Educational+Placements

=Educational Placement=

Although there are many treatments for ADHD the most often used is inclusion, which is done through the child's school and classroom.

The typical day for the average student can be difficult enough without the child's brain working against them to have them up and moving around. For most children with ADHD the attention is not what they want, but to go throughout the normal school day just as every other student. Children with ADHD have great difficulty doing such things as concentrating, sitting still and listening quietly because their brain is working against them and will not allow it. The average school day becomes a challenge that may eventually become a dreaded task for these children(1).

Challenges for the Student with ADHD
The student with ADHD needs movement and activity in their classroom. These students also require attention and more specialized teaching then other students. These students do best when classroom rules are outlined and clearly displayed in the classroom environment. They also do not do well with lists, therefore rules and procedures are better understood through diagrams and pictures. Because they have a lack of fine motor skills these students handwriting may suffer. They may also have trouble taking notes and listening to lectures where there is no guidelines for learning. ADHD students may also have trouble with processing skills that require ordered steps such as long division. Long term projects and assignments are difficult to be managed by these students. Because there are no deadlines and no supervision they will have trouble staying on task. As a teacher it is best for these students to have a personal plan for projects where the project is broken down into smaller parts. These children will also struggle with group work and will most likely not pull their weight in projects. They will also be the student who thrives off attention from the group (1).



10 Quick Tips for Teachers:

 * 1) Having a clear discipline plan for students with ADHD can lead to normal classroom behavior, the plan must have clear explanations for behaviors, this works best if the same structure is enforced in the home environment
 * 2) Sending home a daily report card helps the child to know what is expected
 * 3) Be sure to set the child away from windows and doors, both can be distracting
 * 4) Seating rows also work better for these students, rather than a table setting
 * 5) Work on the most difficult material early in the day, before focus has worn off
 * 6) Use visuals in teaching
 * 7) Give clear instructions and repeat as necessary
 * 8) For best student work create a quiet area for their test taking
 * 9) It is easier for these students to take more frequent quizzes than long tests
 * 10) Make sure all work is kept together and is organized, color coating works well for these students



 ===Teaching Techniques For Students With ADHD ===

It is estimated that there are at least two students with ADHD in every class of thirty. When teaching a lesson giving instructions is an important part of conducting the lesson and this is one of the major struggles that children with ADHD have. When giving instructions make sure they are clear and to the point. For some students it is easier to see the end result and understand the lesson if the teacher tells them what they will learn and expectations for the assignment. No student learns in the same way, just as there should be variations in lessons to meet all types of learning styles there should be activities to accommodate these students. For this a teacher will need to include lessons and activities that are interactive. Competitive games work well for these students since the competition helps them to stay focused. During long lessons or lecture you may need to allow time for breaks as these students will loose focus and may become a distraction. Children with ADHD need movement because their minds are racing. If you cannot allow for movement in your lesson give the child a stress ball they can squeeze or something silent that will not be a distraction to other students. At the end of the lesson be sure to include the key points of the lesson and summarize (1).