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Madeline Phillips
Mr. Merritt
VTfT-3B
11 March 2014
Concurring Attention Problems
Its common knowledge that teachers typically have those particular students who are
always playing with a toy, staring out into the hallway, or always out of their seats. The one who
answers the question, Whats 2+2? with Ms. Phillips, did you know I got a dog for my
birthday. Students who have these inattention symptoms can be diagnosed with Attention
Deficient Disorder. In the dictionary, the definition of ADD/ADHD is a syndrome, usually
diagnosed in childhood, characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness, a short attention
span, and often hyperactivity, and interfering especially with academic, occupational, and social
performance. Recent statistics from the U.S. Center for Disease Control state that 11% or
approximately one out of every nine children in the US and one in five high school boys are
diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. This number is thought to be increasing at around 1520% per
year. (Leisman).
Throughout my Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow experience I have worked with various
kids who learn in different ways. This year, I discovered that a couple of my students had trouble
with concentrating and finishing their work on time. It has become a huge issue in todays world,
especially in my class. My cooperating teacher, Mrs. Thrasher, always has me work with these
individuals and help them through assignments step by step. As teachers, our role is to assess
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students strengths and needs. These children with ADD can be very smart, but they just have a
hard time focusing because their brain wont let them. How do we work with these children with
attention problems? I have found many easy transitional solutions that can help teach these
children.
There are many challenges in dealing with ADHD in the classroom. In my classroom, the
most obvious problems are talking out of turn, trouble following instructions, and completing
work on time. Some say the key to teaching these children is by secluding them, but I believe it
takes patience. On the Help Guide website I found many ways teachers can help.
Successful programs for children with ADHD integrate the following three
components:
-Accommodations: what you can do to make learning easier for students with
ADD/ADHD.
-Instruction: the methods you use in teaching.
-Intervention: How you head off behaviors that disrupt concentration or distract
other students (Teaching Students with ADHD).
Accommodations, instruction, and intervention seem to be well known programs that teachers
can use to keep their students on task and help them work to the best of their abilities. What
about the little solutions that can make life easier for the teacher and the student? As a teacher,
one should always be able to adjust and make changes. Simple things can help minimize
distraction such as seating arrangements, creating a quiet area for testing, staying organized, and
giving light instruction.
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Not only is it the teachers responsibility to help cope with these childrens problems, but
the parents as well. Parents should be their childs advocate. Teachers can do their best to help
your child with attention deficit disorder learn effectively, but parental involvement can
dramatically improve your childs education. (ADD/ADHD and School). In my internship
class we have helpers who are parents that come in to class to help out Mrs. Thrasher and me
with certain activities. I have seen a dramatic difference in behavior throughout my class when
we have the helpers come join. You have the power to optimize your childs chances for
success by supporting the work done in the classroom. (ADD/ADHD and School). It is very
important that guardians/parents keep in touch with their childs teachers and their special
education program if their child has an IEP or 504 plan. Without the support or help from
teachers and parents, kids with attention problems wouldnt be able to excel in school.
Surprisingly this issue hasnt affected the class or the students as much as it has my
cooperating teacher and me. In my class, we have one particular student named Gavin who
seems to have an attention problem along with a few other issues he takes medication for. Mrs.
Thrasher and I are constantly trying to get Gavin to finish his class work; he is normally three
steps behind the rest of the class. I have personally taken my time away from the rest of my
students to help Gavin step by steps and it takes a lot of patience and creativity to help him
complete his work. The class knows that Gavin is different, but they still treat him equally and
the same. I am very proud of my little first graders because of how well they handle situations
and issues like these.
I have learned so much and even more about Attention Deficit Disorder. I can personally
relate to this issue because I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was eight and in 3
rd
grade. It was
tough as a child, always getting in trouble for talking, speaking out of turn or playing with toys in
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class. I was confused; I didnt want to talk out of turn or get distracted, but I couldnt control
myself. Once I was diagnosed, I tried several different types of medication to help improve my
compulsiveness. Once we found the right medication for me, things started to click in school. I
still take that medicine today and it has definitely changed my life for the better. I just hope that I
can use some of the solutions above to help out my student Gavin, and my students in the future.
I would love to watch them grow up and become successful. ADD isnt a disorder, it is an
unfortunate gift.


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Work Cited
"ADD / ADHD and School." : Helping Children with ADHD Succeed at School. Help Guide,
n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
Leisman, Gerry, Raed Mualem, and Calixto Machado. "The Integration of the Neurosciences,
Child Public Health, and Education Practice: Hemisphere-specific Remediation
Strategies as a Discipline Partnered Rehabilitation Tool in ADD/ADHD." Frontiers.
Public Health, 25 July 2013. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
"Success at School: A Back-to-School Guide for ADHD Children." ADDitude Magazine. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
"Teaching Students with ADHD." Teaching Students with ADHD. Help Guide, n.d. Web. 6 Mar.
2014.