10 Things Kids with ADHD (and Their Mommas) Wish Teachers Knew
The struggle is invisible, but real
The contrast between expectations and actual ability is stark but invisible when it comes to ADHD. Individuals with ADHD don’t have any outwardly visible signs of having a disability. So, what happens is that ADHD behaviors are often interpreted as willful, defiant, oppositional, disobedient, and disrespectful. I think this is toughest for kids with ADHD in the classroom environment. Teachers are not required to learn much about ADHD and learning disabilities, so kids with behavioral and developmental disorders often look like “bad” kids. I want so badly to change that.
10 things kids with ADHD wish teachers knew
- The struggle is real. I’m trying hard to not be different from my classmates and friends. It takes a lot of work to look like I don’t have any problems at school.
- Things are a lot more complex to me than you imagine. What is intuitive to you is a long and difficult thought process that I often don’t have time for.
- I worry a lot! I am constantly worried that I’ll look different, that I’ll forget my homework or to turn it in, that I might say something wrong, or that I’ll get in trouble. I probably worry almost every minute I’m at school. Sometimes that makes me tell wild stories to try to get out of school.
- I feel stupid when I can’t accomplish what my peers can. I’m probably not stupid, but I sure feel like it when things are hard for me but simple for others.
- I’m emotionally sensitive. I might look like a cry-baby, but I feel things very deeply.
- I am a very literal kid. I cannot tell when my friends are teasing . I take everything they say and do at face-value. I often feel like my friends are being mean to me.
- I am smart! When given the time to fully process or a way to show what I know that doesn’t involve completing a worksheet, I can really shine. Give me the opportunity to surprise you.
- I am not lazy! There’s a lot more going on in my mind than most people. Plus, I struggle with planning, sequencing and organization. That can slow me down or make me not want to do the work. And my ADHD brain is interest-based — I can focus better on the assignment when it interests me.
- My weaknesses often make me feel like a failure. You can help me a lot just by believing in me and encouraging me.
- I do not intend to make you angry. I want to do well. I deserve love and respect, just like my neurotypical peers.
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Leroy,
I have also watched Ken Robinson and love him, unfortunately I would would love to send my daughter to a school like that and -having a teaching degree-would love to start an educational program similar to the one he mentions. I am unsure of where to begin, both geographically and logistically. Maybe that should be another blog or Facebook call out.
Much of this also applies to children/adults with ADD.
I was diagnosed with ADHD in 3rd Grade and I’ve learn to deal with the symptoms and trying to distinguish between teasing and if they are really meaning it. I am 19 now and in college and I can say that this list applies to me, and I can see it being applied to others, and I know people will say that it is a stereotype but it really is the truth to the majority of children who deal with this disability on a daily basis. I also can say that I am smart, it was harder for me to get the concepts of math or comprehension until my 1st and 2cd grade teacher would keep me after school and sat me down to understand the assignment. And that help both of us understand what my struggle was. After I was diagnosed and then was taking medicine it helped me tremendously and I was even helping other kids with homework. And the other kids would actually want to talk to me and wouldnt be afraidn of me running off and doing something else. I can actually sit and talk with them and for once they and I actually felt normal. It started bugging me with the fact I had this disease around 7th grade since if i forgot to take my medicine people woukd say”youre more fun without your medicine” and “we like you when youre not being serious”. And I thought my medicine made me different. So having people actually understand what I feel like and am like makes me feel way better about having this disability because it makes me think of things in a different way than other people, and who wants to be like every one else? People prefere people being unique and not like them anyways.