Wings Educational Resources Blog

ADD/ADHD students

Posted admin on April 11th, 2008 | Filed under ADD/ADHD, Educational Resources

I know that the latest thing is to have ADD or ADHD students in the classroom.  There are true to life cases of this, but many use it as a convenient, undiagnosed excuse for behavior.   I have had numerous students who fall into both of the former categories.  

It is not always the case, and I don’t claim to be a physician of any sort, but I have found that insecure home environments can play a huge role.

One of the best methods that I have found in dealing with these cases (and I am not claiming any cures), is to maintain a calm, patient demeanor as an educator.   Secondly, sometimes ADD/ADHD kids are doing the best they can to concentrate and focus, but they have to have some outlet.  Sometimes the student just needs to tap their fingers, rub their hands, tap their toes… I never had a problem with it in the classroom as long as the learning of other students wasn’t interfered with.  The kids are usually open to other suggestions or variations such as tapping the page of their book rather than their desk, which results in an alternate quieter solution.   I know!  It is not rocket science, but sometimes the simplest things work the best.

I have witnessed many educators who raise their voices and/or scream at these kids to listen and then get frustrated when they don’t.  What do you expect when you have someone who is struggling with concentration and/or hyperactivity?  Do you think someone getting in your face and/or screaming at you would make you calmer or make it easier for you to concentrate?  Common sense folks.

Remember the saying, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”.   I had one very frustrating case as an educator.  The mother of this particular ADHD student was a nurse’s aide and felt that she knew what was better for her son than the numerous doctors she had consulted.  By the way, I do feel that parents usually know what is best for their children, however making snap judgements and informed decisions are two very different things.  Anyways, on with the story.  

This particular student was naturally full of energy and the mother rarely spent one-on-one time with him, as she told me herself, because she found it frustrating when he wouldn’t focus.  Problem number one in my books. 

Secondly, the last specialist she had consulted wrote her son a prescription for Ritalin.  At the beginning, she gave him the dosage in the mornings before school whenever she felt like it.  Every day or with days inbetween each dosage.  Poor child!  Can you imagine taking medication for a problem off and on?  Imagine what your body is trying to do by way of adjustment.  No wonder the kid didn’t have consistent behavior patterns!

When approached about the importance of consistency, she reassured me that she would make a point of giving the medication to him daily, at the same time.  Great first step!  However, when he would get home after school or during holidays and show signs of exuberance or hyperactivity, she would simply add another dosage to his day.   Now he was getting the medication consistently, but what about the dosage? 

I had to have an intervention with professionals much more qualified than myself.  This poor kid didn’t know what to do with himself!   Finally, after consultation with the mother, they suggested that he slowly be weaned off the prescribed dosage and then when his body has had a chance to return its equilibrium, he should be assessed again. 

After going off the medication, his grades improved and so did his behavior.   With a few behavioral modifications and personal interest taken in his well-being/interests/hobbies etc., he returned to his normal enthusiastic self.   For me the key was to keep him interested and excited about the exploration and investigation of various topics. 

By the end of the first term, he was no longer figeting in his desk and focused as well, or maybe even better, than some of the other students.  I know this may not work for everyone, but getting to know your students personally and taking an interest in their interests, well…this kind of TLC goes a long way!