Saturday, July 1, 2017

Kids With ADHD In The Classroom

By Timothy Taylor


ADHD is, as well as ADD, a well-known brain disorder that affect a great percentage of children between six and eighteen years. In the USA, there is probably around five million children suffering from attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorder, and this might be a real problem in schools, because these children have problems controlling their emotions, concentration and behavior in general. ADHD in the classroom presents a real challenge to any teacher.

It is not hard to recognize some of the early symptoms, such as forgetting things, misplacing toys, switching interests and activities all the time, talking non-stop or the lack of emotional control. Such kids get distracted too easily and sometimes have some really serious problems with their behavior. When they need to finish a task, it might become a real problem to them, even when this is not something too complicated to do.

Including the lack of patience, all these symptoms usually cause different problems in school. The fact is that there is no real cure for this disorder, but things can get better when different therapies are used, including various medications, psychotherapies or the combination of these treatments. Combining medication and psycho social therapy is considered to be the best approach, according to medical experts in this field.

Nevertheless, there are many things that can be done in the school as well. Qualified and educated teacher may use various techniques that will help children suffering from ADHD. Providing safe, organized and predictable environment is probably the first and the most important step. Ordered environment with precise, clear, understandable rules are essential.

Getting to know each and every kid and understanding any specific need is essential for any teacher. This includes talking to the parents as well. Every kid is unique, and it is good to know which methods were successful earlier. This approach is highly efficient, although it does require more time. Anyway, more time spent in the beginning will result with less problems in the future.

There are different methods that can be used for inspiring your students. If you recognize and reward their skills, efforts or talents, or a good behavior, maybe with a star, or an extra point, this might affect child's behavior. Pleasant environment, calming music, all this can additionally improve the quality of learning.

Sometimes children simply need something different, some kind of physical activity, a few stretches, or a simple pause from learning. This will keep them motivated, especially if their teacher makes them understand that there is a time for a pause, and there is a time for something else. Explain all that you do and why, and it will have effect on the child. If there is a good reason for a rule, it is easier to accept this rule.

Children should never be yelled at, or blamed for something they didn't do correctly. Every teacher has to be gentle and kind, and rewarding good things is always better than punishing. Dividing lessons into smaller segments children can easily understand is much more productive. Asking simple questions every once in a while will keep children concentrated. At last, if some child simply has to move, send it to take a message to another teacher, for example, just to satisfy this need.




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