I chose to do my inquiry project on students with ADHD. My topic stems from my time with a grade 1 student with ADHD. At the start, I did not know he was diagnosed with ADHD. I thought he was a typical energetic boy. One day, he had no energy at all. He dutifully did all of his work. Not a word was said. It scared me.
After the class, his mom asked about his performance. I told her that he finished all his work and that he was strangely calm. She was pleased. The doctor prescribed a different type of drug to calm him down and she wanted to see if it worked. I did not express my displeasure.
I think every class needs a student to bring a bit of energy in the room. If every student’s personality were to change because of a drug, class would be boring. Teaching a bunch of zombies does not appeal to me.
My inquiry focused on methods to integrate students with ADHD in the math classroom. I took a look at the different types of ADHD (there are 3!). I knew that each one will have its own struggles. I knew it would be difficult to keep the hyperactive type calm but perhaps their energy can help with the classroom environment. A suggestion for the inattentive type is to give put them in an environment with minimal distractions. The third type is the combined type. No matter what type, i want to be able to make them feel that my classroom is safe. I want to help them learn.
I am sure that there are ways to integrate students with ADHD in the classroom so that they do not become a distraction.
Rather than including my entire inquiry paper here, I am going to share some of my sources. If you are interested in my topic as well, I am sure these sources will be more informative than I will be.
Bibliography
Alban-Metcalfe, J., & Alban-Metcalfe, J. (2001). Managing Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Teachers. London, England: David Fulton Publishers Ltd.
American Psychiatric Association. (2014). ADHD. Retrieved from American Psychiatric Association: http://www.psychiatry.org/adhd
Barkley, R. A. (1997, January). Behavioral inhibition, sustained attention, and executive functions: Constructing a unifying theory of ADHD. Psychological Bulletin, 121, 65-94. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.121.1.65
BC Ministry of Education. (2013). Special Education – Teaching Students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Resource Guide for Teachers. Retrieved January 19, 2014, from BC Ministry of Education: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/adhd/
BehaveNet. (2014). Diagnostic criteria for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Retrieved from BehaveNet: http://behavenet.com/node/21488
DeRuvo, S. L. (2009). Strategies for Teaching Adolescents with ADHD: Effective Classroom Techniques across Content Areas. Sanfrancisco, California: Jossey-Bass Teacher.
Kewley, G., & Latham, P. (2008). 100 Ideas for Supporting Pupils with ADHD. London, England: Continuum International Publishing Group.
Kounang, N. (2013, November 22). The Chart Blogs. Retrieved from CNN Health: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/22/adhd-diagnoses-rise-to-11-of-kids/
Pierangelo, R., & Giuliani, G. (2008). Classroom Management Techniques for Students with ADHD. London, United Kingdom: Corwin Press.
Ried, R., & Johnson, J. (2012). Teacher’s Guide to ADHD. New York, United States: The Guilford Press.