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"Have a Defiant Child Problem?"
Get Your Child to Behave
Simple Step-by-Step Action Plan
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ADHD and School Success- Yes, it is Possible!
by by Jeannine Virtue
A day in school requires sustained attention, sitting
quietly and refined social skills - all of which ADHD
children tend to have great difficult mastering. With
a teamwork approach to education, solid communication
and a few tried and try tips, the education process
does not need to be an exercise in frustration for
the student, parent or teacher.
To help ease
the strains of ADHD and the school setting; try these
back-to-school tips to encourage a successful school year:
Communicate Early and Often with the Teacher: Teachers
need to know early of any issues that might create an
education obstacle and ADHD most certainly falls into
that category. Ideally, parents should meet with the
child's teacher early in the school year to develop
an early line of communication, head off potential
problems and allow a proactive approach with the
child’s education. In addition to communicating
information to the teacher, seasoned teachers can
often provide information that will help parents.
The time-constricted parent/teacher conferences,
typically held after the first grading period, may
not provide enough time to discuss the particular
strengths and weaknesses of child.
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Additionally, your child might already be marked
as a troublemaker or a slacker by that time.
Undoing that label may not be as easy after one
fourth of the school year already gone.
Understand Today's Classroom: In any given
classroom, teachers likely have a couple ADHD
students, a few more with unique emotional
obstacles or educational special needs and then
about 20 other "average" students. As parents,
we know the extra dose of patience and understanding
needed in working with the ADHD child. We also know
(all too well, I am afraid), that our patience can
be pushed to the absolute limit. Teachers face the
same issues, and then some.
Patience is a Two-Way Street: Just as parents
ask for patience and understanding with their ADHD
child, teachers should also receive patience and
understanding. A relationship built on the single
goal of teaching the ADHD child benefits the child
more than teachers and parents finger-pointing at
each other over the educational process.
Be Goal-Oriented: If you do have a conflict with
the teacher, try to approach the problem in a
positive light. The teacher might tell you that
your child will not stay in his seat, pokes at
other students or is heading straight for a
detention. Instead of focusing on the immediate
problem at hand, focus on action plans to modify
the behavior.
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"Have an ADHD Child?"
Conquer ADHD without Drugs
Simple Step-by-Step Action Plan
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addadhdadvances.com
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Patience is a Two-Way Street: Just as parents
ask for patience and understanding with their ADHD
child, teachers should also receive patience and
understanding. A relationship built on the single
goal of teaching the ADHD child benefits the child
more than teachers and parents finger-pointing at
each other over the educational process.
Be Goal-Oriented: If you do have a conflict with
the teacher, try to approach the problem in a
positive light. The teacher might tell you that
your child will not stay in his seat, pokes at
other students or is heading straight for a
detention. Instead of focusing on the immediate
problem at hand, focus on action plans to modify
the behavior.
Homework Tips for Parents: Try these homework
tips to ease the strain at home.
- Establish a Set Homework Routine: Because the
ADHD child functions best in a consistent environment,
homework should be done in the same place, at the
same time and for a set amount of time every day.
- Clear the Clutter at Home: The child's work area
should be free of distractions, such as televisions,
video games, music and other people.
- Mandatory Homework Time: Establishing a set amount
of time to work on homework provides consistency
while discouraging the child from rushing through
homework. In general, elementary school children
should spend about 30 minutes each night on homework.
Middle school and high school students should spend
about one hour on homework. If the child does not
have homework that evening or they finish before
the allotted time, the child can read until their
mandatory homework time is over.
- "Chunk" Tasks and Schedule Breaks: Long-range
tasks are often difficult for the ADHD child.
"Chunking" homework helps break the homework into
smaller, more manageable pieces.
- problem math assignment, for instance, can be
broken into four chunks of five problems each,
with a small break given between chunks.
- Rewards/Consequences: The ADHD child needs all
the rewards they can get, along with firm and
consistent consequences. Modest rewards like a
treat, special privilege , earning Gameboy play
time or the right to choose a favorite dinner
can motivate the child to work toward the goal
of completing his homework. Remember to offer
intangible rewards like smiles and praise when
your child puts the effort into completing his
homework. A "way to go" goes a long way in
positive reinforcement for Attention Deficit
Disorder children. Effective consequences for
not completing homework are losing phone, computer,
stereo and television privileges for the evening.
- Remain Calm: Once you start yelling, the child has
won the homework power struggle. Remain calm and
firm yet consistent with consequences. It may take
a couple "consequence" days before the child to
realize completing homework is better than not
doing homework.
- Focus on Effort Instead of Grades: Don't
get hung up on the traditional grading scale.
Your ADHD child may not be able to receive
"A"s on every homework and school assignment.
Do make sure to give your ADHD child an "A"
for effort. The goal is to develop a solid
homework habit. With a homework habit
established, better grades will follow.
- Keep Track of Assignments: Using an assignment
book helps parents keep track of the child's
daily and weekly homework. If the teacher does
not use an assignment book, try to develop a
system that keeps you informed of your child's
homework assignments.
Classroom Tips for Teachers These tips, though
specifically targeted for teaching children with
Attention Deficit Disorder, can help all students
in school.
- Reduce the Classroom Clutter: Keep classroom
ornamentation to a minimum, clear your desk of
piles and reduce anything that will take the
student’s attention away from the work at hand.
- Reduce Worksheet Clutter: Keep classroom and
homework page formats simple. Reducing the clutter
on worksheets will work wonders.
- Choose seating arrangements wisely: Back row or
middle of the room seating gives ADHD children too
many distractions. You should also try to seat ADHD
children far away from students (friends and enemies
alike) that can add to distractions and closer to
well-focused students.
- Highlight Success: Children ADHD are no strangers
to scolding and trouble. Continuing the scolding
and reprimands rarely brings positive results.
Instead, highlight the student’s successes. Give
the student a smile. Make an effort to show you
find value in them. If you put the extra effort
into the ADHD child, they will try to return the favor.
- Choose Your Battles: Try not to confront the ADHD
child for every little classroom infraction.
Separating out the big things from the little
will save your voice and patience while saving
the ADHD child from constant reprimand.
- Understand the need for movement: If your ADHD
student seems exceptionally fidgety, select him
to run an errand. Allow this student an extra
bathroom break. Suggest that he get up and take
a drink of water. Anything that will allow the
ADHD student a moment to get the wiggles out and
refocus will benefit not only him, but you and
the classroom as a whole. Enjoy the peace and
quiet while he is away.
Freelance journalist Jeannine Virtue moderates
the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at
www.add-adhd-help-center.com. To receive a Free ADHD Help eBook, go to www.add-adhd-help-center.com/newsletters/welcome.htm
Provided By: Kids and Teens
Anthony Kane, MD
ADD ADHD Advances
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