Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate themselves to our children! We know how difficult it can be working with ADHD children, so here are your teacher tips for the week, brought to you by the ADHD Information Library and ADDinSchool.com. You can read over 500 classroom interventions at http://www.ADDinSchool.com.
Right from day one, make clear rules and post them, with logical consequences and with rewards.
Move the ADHD student's desk to where there are fewer distractions. Close to the teacher to monitor and encourage, or near a child who is better able to focus.
Privacy boards can work well, but should never embarrass the child.
Students with attentional problems do better in classrooms with four walls than in an "open pod" arrangement. Open pods allow too many visual and auditory distracters throughout the day.
It is usually better to use of rows for seating arrangement and to try to avoid tables with groups of students. Often the groups are too distracting for the ADHD child.
In the ideal setting, provide tables for specific group projects, and traditional rows for independent work. Of course, we are rarely in an ideal setting.
Every once in a while, try arranging desks in a horseshoe shape to allow for appropriate discussion while permitting independent work.
Your student's desk should be near the teacher (for prompting and redirection), away from other challenging students, and not touching others' desks. However, if you notice that your student looks around a lot to see where noises are coming from, because he is very auditorily distractible, he may benefit from being seated near the rear of the classroom. Experiment with seat location in the front of the classroom (near the board) and instructional area if your student is more visually distracted.
It is important for the teacher to be able to move about the entire room and to have access to all students. Practice "Management By Walking Around" in the classroom. The more personal interaction, the better.
Have all of the distractable students seated nearest to place in the class where you will give directions or lectures. At least as close as possible without being punitive.
To minimize distractions, seat the student away from both the hallway and windows
Keep a portion of the room free of obvious visual and auditory distractions. Have at least a part of the room free from bright, loud, or distracting objects.
Use desk dividers and/or study carrels carefully. Make sure they are used as a "study area option" rather than as a punishment.
Your student will function better when able to anticipate times requiring increased concentration. A visual representation of the day's schedule will provide another opportunity to internalize classroom routine.
Your student tends to lose focus and his activity?level may increase during the day. Therefore, schedule the most demanding attentional tasks in the morning.
In our desire to provide an engaging classroom for students, try to be aware of the auditory and visual distractions present. Attempt to place your student where these would have the least effect.
Seat those really smart and quiet girls next to the ADHD child.
Stand near the student when giving directions or presenting the lesson. Use the student's worksheet as an example.
We know that teachers are neither God to control the weather, nor the janitors to control the thermostats. But as best as you can, provide comfortable lighting and room temperature.
Use individual headphones to play white noise or soft music to block out other auditory distractions. Be sure the music is not too interesting so that it becomes a distraction.
It has become somewhat fashionable to play classical music, or baroque music, quietly in the background while students are working. This may, in fact, actually work.
Provide a quiet, carpeted space in the room as a special study section for independent reading.
Many students often bring their own distractions (toys) from home. Try to make a classroom rule about appropriate time/place to share them with classmates and limit their appearance in the classroom and on the desks. Establishing certain categories for classroom sharing on certain days can limit the number and type of items brought to school and make it more successful for the students.
Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.
Root Cause Proposal for ADHD, Dyslexia, Headaches and Other Conditions -- Public Request for Research
Eugen Oetringer, computer specialist and author, discovered that certain therapies for ADHD, dyslexia and headaches employ the same techniques used in large computers to remove capacity bottlenecks. Today, his child, formerly suffering from ADHD and dyslexia, is essentially cured through one of those therapies. With these experiences, the conclusion became: Capacity bottlenecks are a root cause of ADHD, dyslexia, headaches and other mental conditions and disorders.
People with Attention Deficit Disorder
Today, we hear about the medical condition called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or ADHD), and wonder if our children might just be hyperactive.
ADHD: Causes and Treatments
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that is largely neuroligical in nature. ADHD is characterised by inattentiveness, restlessness and/or inappropriate impulsiveness and hyperactivity. Although commonly associated with children, this disorder can persist into adulthood. Symptoms often interfere with children learning and socialising.
Diagnosing ADHD in Children, an Introduction
Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children or adults is going to have their own opinion on how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADD or ADHD - should be diagnosed. Some clinics take the perspective that "more is good," and will recommend a large battery of tests, often costing many thousands of dollars.
How To Diagnose ADHD In Children - ADHD Symptom Checklist For Child
In my capacity as a psychiatrist I hear the same questions repeated ad nauseam, and the quantity of questions far exceeds the actual range of topics. Time and time again, it is the same questions generally relating to either the diagnosis and or treatment of ADHD such as "how do I diagnose adhd", "how can i determine if my child has adhd?, "signs of adhd in young children", "does my child have adhd" and many more.
Understanding and Organizing with ADD/ADHD
SUMMARY: Learn more about people who have ADD/ADHD and their special needs. Tips to help people who have trouble staying on task and meeting appointments. When I was a child ADD/ADHD was not a diagnosis that had been identified. I was considered hyper active and was the child who presented a challenge to the teacher because I could talk to my neighbor, and at the same time know what question the teacher was asking and then answer the question. If you were in my school I could have been the one sitting in the hall so I couldn't talk to my neighbor. It used to be that anyone who couldn't stay organized was easily distracted, and tended to be overly energetic. Children were labeled "problems" and adults were thought to be lost causes. ...
Trying To Understand ADHD
ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a mental disorder that approximately three to seven percent of children have. Those that are affected by this disorder are characterized by constant behavior, lots of activity and often thought of as being disobedient. Yet, it is not that the individual is being bad but more so that they cannot control their mental range. Instead of being able to concentrate on one element, they are likely to be thinking about several thus making it quite difficult to concentrate.
Teacher Tips: Using Worksheets with ADHD Students
Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate themselves to our children! We know how difficult it can be working with ADHD children, so here are your teacher tips for the week, brought to you by the ADHD Information Library and ADDinSchool.com.
Adult ADHD and Fear: Why We Procrastinate
One of the things people with Adult ADHD symptoms really struggle with is procrastination. And procrastination really comes out of fear. What kind of fear?
Adult ADHD: If It Doesn't Work, Do It Again?
I'll bet that if you have Adult ADHD or ADHD symptoms this story will hit home for you...
Natural Alternatives to Treating ADHD
First always consult your doctor before giving any medication whatsoever. All medications have side effects and only your physician is qualified to prescribe medicines and treatments and to recommend dietary changes. We do not recommend any medications nor condone any treatments - only your doctor is qualified to do that.
Understanding The Glyconutrients Adhd Link - Not All Sugars Are Bad
It is a common notion today that too much intake of refined sugar could lead to health threats such as diseases, disorders and a number of conditions that could adversely affect our normal living. Because of this, food manufacturers have produced products that are now low in sugar. However, the problem with processed foods whether they are low in refined sugar or not is that when food is processed, many of the essential nutrients, minerals, acids, and natural sugars and Glyconutrients are lost. So how does this impact the Glyconutrients ADHD link?
Celebrity Designer Ty Pennington to Host ?ADHD Experts On Call? Program
Nation?s leading ADHD experts to answer questions about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD Improved Without Drugs
Advancing the circadian rhythm has been shown to improve both objective and subjective measures of ADHD symptoms. University scientists have developed special glasses that block the blue rays that cause a delay in the start of the flow of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Putting on the glasses a couple of hours ahead of bedtime eliminates this delay thereby advancing the circadian rhythm.
Finding Natural Alternatives Adhd Children Can Use.
Most doctors, when they encounter a case of ADHD, turn to stimulant or anti-depressant drugs to counteract most of the disorders symptoms. However, in taking these drugs the effects are short lived and the medication needs to be constant. There is also the possibility of various side effects to contend with too. Because of this, it is only natural that parents try to find alternatives. Most parents are attracted by natural alternatives ADHD children can take as opposed to prescribed drugs mainly because they are considered to have less side effects. Here are some natural alternatives for ADHD that have shown promise: