Accommodations for ADD/ADHD

How could it be unfair to teach each individual child as an individual? Give to each what they need as best you can. Learning should not be a competition. Why would we deny any child or person the things they need for learning?

No teacher can do all the things that need doing in any classroom but the first thing a good one can do is to not worry about being ‘unfair’ to those students who are fortunate enough to not be challenged with learning differences. It is not unfair to them or to our society to do everything we can to support students with learning differences.

I allow any child, ADD or not, as much time as they feel they need to take a test. They can come back at recess or a study hall. You can modify work for ADD children and with your willingness to learn, you will learn much about this once you are in a classroom.

Thank-you for such a wonderful question. If the child has an I.E.P. in place,
you will be informed of their strengths and weaknesses. For many ADHD
children, assignments that require a lot of “handwriting” can be very
difficult. The reason is that many have handwriting problems or dysgraphia
which makes any type of handwriting difficult.

These children want their handwriting to look “neat” but it usually looks
sloppy with can cause great emotional stress for the children and parents.
To allow the children to use the computer can be extremely helpful in
this case.

Also, remember these kids are usually hearing “negative” comments by
their teachers and parents and really struggle with their E.Q. (emotional
quotient). Please celebrate their successes in class in front of their
peers/parents. We need to focus on the positive because these children
are usually capable but have difficulty getting the correct information
“out of their brains” and onto the paper.

A godd example of what Sara has said..I had to get five applicators licenses for my job. Schooling and tests were a must for the state. The schooling was easy because my interest was there and determination. But when it came time for the tests, I failed 5 times. My Professor just could not understand it. he said I was his best student and was just dumb founded.

Finally he asked me to come back again and this time over to his office where it was less distraction and less tension. I agreed knowing that neither was the problem. The problem was that I could go out and do my job, and even recite chapter and verse, but could not take the tests.

I was about to flunk again until he finally came into the room and began to ask the questions to me oraly. Some kids have an oral learning disability others a visual and some both.

So when you find that a child is having a real hard time, first please don’t say “You did it before, whay can’t you do it now?” or anything like that. The kid feels bad enough.

Take him aside or a group aside and ask the questions. You just may save a lot of kids.
Good Luck and one more thing.

When you have a question..I would suggest going to a person with adult ADD?ADHD and asking them.

Kim. adding to what you have said. I found that putting the fonts on script can add such a great smile to ones face. :) Seeing that script instead of the standard print is something else to see when a childs work is finsihed.

Also for some reason computers come easy to us. Go figure. I do all of my letters on the computer in script, in colpr on stationary, no end to it. Now I am the best writer out of all of you..but the worst speller. :)

I spent housr that are uncountable at home practising my writing so that I would get a goo mark. I did however find that writing backhand was a great help. Now all of my kids have ADD or ADHD and all but one writes backhand and I never suggested it to them.