It's too bad the term is used so liberally. That and OCD. It makes me
wonder what the kids who have the disorders think - where a disorder
impairs their ability to function according to normal standards.
On my first day, I worked with a kid who had ADHD (and no meds). I
remember working with him briefly last semester and realizing how
legitimate ADHD is. That day, I was surprised - yet again - by how
difficult it was to focus him. I had to take away his eraser, his
sharpener, his pencil and made him sit down in his chair just so he
could be rid of physical distractions. Then, I (quickly) learned to ask
very focused questions, and to use the answers to these questions to
immediately ask another focused question. The sad and selfish thing was
that it was hard for me not to take his lack of focus personally - it's
something that he cannot help!
After finally choosing three pieces of work to put in his math
portfolio, he needed to write down the titles of each piece on his
self-evaluations. Knowing that it would take an eternity (and a half)
to get him to write down even one word of the title, I decided to try
timing him.
"
So what's the title of this first piece?"
"[Title]"
"
And what does this sheet of paper say to write here?"
"[Title]"
"
That's right! So I need you to write it in 10-9-8-7...."
And BOY did that kid write down that title!
In triumph, he showed his neighbor - an AIG kid who knows there's something going on with this boy - his accomplishment. "
I wrote it in less than 10 seconds!"
Writing down three titles took a total of 10 minutes - a task that the
cooperating teacher expected to take the entire 45-minute lesson.
Next he had to write the descriptions and rationale for his chosen
pieces of work. After prying out what he wanted to write down, I handed
back his pencil and asked him, once more, to sit down. After writing
half of the first letter, he looked up at me and said, "Mr. Wong, can
you count for me again?"
And it was then that I reaized this poor kid knows he can't keep his
mind focused enough to write down even one word. It was as if he was
crying out for me to help him focus, like he did just five minutes
prior. A boy trapped in his own body. And it made me sad that he is not
always able to get this kind of attention. I should talk to my
cooperating teacher about making a system where he times himself and
records his times on a spread sheet for a reward or something.
...but at least, for this one time, he was one of the first to finish in the class.