What Kids with ADHD Wish Their Teachers Knew

What Kids with ADHD Wish Their Teachers Knew For the past five years a Colorado elementary school teacher has asked each of her students to write down one thing that they would like her to know about them. Last year she started sharing her students responses online and the Twitter hashtag #iwishmyteacherknew went viral. This week the story was picked up by The New York Times and the teacher, Kyle Schwartz, recently published a book on the topic. The honesty and vulnerability reflected in the students responses has tugged at the heartstrings of teachers and parents across the country. They remind us that kids intuitively know what our educational system too often seems forget - that their social and emotional lives define who they are as students and affect their ability to learn. (Source: http://iwishmyteacherknewbook.com/) Perhaps more than any other students, kids and teens with ADHD are misunderstood. Their outward behavior and performance often doesnt reflect their internal world. Their ADHD symptoms make it hard for them to meet the expectations of teachers and classmates, and they get worn down by the daily struggle to fit into classrooms that werent designed with their brains in mind. Students with ADHD wish their teachers knew that: They are frustrated and discouraged before they even get to class because their ADHD makes it so hard to get ready for school every morning and out the door on time. They dont choose to only focus on things that are really interesting to them. Its just that no matter how hard they try they cant seem to get their brains to click into gear when something is dull. They cant stand that they disappoint people. They feel embarrassed when their teacher criticizes them in front of the class, even if they dont let their feelings show. They get discouraged when teachers tell them to try harder. Theyre already trying hard, but its difficult to see because their ADHD keeps getting in the way. They feel like they dont fit in and they dont know why. They wish they had more friends, but nothing that they do seems to get kids to like them more. They need help. And they know it. But they dont always know how to ask for it. There is so much that kids and teens with ADHD want their teachers to know about them, and this list is only the tip of the iceberg. Maybe one of the most important generalized insights is that students with ADHD dont always understand why things are hard for them but they desperately wish they could fit in and meet the expectations of their teachers, fellow students, and parents. Every student with ADHD struggles, but how that struggle plays out is different for each individual. I would encourage teachers to spend some extra time getting to know their students with ADHD. Ask them to write down something they wish you knew about them. Talk to them about the things that are hard. Then work together on strategies that will help them reach their full potential. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.