
5) Instruct your child to keep a certain item in a certain place. For example, the house keys should be kept in the inside pocket of their school bag, their gloves in their coat pocket. Color code their school material (e.g. science in red folder, math in blue folder) and have everything for that particular subject in that same color. This will help save time when your child is looking for a particular book and will help them better organize their assignments.
Excessive energy or Restlessness
1) Talk with the teacher about sending your child on an errand (e.g. bringing a note to the principal's office) or letting him walk around the hallway, whenever he/she is showing signs of restlessness and/or are fidgety. This will in turn help the child release some energy and will allow him or her to sit and focus better in the classroom
2) Provide your child with an object he can manipulate in his hands that is neither noisy nor distracting to the other children. For example, a stress ball will help keep him in motion while he is still able to listen to the class instruction.
Disorganization
1) It is fairly common for children with ADD/ADHD to be disorganized with paperwork. The teacher should take a few moments to make sure the student has all assignments, tests, etc. when they are heading home. Parents should also help the child clean out his/her folder, book bag, etc. once a week so as to avoid excess clutter.
2) Try pairing the child with a student who is organized and can help them better organize their desk or locker. If possible, the two should meet an hour a day (during a free period) and should discuss ways to help the ADD/ADHD child organize and manage paperwork and school material. A counselor could also be extremely helpful.
Poor Study Skills
1) The parent and child should agree on a location where the child can go to complete homework and study. The place should be free of distractions (e.g. television, telephone). Once you have both decided on a location, set a specific time when your child will go to this place and begin their assignment. Your child should begin homework or any other school task at the same time everyday. Take into account any activities that may occur after school and be consistent with the time. Provide your child with a break for a snack, the chance to walk around or go to the bathroom.
2) Set time limits for assignments. A stop watch or egg timer will serve as a reminder as to how much time has passed and how much time remains. Pat your child on the shoulder or rub his/her back to help them regroup.
3) Praise completion of work and provide positive feedback often.
4) Allow the child to jump from one assignment to another if that is what will keep his/her attention. What's important is that the work is completed and completed well.
5) If the work calls for it, assist your child with any questions or projects. Try to make learning fun.
6) Set appropriate consequences for incomplete assignments and poor grades. Be firm but fair and be clear of what is expected.
Remember to talk to your child's teachers before the school year begins and provide them with ideas that have worked for you at home. Be open minded to what they have to say and feel free to ask questions regarding what has worked for them. Don't feel intimidated to stand up and advocate for what you know will truly help your child have a successful year. Remind the teacher you want to work together because both of you have the child's best interest in mind. Stay in touch with the teacher as often as possible and create an open field of communication.
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