The May 2012 issue of Parents magazine has an interesting article about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The article covers recent research, diagnoses information, and medications. Since we have been in a seeming ADHD epidemic for several years, we educators need to stay abreast of new research on the topic.
I am still mystified by how to diagnose and when to refer kids who have so-called symptoms. Call me skeptical. My perspective has always been to accept students wherever they are and work with their strengths and weaknesses. I never felt the need to label them with any particular disorder.
I think of Valerie, an extremely creative 8th grader who wrote beautiful poetry, but who was also extremely disorganized and a bit of a social misfit. She deserved as much focus as Jeremy [think Robin Williams], the class clown always out of his seat, never focusing more than a few minutes at a time, but creative just the same. I spent time every Friday helping Valerie get her notebook and planner organized for the next week and time with Jeremy finding new ways to use his energy and talents--often interviewing, in a very entertaining way, the other students. I found both students delightful in their own ways.
Right or wrong in my approach, I generally dismissed the ADHD label, thinking, "Gee, these are junior high students. They all have some sort of attention deficit and/or hyperactivity. Let's just take them where they are and let them be who they are." I generally got positive responses from the students as well as the parents.
Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., director of the Hallowell Centers for Cognitive and Emotional Health in Sudbury, MA and New York City is quoted as saying, "These kids don't have a deficit of attention; they have a wandering of attention....their brain goes wherever it wants to go." They can become as hyper-focused as they can under-focused.
A national campaign is underway called Speak Up for Kids. During National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, May 6 through 12, mental health experts will be conducting open meetings across the nation regarding these issues.. You can access information about the events at childmind.org/speakupforkids.
Every teacher needs a mentor. Students, parents, and administrators will also benefit from a mentoring service. Education reform is possible when teachers understand how to bring Joy to the classroom with pleasure-centered learning. Every child deserves a quality education.
