"View in fullscreen if using MSIE"

Lately, I have been fighting
the system in general and
my daughter's school in particular.
I am trying to make them realize
there are some things they can
do to help ADDer's before there
are problems in the classroom.

*****
I woke up this morning with
the realization that I was not
doing this so much for the children
as I was for the child in me.
The child who, throughout school,
heard the same phrases over and
over again. "your testing shows
you have the ability, you're
just not working up to your potential."
or "Your test scores show you
are very bright, so you must
just be being lazy."
"You could not possibly have forgotten
that fast."
"No you can't go outside just
because you helped everyone finish
their work."
( this while I was being
tied in my desk with a jump
rope by my kindergarten teacher)
I think someone made a rubber
stamp and they just used it on my
report cards year after year.
It said: Does not work to potential,
does not concentrate, day dreams
in class, lacks motivation, does not
come to class prepared, does not
apply self, does not follow written
directions, does not complete
assignments, underachiever.
I ended up taking 6 years of
junior high math. The first year
you flunked and the second they
just passed you because they
knew you weren't going to get it.
Math could have been French
to me, it certainly was some
foreign language.
**********
All of this took place long before
anyone knew anything about
Attention Deficit Disorder.
I am so thankful that now this
"thing" has a name and some
positive things that can be
done to help people that suffer
from it. Even if people that have
ADD choose not to take medication
there are still some coping skills
and behavior modifications that
can greatly help in dealing with
the problem.
**********
The other day my daughter's
teacher was trying to explain
one of her problems to me. She
said "Faith does fine if you stand
right there and explain everything
to her but if she is told to read
and follow the directions she
just gets lazy and won't do it."
She is telling this to a person who
had to buy three videos and a
CD ROM to learn how to operate
a computer because all the books
made no sense at all, not even
the "for dummies" ones.
I have very good reading and
comprehension skills but for
some reason when it comes
to written directions I cannot
transfer words into actions.
Something happens and I get
"brain freeze" If someone tells me
how to do something I can do
it. If I see it done I can do it.
If I read the instructions I can't do it.
My father always said
"When all else fails, read the directions."
I know that's an old cliche but that
is how I have spent my life.
I always have to try it without
the directions first.
Well, sorry this got so long.
I do tend to ramble and go in circles.
My husband usually ends up telling
me "just give me the reader's
digest version."

**********
It is my hope that today's teacher's
will be willing to learn about things
they can do to help the ADD kids
in their classes.
If you are a teacher, or if you know
one that is interested and willing
to learn about ADD these
links are a wonderful starting place.

Information for Teachers'

Taming the Dragons: Real Help for Real School...

Providing an Appropriate Education to Children with ADD/ADHD