How to deal with an adhd child in the classroom?
jennifer c asked:
Okay, this isn’t a question, but more of an answer, but any1 with experience is highly encouraged 2 give advice. My son has adhd and it was very difficult 4 him in the classroom, as well as the teachers and other children. When he was younger, the teachers would make up special rewards 4 him. I thought this would make the other kids mad, but, because they were as aggrivated as the teacher with his disruption, they actually encouraged it. He was allowed so many times 2 speak up without raising his hand. After he did it once, the teacher would move his marker & show he had 4 times left and so on. This made him more aware of his behavior. Same thing with getting out of his seat. After his marks were moved & he repeated the behavior, he got write-offs 2 do at home. I think it was like 10 per extramark, may have been less. Anyone who knows these children know that they **** homework. I was a supportive parent, but if you have 1 that isn’t, they can do these at freetime.
Medications aren’t given until they reach kindergarden, and even with medications there are still behavior problems. As a matter of fact, concerta was the best medication that was prescribed to my son and even that didn’t help a whole lot.
Okay, this isn’t a question, but more of an answer, but any1 with experience is highly encouraged 2 give advice. My son has adhd and it was very difficult 4 him in the classroom, as well as the teachers and other children. When he was younger, the teachers would make up special rewards 4 him. I thought this would make the other kids mad, but, because they were as aggrivated as the teacher with his disruption, they actually encouraged it. He was allowed so many times 2 speak up without raising his hand. After he did it once, the teacher would move his marker & show he had 4 times left and so on. This made him more aware of his behavior. Same thing with getting out of his seat. After his marks were moved & he repeated the behavior, he got write-offs 2 do at home. I think it was like 10 per extramark, may have been less. Anyone who knows these children know that they **** homework. I was a supportive parent, but if you have 1 that isn’t, they can do these at freetime.
Medications aren’t given until they reach kindergarden, and even with medications there are still behavior problems. As a matter of fact, concerta was the best medication that was prescribed to my son and even that didn’t help a whole lot.
Tags: Behavior Problems, Marker
December 16th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
if they are adhd, and has been diagonsed , he / she would be on medication
December 20th, 2008 at 12:16 am
I am a teacher. I want to make clear that I understand completely that these types of things are often necessary to get through the day in a classroom. I have a few kids that are ADHD and I try to give them errands to run so they are not sitting all the time, and I try to do more active activities. My concern though, is if you son goes through school being given 5 chances to ignore the rules before he gets in trouble, what happens when he gets in the real world? Will he expect his boss to give him 5 chances before he writes him up? I agree completely with accomodations, but one of our jobs as teachers is to prepare kids for the real world and a child with ADHD will most likely hold a normal job where there are NO accomodations. I just worry that a student will be so used to having exceptions made that they will struggle in the real world.
December 20th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Your son does not have “ADHD,” because there is no such thing and it is a myth, like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. This is a term applied to normal children who can’t stand to be tortured by some boring schoolmarm and especially boys who might show signs of nomal masculinity. Next, they might start forcing upon him dangerous, mind altering drugs against his will and never mind what you think, either.
I submit that what they are inflicting upon your son is tantamount to child abuse, and they are using a politically correct term to make it appear as though he has a problem instead of themselves.
What a nerve - what they were doing with the “marker” system that you described above! You really need to get him out of there
and I wish that you could sue them, somehow! Make other, more enlightened arrangements for his education. The public school system today is very dangerous and it will always try to blame others while they deny that they’re wrong.
December 21st, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I am also a teacher and have found that along with the errand running and marker system that you have described, I use cheap chair cushions (IKEA has some for about 2.00). These seat cushions have bumps or ridges on them as texture and allows the child to remain in his/her seat for a longer period of time. Many education magazines sell something similar but for an outrageous price ($40.00 and up). This works just as well and is much more cost efficient. It not only helps with my Add/Adhd kids, but also for any kid who seems to be antsy for the day or would like something comfortable to sit on while on the floor. Keep up the good work mom!
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 am
Try looking into the book BEING IN CONTROL and it’s movie BEING IN CONTROL: Natural Solutions For ADHD DYSLEXIA AND TEST ANXIETY. with Amazon.com