Children with ADD/ADHD need special teaching methods. Find out what works for ADD/ADHD kids in the classroom.
Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be a challenge for any teacher. ADHD is also referred to as ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder. Children with ADHD display signs of the short attention span along with hyperactivity. On the other hand, children with ADD only display signs of the short attention span, but they do not display signs of hyper-activeness.
Statistics claim that there is at least one child with ADD/ADHD in every classroom. As a teacher, if you haven't yet had a student with this disorder, chances are high that you eventually will. These kids do not act out intentionally, ADD/ADHD is a neurological disorder. There is no specific test that can be taken to confirm an ADD/ADHD diagnosis, but some of the symptoms of an ADD/ADHD child may include the following:
Inability to sit still (Hyperactivity)
Talks excessively (blurts out answers in class)
Often forgets or loses things (pencils, instructions, etc)
Is easily distracted
Has a difficult time concentrating
Even one or two of these symptoms can be difficult to deal with, but throw them all together into one child and many educators are overwhelmed. ADD/ADHD students do not learn in the exact same ways that other kids learn. This does not mean that they aren't as smart; in fact, many ADD/ADHD kids are gifted. Sometimes, it is difficult to ascertain their gifted-ness through the behavioral problems. Teachers must learn to put their normal teaching methods aside and change the way they teach if ADD/ADHD kids are to get an education.
ADD/ADHD students are frequently criticized and belittled by teachers that do not understand their behaviors. The teachers repeatedly tell the child to sit down, be quiet, finish the assignment, and so on. These students receive an incredible amount of negative feedback, which only worsens the problem. To help an ADD/ADHD student be more successful in your classroom, try the following methods of teaching:
1. Try seating the student in the area of the classroom that has the least amount of distractions (away from doors, windows or pencil sharpeners). It us usually a good idea to seat the ADD/ADHD student close to the teacher.
2. Don't criticize or reprimand the student in front of others. Consider the grand amount of negative feedback that they already receive, including ridicule from their peers. You should attempt to give as little negative feedback as possible. Talk to the student and create a sign or a code that you will give the student when he needs to settle down or get to work. For example, you could say, " Bobby, I know that sometimes you need to be reminded to do your work or that you are getting too loud and need to quiet down. I don't want to embarrass you by reminding you in front of the class, so whenever I walk over to my desk and pick up the apple, that will be your sign."
3. ADD/ADHD kids are rarely chosen for special activities because of their rowdy behavior. Use their energy to your advantage. Let your ADD/ADHD student sharpen the pencils for you, hand out papers or run an errand. This not only allows them to expel some of their energy, it builds their self-esteem by feeling that they were "chosen" by the teacher.
4. ADD/ADHD children need a lot of praise. Studies claim that it takes ten positive comments to counteract one negative one. If that is true, imagine how many positive comments a child with ADD/ADHD needs! Don't reserve the praise for when an assignment is completed or perfect, praise them for trying hard, for asking for help or for staying seated throughout the class time.
5. Break up instructions or assignments in small steps. ADD/ADHD children cannot remember a list of activities. Their brains will go in to overload if you give them too much information at once. Give them step one and tell them to let you know when they are ready for step two.
With the right teaching methods and a lot of patience, your ADD/ADHD student can have a successful learning year. As with all children, you may find that some teaching methods work better than others. For more information on ADD/ADHD, contact your local C.H.A.D.D. (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder) office. C.H.A.D.D. offers support and information for parents and teachers.
