ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a chronic condition that affects many children, yet is often overlooked by teachers.
Many teachers may have reprimanded children with this condition without realizing the basis for the youngsters behavior.
Teachers will be more equipped to cope with children who have this condition if they are aware that they exist.
ADHD can persist into adulthood, causing a slew of issues such as difficulty in maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.
Children with this disability have low self-esteem, have difficulty relating to other children, and frequently perform poorly academically.
ADHD children are stubborn and belligerent, especially when a task is tough for them, and they may have emotional outbursts when a teacher gives them a direction as they refuse to follow instructions.
How to know a child has ADHD
As a teacher, you observe the behaviors of the children, and it is through this that you become aware of a child who requires assistance.
Records show that 50% of children with a combined type of this disability will display odd behavior, while 25% of children with inattentive ADHD cases will also display odd behavior.
If a child in the classroom behaves in a certain way over an extended period of time, it is up to the teacher to recognize that this is not normal and to report such instances.
Inattentive and hyperactive impulsiveness are the two types of ADHD symptoms. As a teacher, you should be aware that some students may exhibit symptoms from both categories.
For inattentive ADHD, children will show the following signs:
- Short attention span and being easily distracted
- making careless mistakes especially during classwork
- Being unable to commit to arduous or time-consuming chores
- Appearing unable to listen to or carry out instructions
- Continually changing activity or task
- Having difficulties organizing tasks
For hyperactive ADHD, children will show the following signs:
Being unable to sit still, particularly in a serene or quiet environment
- Fidgeting all the time
- Being unable to focus on an assignment
- Physical activity that is excessive
- Chatting excessively
- Unable to wait for their turn
- Behaving without deliberation
- Causing disruptions to discussions
- They have little to no sense of danger
6 simple steps to help teachers manage a child with ADHD
Every teacher should be aware that this disability has an impact on a child’s learning abilities since the affected child will struggle to pay attention to what is being taught, and as a result, the child may not learn anything.
Teachers can help children with this disability by following some easy guidelines.
- Establish classroom norms and the repercussions of breaking them.
- When the child is paying attention, begin speaking.
- Set up a nonverbal method of drawing the child’s attention.
- To assist the child with transition and organization, set a timer.
- Combine written and oral instructions in a single document.
- lastly, keep expectations consistent so the child know what is expected of them.
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