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. This is a sampling of over 500 classroom interventions for your use at http://www.ADDinSchool.com.
Here are some tips on Increasing Compliance in the Classroom:
Listen to the child. They want to be heard too. Provide a safe environment for the child. Make sure the child knows you are his friend and you are there to help him. Treat him with respect. Never belittle him in front of his peers. Both he and the other children know that he stands out, and if the teacher belittles the child, then the rest of the children will see that as permission from the teacher to belittle the child as well.
Give him a break once in a while. Know the difference between big things and little things, and don't confront him on each little thing. It is hard for these children to control themselves all of the time.
Be alert to how much movement they may need. Allow for some extra trips to the restroom, or to run some errands. You may want to allow him to run around in a designated spot in the play yard.
Help the child find his areas of strength so that he can build his self-esteem.
It is important to pair verbal praise with a reward. This will facilitate "weaning" from a concrete reward structure to an internalized system. Encourage your student to also write or say self-affirmations. A simple nod, wink, smile, or touch on the shoulder can carry tremendous recognition power.
Instead of confronting your student continually on activities/behaviors that are inappropriate, point out the alternative choices that are available. This will make the expectations clearer to him and avoid the negativity inherent in what he would perceive as criticism.
Some students respond to a prearranged cuing system with the teacher. In this system, the teacher gives a visual signal (touching the ear) or verbal phrase ("Remember, I'm looking for good listeners") when a targeted inappropriate behavior occurs. The cue can remind your student to correct behavior without direct confrontation or loss of self-esteem. It can involve the classroom teacher or any support personnel available to the student.
Encouraging your student to monitor his own behavior has many benefits. It can provide an opportunity for discussion when your student and the teacher agree/disagree on the ratings. It also prompts movement toward your student's internal frame of reference in evaluating his behavior.
It is important to pair verbal praise with a reward. This will facilitate "weaning" from a concrete reward structure to an internalized system. Encourage your student to also write or say self-affirmations. A simple nod, wink, smile, or touch on the shoulder can carry tremendous recognition power.
Instead of confronting your student continually on activities/behaviors that are inappropriate, point out the alternative choices that are available. This will make the expectations clearer to him and avoid the negativity inherent in what he would perceive as criticism.
Hopefully these will help the ADHD students in your classroom to be more successful. You can learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder at the ADHD Information Library.
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.
ADHD: Some Survival Strategies for Parents
In our last issue we posted some of our suggested Survival Strategies for parents, and then asked readers to contribute some of their thoughts or tips. Since this newsletter is already running pretty long, I'll only list a few of them below.
Nature, An ADHD Natural Treatment
My mother's warning; "You are going to rot your brain out..
Melatonin, Sleep Enhancement, and ADHD
Overview
Melatonin is a natural hormone, which is produced and secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin plays an important role in the regulation of many hormones in the body.
Teacher Tips: Presenting Your Lesson to 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.
Teacher Tips: Organizing Your 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.
What Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a medical condition. It is caused by genetic factors that result in certain neurological differences.
Solutions to ADHD and ADD
Being an intricate and frequently misconstrued impairment, the attention deficit disorder has been undergoing research from time immemorial. According to studies by experts the source of the disorder is psychological the possibility of having several consequences that come along with the disorder has been evident. So you might probably be thinking whether there was a distinction between ADHD and ADD?
Examining Drugs for ADHD, Particularly Strattera
In memory of 14 year old Matthew Smith; 11 year old Stephanie Hall; and 10 year old Shaina Dunkle and other children who have died from the use of psychotropic drugs for "ADHD".The Eli Lilly company has been marketing a new drug for those who are labeled as ADHD known as Strattera.
Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) have been widely used labels since the early 1990s. They are considered catch-all diagnoses by many clinicians.
Diagnose And Understand The Symptoms Of Attention Deficit Disorder
Millions of children throughout the United States suffer from attention deficit disorder in one form or another. Symptoms of this problem include impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, and inability to pay attention for long periods of time. You may also hear this chronic disorder referred to as ADD or ADHD. It can continue on into adulthood, causing problems with daily life, poor self esteem, trouble interaction, and bad performance in work or school.
A Medical Professional Explains How Caffeine Causes ADHD, Mental Illness and More
Ruth Whalen, a medical professional in Massachusetts, survived a 24-year-course of medical misdiagnoses and caffeine poisoning. Turning her harrowed experience into a positive one, Ruth educates the public about the dangers of caffeine and how medical and psychiatric doctors mistake caffeine's effects for ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and more.
Important Pointers When Parenting A Adhd Child
Parenting a ADHD child can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride emotionally. ADHD children can be funny, inspirational creative, and gifted in lots of ways, as well as having challenging behaviors.
"What's Not ADHD?"
Let?s look at five behavioral issues which are not ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). While these difficulties may be found along with ADHD, it doesn?t mean that they are symptoms of ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder Without Hyperactivity: A Growing Problem Among Children
Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly talked about disorder in children today, attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity is just as much of a problem. ADHD is more easily diagnosed because the hyperactivity is easy to see. So it is important for parents to know what to look for to determine whether their child has Attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity.
How To Combat Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD
With bouts of inattentiveness, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity, millions of children in the United States are plagued by attention deficit disorder. The chronic disorder, which is also commonly referred to as ADD or ADHD, has the potential to continue on into adulthood, where issues of self-esteem, strained interaction with others, and poor performance in school or work often takes place.