What can I do to help my son with his ADD in class?

Question

My son has ADD and due to other medical issues, is not on medication at this time. He was doing okay, but his teacher just called me to set up a time to meet and discuss the issue. She says he is now getting zero work done in class and he is regressing instead of progressing. We are going to try to set something up to help him....but I need ideas. I know some of the basic ideas, like using a study carol, but what else can we do?

Please, only serious answers. Thank you!

Answer 1

Good suggestions with proximity seating. Also give consideration to time management. Using a timer at home may help with homework completion. I have seen it be very successful with students diagnosed with ADHD. Knowing there is a limited amount of time they must focus can be very encouraging. In the classroom set up something similar with rewards to immediately follow the target behavior. All of this can be incorporated into the behavior management plan.

When working on the behavior plan , keep it simple. Pick one or two agreed upon behaviors to work on  and develop a plan around those behaviors. Do not shoot for 100% compliance initially. Do reward for progress. Consequences should be used as well, even if they are natural consequences already build into the class system. Cite them and be very specific. Share this with your child. Have your child participate in the development of the plan. Expect setbacks, it is part of the learning process. Expect your child may be resistant at first, don't give up. Sometimes a behavior gets worse before it gets better, that is normal.

Be consistent with the school, you and your child's teacher are on the same team. Approach it from that stand point.

Also, ask if your school system employs a behavior management specialists. Good behavior specialists can make a world of difference. Again, don't expect perfection but work towards improvement.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I agree with Robertas answer. I myself have ADD and I was classified when I was freshman in high school. I struggled all through school and finally my mother would not stop fighting with my school to test me. Anyway, definitely speak to his teacher about where he is seated and maybe try putting him back on medicine. I was on medicine for 6 years and it really helped me a lot. I stopped taking it once I turned 21 so I could drink. I have now learned to manage my ADD by catching myself when I start to lose focus on something. It's a hard thing to cope with but I know that things could always be worse. Anyway, good luck to you and your son!!!

Answer 3

I taught school for 12 years. Most of that time I taught 3rd grade. I have worked with many kids with ADD. Some of the things I have done are:

Have the child sit near the front of the class, by students that can be supportive and friendly.

Place reminds on the child's desk on recipe cards, like times or check to see if your name is on your work, etc. I would include a positive note with this.

Write down assignments and have the parent sign it each night. The aid could help the teacher do this.I would include notes about work the child did not complete, upcoming tests or assignments that are due.

Another way to do this is though e-mail.

Create 1 folder that goes home each night with work , homework and notes. That way, you know what to look for and the teacher can help pack it.

Pray for a loving teacher that wants to help your child do his best. With a good teacher, this can be so much easier to handle.

Answer 4

I'm a special education teacher for grades 3, 4, and 5 and here are a couple things you could suggest doing.

1. There are these blue sensory wedges that sit ontop of chairs. This really seems to help some kids with ADD/ADHD concentrate more.

2. Also there is stuff called Therapuddy that your kid can hold while he pays attention in class. This reduces his need to constantly have his hands in motion.

3. Have the aide take him on 'sensory walks'. This often times clears the mind and makes the student available for learning.

4. Set up an interval reward system. If your child can sit well, pay attention, and do his work for 30 m (time depends on child's behavior....he may only be able to do 15 minutes at first) and then reward the child right after he's done the desired behavior with either a special snack , computer time, or something the child would like to earn.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Where is he seated?  It has to be near the teacher so she can quietly redirect him when he's off-task.  As for you, you can set up a behavior system in conjuction with the teacher.  Have him set daily goals for a specific amount of work.  Start low and gradually increase.  Offer some reward if he reaches these goals after one week.  The teacher has to be willing to participate.  Make sure the reward is something he wants.  Or it could be a chore he can be excused from doing.

Answer 6

My daughter is 10 and was diagnosed with adhd when she was 6, she went on meds when she was 7 very hard choice for me to make.  You don't say why your son isn't on them.  I use to have a horrible time with her taking them until we found the Dytrana Patch, this has been our miracle!!!!  She takes full responsibility for it by putting it on and taking it off, she reminds me if I forget to get it for her.  It has helped her to function in school and socially in such away I can't even begin to explain.  Some of the things we did with her previous to this though were:  Her teacher had all the contents of her desk in a box next to the teachers desk so she couldn't fidget with it, she sat in the front of the class near the teacher, she is in special ed and at our school we have inclusion in the classroom for special ed, at home we had a behavior chart and she earned allowance for behavior at school and at home for doing homework and school work.  I also started to make her take responsibility for herself in doing school work, if she fought about doing homework I told her that is your choice and you will have to tell you teacher and if you miss recess that will be your problem, 8 out of 10 times it made her do it, this was by the way something the teacher and I had worked out without her knowing.  The teacher set up a reward system with her also by having her complete a certain amount of tasks and then she could receive a free homework coupon or lunch with the teacher or an ice cream party with the teacher and 1 friend she choose.  We found that giving her some little incentives really helped to motivate her and get her to settle down.  I still will stand by the Dytrana patch though because I do know without the help of that to balance it all we wouldn't have accomplished what we have with her.  Good Luck with your son!!!

Answer 7

Is your child recieving special ed services? If not, a school is not legally liable to provide ANY extra help.

And the help they do provide is NOT specifically suited for your childs individual problems.

And if a child is not in special ed, he does not have the legal protections and rights and the school can stop this 'help' at any time.

The only legal and best way a school can help a child with these type of problems is thru special ed.

If you would like this, write a letter to the special ed director requesting 'an initial full educational evaluation testing in all areas of suspected disabilties to determine if my child can qualify for sepcial ed services as specified by IDEA law'.

Now, they will tell you all kinds of things to stall or refuse this. So if you need help email me   [e-mail]

Also know that schools can not even MENTION medicines to parents, it is against FEDERAL LAW.  Here's a link to this law --

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c1...