In case your child has ADHD, never leave everything that happens in school to their teachers. This is very dangerous because most teachers do not know anything about this disorder. There are some steps which you must take to ensure that ADHD in the classroom is smooth sailing.
If your child has ADHD, then one of the most important things which you should pay attention to is when he or she is in school. Paying attention to ADHD in the classroom is of critical importance because there have been reported cases of teachers, who got angry due to seemingly `disobedient' children, insisting that these kids be put on medication.
Teachers who are not trained or well versed with the disorder may even suggest medication when they see pupils coming to school with eyes half-closed. Even if your kid is on medication you should ensure that the time they take their medicine fits with the school's timetable.
Close interaction with all of his or her teachers are very important. This is because children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder require special attention at all times. To ensure that they can cope with their studies, attention needs to be given to the most mundane of tasks, such as behaviour plans and seating arrangements. If the teachers are unaware about this disorder, educate them in a tactful manner, otherwise they might get offended.
Studies have found that the best seating arrangement for ADHD children in a classroom are as follows, (a) seat them near the teacher, and (b) do not sit them near the door or windows.
Unlike normal boys and girls, those with this behavioural phenomenon have problems paying attention for a certain stretch of time. Convey this awareness to their teachers, with the hope that they can plan their lessons and class control more meticulously.
Is it better to put a child with ADHD in traditional four-wall classrooms or use the "open pod" models? Advice from experts is that the former is better because of the hyperactivity and impulsivity factors. Yes, teaching kids with this medical condition can make any teacher climb walls in no time at all.
Experts have also opined that seating pupils in rows is preferred. They do not recommend them being seated in groups. One methodology which is highly encouraged is for teachers to continue experimenting what works best for ADHD in the classroom. This is because different people react differently to the same stimuli. For example, if the child hates sounds, maybe asking them to sit at the back of the classroom might do the trick. There have been cases where teachers prescribed the use of headphones and playing soft music to soothe the nerves of the child, which can flare up very easily.
An interesting point to note about people with ADHD is that they work best when things are properly laid out. Hence, in the classroom, it would be great if teachers take the time to write out a proper schedule on a daily basis. That way the kid would know when they are required to pay attention, when they are going for a physical workout in the playground, or when creativity is called for. They tend to remain calm when all the things that are going to happen in the day are all properly and systematically laid out.
Should parents dabble with mind-altering drugs, especially in the context of ADHD in the classroom? Many in the know do not recommend it. The health risks and possible side effects over the long haul, they say, are just not worth it. If the dosage is not monitored or followed closely, the ADHD child might even end up looking like a zombie.
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