ADHD Teacher

ADHD Teacher

Teachers determine the success or failure of our children academically. Too often is this fact overlooked and teachers without Special Education Needs (SEN) training are taking on more than they have been equipped to handle correctly. With more and more children being diagnosed with ADHD each day, many parents are searching for help and do not know where to begin. There are many factors that can play a part but one of the most important ones is the quality of teachers assisting their child.

Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a condition that makes it difficult for children to pay attention and control impulses. Many children can be diagnosed with ADHD before school going age but often they only present with noticeable symptoms when they struggle to meet school criteria and expectations. It is at this stage that many children are referred to professionals for diagnoses. It is also at this stage that parents begin looking for assistance to help their children bridge the gap.

An ADHD teacher (teachers specialising in programs for ADHD) has intensive knowledge on the workings of ADHD. A quality ADHD teacher will be understanding, firm and patient. They must have good problem-solving skills and think ‘quick on their feet’. It’s also important for an ADHD teacher to be energetic and fun to make learning a positive experience for the child. Most children with ADHD have deficits in executive functioning. Executive functioning skills are those skills needed to fulfil tasks from getting dressed to doing homework. Some executive functions include: Planning and organising, memory, flexibility and emotional regulation. ADHD teachers are trained to develop and follow programs that target these underlying skill deficits in order to improve academic and social performance for the child.

Many children with ADHD also struggle with impulse control and inhibition making it difficult for them to sit and focus at school for long periods as well as making it difficult for them to form friendships.  ADHD teachers understand the importance of working in a manner that makes learning fun and easy for these children. They develop strategies and methods to better teach the lessons which are often being taught in rigid school styles. These deficits mentioned above can also lead to decreases in self-esteem as the child begins to feel he does not fit in or can’t do what his peers are capable of at school.  While some teachers at schools may not completely understand the inner workings of a child with ADHD and may embarrass them in front of their peers due to frustration or inexperience; ADHD teachers because of their training and experience, while being firm are also cautious to ensure that they are building the child’s self-esteem while teaching them the skills they need to excel both socially and academically.

At Catch Up Kids, trained ADHD teachers use child specific programmes in a one-on-one environment to teach children with ADHD the important lessons they need to close the gaps at school. Their social skills are also monitored and developed through individual interactions with their ADHD teachers and other peers. Their ADHD teachers also work on improving executive functioning by running exercises that work on strengthening the skills children with ADHD may be deficit in such as; inhibition and planning.

Teachers play an important role in the development of children academically and socially. What they don’t learn from their parents they often learn at school from their teachers. It’s vital to their development to ensure that children with ADHD have only the very best quality ADHD teachers.