College instructor and parent needs help

Happy wading!

PE instruction, unfortunately, is generally not geared to the students who struggle with it for any reason. However, it would be worth sounding out individual teachers or perhaps administrators to see just how they felt about approaching PE from a more “adaptive” standpoint, so that instead of the grim reality of most PE classes (for students who aren’t naturally inclined that way; for some of our kids it’s their one chance to be the one who “gets it first”), students could actually be doing something benefiting body, mind and soul.

Really, what you’re talking about is a big issue — it isn’t just an ADHD thing. Reforming PE would be a wonderful mission… I’d want to gather allies around me. Hmmm…. imagine if a local group of experts in one of these balance or coordination programs could do a presentation with active participation (perhaps in the interest of generating business from parents) or a cycling shop or club could have volunteers go in and take some or all of the folks in the classes over for a week of immersion in cycling; or yoga, or karate… but done in a healthy manner.

Of course, individual parents have, in fact, done things like had their ADHD kids take “PE” by being helpers in an adaptive PE course with physically handicapped students. And in some states you can actually substitute an afterschool activity — I wish it had been true in MD so my swim team practice could have relieved me of the grief, tho’ that was when I only needed a year’s worth, and it wasn’t so bad (it’s often not as bad for females of the species).

Interactive Metronome has a group “sports” version that you might be interested in. IM is usually done one-on-one with children who need to work on rhythm, timing, and/or motor planning. It has a very good track record with symptoms of ADD.

Website is http://www.interactivemetronome.com . I would recommend calling the company and discussing group applications. It would not be an inexpensive program to start up, but might be along the lines of what you are looking for.

Other programs that are more geared towards vestibular development and integration than motor planning are Balametrics (http://www.balametrics.com ) and Bal-A-Vis-X (http://www.bal-a-vis-x.com/ ). Both of these programs use balance boards. Balametrics is more geared to one-on-one, while Bal-A-Vis-X is more geared to groups. In my opinion, neither of these would be as useful for symptoms of ADD as Interactive Metronome, though.

Nancy

Interesting — headline on CNN tonight — apparently most PE teachers are not well supervised, PE standards are lax, and students in classes do not exercise enough. You have a big job here.

I am glad you found the answer that suited you problem. I really liked that you acknowledged the fact that every situation can (an most) likely different.

Please remember that what I experienced is dated, so it might not have any affect on your viewpoint. When my sons were diagnosed as being ADD/Hyperactive I read everything that was available, and tried most of the “cures or treatments” that were suggested. On the digestive issue, I planted an organic garden, purchased part of an grass feed steer (no steroids ect.)We did not eat foods with dyes or that were processed. We all lost weight and become much healthier yet it did not improve my sons ADD/Hyperactive behavior.
Please understand my results my not be the same as yours or someone else.As in most things one size does not fit all.

Bal-A-Vis-X is perfect for 1:1 use. Partner and group work is done after individual or 1:1 work. Timing, synchronization, and rhythm are integral components along with visual, auditory, and motor involvement.

As someone who teaches PE you must be fairly knowledgeable in biology as well i would assume. I realize your focus is on physical activity to keep people fit.

ADD, is a debatable diagnosis at best. There is nothing physical they can point to in the brain or anywhere else that clearly indicates it is a real phenomina outside of the imagination of experts.

Here is something I would do, if i were teaching physical education to children especially those labled with ADD. I would not just teach your standard sports activities i would also take the time to teach them about the foods they eat.

I too was diagnosed with ADD. For years they lived under the assumption that is what was wrong with me. I have been drugged against my will for it more times than i can count.

About a year ago i went to the doctor to find out what was going on with my body weather it was a good time to get pregnant. She gave me a blood test and checked out the levels of essentially everything in my body. What she found, is that i had a massive deficiency in iron, vitamin K and vitamin B and even vitamins E and D3. These deficiencies were so severe she was surprised i was not completely insane, or dead. According to her deficiencies that bad, would have taken more than a decade to to become that terribly bad and the effect they would have had in my brain would have been severe. So, i cleaned up my diet and something incredible happened, I went to see some new psychiatrist and when he compared my records to the person sitting in his office the picture didn’t match. He asked if anything changed i told him i found out about the vitamin issues. He says, i was misdiagnosed and it isn’t uncommon at all for children and adults with severe vitamin issues to be diagnosed as ADD. I am not saying this is the case in every situation where the diagnosis has been made.

What i am saying is that if i were teaching physical education, this is one thing that i would cover very carefully my class. Because just imagine having 1 child in the course of your carreer who is in the same boat as i am and imagine changing his life and his world while he is still young enough to have a normal childhood and to not have to take medication that is harmful to the body and brain…. Just imagine that… The chances are though, that more than 20% of children with LD who walk into your PE class who have ADD will have the same situation as i had. This is something i would do as part of my PE class to help those with ADD. I would put an emphasis on healthy eating and get parents on board.