Respond to discussion

Bera

Working with students with ADHD can be challenging. Because of these unique challenges, teachers should use checklists and visual cues to help ADHD students stay on task. Checklists and visual aids remind students of classroom routines. Checklists provide detail for every step in a process, thereby keeping things organized. Checklists can be used as a visual reminder, a way of prioritizing tasks, and schedule everything that needs to be done so tasks are completed.   Students normally respond well to visual cues. Checklists allow you to become personal and can be individualized when necessary. Posting classroom rules and responsibilities will help students focus and stay on task. Examples can be as easy as demonstrating a skill like an essay writing on an overhead projector or the board. When children get to their independent work, leave key points about a topic visible on the board. Post important concepts the student will use again and again on brightly colored poster boards around the room.

The video spoke on the importance of using a timer. A timer helps students focus and helps with time. Students struggle with telling time or monitoring the time. Students can see the timer and know how much time they have to complete the task. Timers can be used at home to assist with homework and break. The use of timers creates a little competition because it helps the student engaged at beating the clock and completing the task in the appropriate time.

Lastly, when working with students with ADHD everyone must be prepared for the unexpected. Teachers must have a variety of strategies that works for the ADHD student and the entire class. Teachers must partner with the parents to ensure that their child is ready to learn in the classroom. Parents and teachers will need to communicate regularly.

David

 think because students who struggle with ADHD are very impulsive, I think the use of visual cues and checklists can help them to stay on track and focus. I say this because maybe in their mind they know they have work to do, but their impulsivity is pushing them to do anything but what they are supposed to do. I think being able to see what they need to do on a checklist can psychologically help them to focus. Visual cues are also helpful for helping stay on task because when they're going against their mind alone, then more times than not they are going to act on the impulses that are constantly going through their mind. So when they begin to struggle, these visual cues are a reminder that they can physically see, that reminds them of what they are supposed to be doing. The kitchen timer, as stated in the video, is used to control the behavior of the student with ADHD. Using a timer is a way the student can see that they really do not have that much time they have to focus. I do not have ADHD, so I really have no idea what the day to day is like, but I feel like when they're working, their focus and patience are conflicting each other. The timer is effective because when you see that the timer has 5 minutes on it, for example, every minute you spend working is getting you closer to being done. I believe the motivation of being close to being finished with anything is one of the biggest driving factors for any student. 

Jasmine

Working with students that have ADHD can be very challenging. In my opinion the teacher handled his classroom and students in an organized and professional way. The teacher stated that his lessons can not be too long on certain topics because the students loose focus. I think that a timer can benefit the students and the teacher. A timer can keep the teacher on track from going over in the time he has set to teach his lesson. As a teacher we often loose track of time when we are presenting a new lesson to our students and that causes the students to stop paying attention. A timer can be beneficial for the students to help motivate them. Some students get a rush when they know they have to be finish when the timer stops. A timer adds pressure for some students and it causes them become more focused and pay attention to what they are suppose to be doing. The teacher stated they have trouble transitioning from one subject to the next. Check lists and visual ques could help students with transitioning. The teacher can have written down what students need to keep out or put up for the next subject so the students want have to remember themselves. Visual ques can also help students have clearer directions. Some students are visual and auditoria learners. I know there will be some distractions inside of the classroom but that is normal. Some students with ADHD get frustrated easily and need help getting back on track. To get them back on track the teacher could ask them what works for them and what is causing them to get off task or loose focus.