ADHD - A Teacher's Story

Mike, please stop it.
Are you paying attention, Mike?
Here, I'll write the assignment on the board for you to copy down.
Mike, can you repeat back to me what I just said?

These are the things I say every day. I teach 7th grade English. Mike, like a growing number of students, has been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders).

In my experience with Mike and other students with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD, I have come to view these children with mixed feelings. On one hand, they are likable, friendly, and caring. On the other hand, they are difficult to get through to, time consuming and easily distracted. Students with ADHD also tend to distract their classmates.

While I have no answers for working with these kids, I have found some things that tend to make the classes run more smoothly and help all of the kids succeed in my classroom:

Be patient. These kids need lots of extra attention and tend to need lots of things repeated. Also, be prepared to feel guilty about all the attention you'll be giving this child.
Sit the student close to the teacher's desk. This gives you not only more control over the child's activities, but also allows you to help him/her more readily.
Be an understanding teacher - not a disciplinarian.
Have the student repeat instructions and concepts back to you to be sure that he/she was listening.
Use both oral and written instruction.
Limit distractions as much as possible.
Have lots of things for the student to do.
Have a predictable classroom.

If you have a student who cannot sit still and seems to be turning off mentally during class, refer the student to the school counselor. If the student has ADD/ADHD, he or she may experience significant improvement with treatment. I have seen failing children become good students after starting treatment for ADD.

This document was last updated 8/13/97 by Chandra Hawley.
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