I am Preschool Teacher.Is it advisable for ADHD child to join the class with 24 classmates w/o ADHD problem.?

Question

Two of my students were diagnosed to have such and I'm deeply worried if they'll be able to learn ,one of them is highly irritable even choosy with regards to activities inside the classroom.Please help ,I want to discuss this matter to their parents since PTD is fastly approaching.

Answer 1

No. That's too big a group, ADHD or no ADHD.

Answer 2

Teacher...I do not think that will be fair for the child with ADHD and the 24 normal students...The child with ADHD has special needs and should not be mixed with normal children...and the 24 normal students is also in need of your attention and guidance..it would either be, you will have less attention for the child with ADHD or less for the 24 normal students...it will also be unfair to you because it is already draining to have 24 pupils...the child with ADHD will be another 6 (with exaggeration) and 30 elementary pupils will be hard to handle...

Answer 3

Have these children been diagnosed as ADHD? Until the age of five, most children are not diagnosed because a certain amount of activity is expected. If the children have been diagnosed as needing special education services, perhaps they can be assigned an individual aide, or "shadow". If the child comes to you without an aide, work out a system with your assistant what you will do when the child becomes antsy. ( I hope you have an assistant with 24 children!) Perhaps you can have two story time groups so each of you are dealing with a smaller number of children. Perhaps the child can sit next to you and hold the book. when the child has sat long enough, let him be the assistant's helper as she prepares the next activity. Children with ADHD respond well to sensory materials like sand tables, warm water tables. play dough. When they loose their attention suggest they need a time to cool off, and give them five minutes with play dough. Another suggestion, keep your classroom as neat as possible and limit the number of distrations, like having too many posters on the wall. The area you set aside for story time and circle time should be clear of distractions, like toys on shelves. it may be helpful for each child to have a specific place to sit, use masking tape to make Xs on the rug, or get carpet samples for each to sit on. Keep positive, and use praise alot. When  the other class mates are sitting appropriately, say"I like the way--- is sitting" or whatever. Try to ignore most of the inappropriate behavior. Ask the parents what they do at home and suggest some of the strategies that you have been working on at school.

Answer 4

ALL kids have ADHD - you should know that being a pre-school teacher!  Exercise them and run their little butts off!

Answer 5

I agree that most of us has had experience with children who have the symptoms of ADD/ADHD.  Some we have agreed with the diagnosis...some we haven't.  These children can be taught...there are methods that can help these children succeed.  You need to work with the parents to find out what works well with these children.  Teach the other children about the child.  There is NO problem in doing this...possibly on a day the child isn't present...to discuss what behaviors they may see and how they feel about it and what they can do.  

Educate yourself on the diagnosis.  This will definately benefit you in your teaching career.  And you know what...many of the practical techniques that are suggested for ADD/ADHD can be effective even for your typically developing child.  Understanding what the child is experiencing will help you become a great teacher and help this child have success in his preschool years.  PLEASE don't give up on these children and think it's "too hard".  You can do it!!!  

One resource I have used...How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children by Sandra F. Rief.  This seems to be more for the primary school years but I've come across a few techniques that help quite a bit.

Visuals are a big help for these children.  Having the child's choices right there help you and the child to focus on what needs to be done.  At circle time...it is OKAY to give this child who need to move...an approipiate way to move.  Once, we had a basket of "manipulatives" that each child chose at circle time.  Most were like flour inside of a balloon.  They can sit and kneed it.  Helped quite a bit.  Having a specific "spot" at the rug where they sit.  They have great cushions for children with these types of diagnosis.  Discount School Supply is starting to sell "special needs" supplies.   Tactile air cushions I think they are.  We've used something similar in one of our group settings.  

On a legal standpoint...you can't say no to these children.  The program can "adapt" within reason to meet the needs of these children.

Answer 6

Teachers juggle the mixture of "normal" and ADHD children all the time.  It's imperative for the child(ren) with the mental/behavioral issues to be exposed to children whom exert the normal behaviors.  All you need is to gather a bit more patience and dig deep into your bag of teacher tricks! ;)  Just be sure to have plans set in place for when the child becomes disruptive, and also it is OK to give ADHD children more of a variety of choices when they seem antsy or distracted (i.e. during story time you notice "Johnny" is squirming around distracting other students from the story--you can give him the option of sitting quietly until you finish the story or let him know he can put some puzzles together at the math center).  You can do it!  :)  

ADHD children can definitely be a handful, but with the right tools and the right amount of patience, it can be done.

Answer 7

grandma Dorothy where do you live? I have lots of questions for you,or can you e-mail me [e-mail]

Answer 8

You are given the option? That must be nice! I wish I could choose my students!

Keeping them in the class will be difficult but not impossible however if you are able to, I'd opt for putting them in another class, preferably smaller, with students whose learning abilities are similar. A class of 24 children is large, and unless you want discipline problems, I wouldn't include them in the class until they are a little bit older. Instead, they can be mainstreamed into a smaller class (under 20) where you have more control over their behavior.

I have read what others have written and I do understand what they are saying, however I have had many students with disabilities, IEPs, ADHD, etc. and have found that those with ADHD have not benefitted from being with other children in such a LARGE class. If they are mainstreamed, they should be put in a SMALLER class. In my experience, the other children are instead inconvenienced and annoyed by this child's behavior. There are frequent outbursts, often annoying the other children and possibly fighting, and time has to be taken to give the unruly child his/her "options". This would be a great learning opportunity and a great tool for teaching understanding and compassion IN A SMALLER CLASS. Also, lessons have to be tailored around this child because there are activities that require self control and I found that those children had to be monitored carefully. In a class of 24 or 25, this is not as easy as it would be in a class of 10 or 11. Good luck!

Answer 9

I am so surprised at some of the answers I am seeing on here.  As an elementary school PE teacher I am surprised that you would have a choice as to if the child would be in your class or not. There are so many kids that are diagnosed with ADHD/ADD you are to treat them just as you do the other students.  They are not required to have an aide.  Shoot more than 40% of students have ADHD and 90% of those go unmedicated.  They are more active but being a preschool teacher that should be typical and this cannot be diagnosed until the middle to end of kindergarten to see how they react.  I am so sad that people think they could be shoved to another classroom.  Parents don't always want to hear about it either....thier first reaction typically is denial. If a child is choosy -- that is typical as to what goes on at home.  You redirect the child to do as they are told, not just let them do thier own thing.  I am apalled.

Answer 10

How do you know that these children have ADHD.  A child must be 5 years old and enrolled in elementary school before they can even be tested for ADHD.  Are these just children that won't sit during circle time or small group time.  Some children just have more energy than others.  If these children where diagnosed then you need to work with the families in order to find a plan that is best for all involved. Also what do you mean when you say "i'm worried if they'll be able to learn"  Why wouldn't they learn?  Some people learn differently than others.   My question for you is:  If these children are not it your class where would they go?