A free newsletter by BJ Madewell
DIAGNOSIS ADD ADHD Now What?
Published 10th, 20th & 30th of each month
PLEASE SEE DISCLAIMER AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT!
ORGANIZATION and STRUCTURE
November 10, 2001
"The secret of getting ahead
is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex
overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first
one."
-Mark Twain
Having a handicapping attentional
problem in a modern-day classroom is like being visually-impaired and asked to
review movies for a living. It's nuts!
- Unknown
Things are in control at work. Papers dutifully read, checked and filed appropriately. Twenty-four -- count them 24 email messages answered (or at least read) I have an important meeting very soon and I've located and organized all my notes for the meeting. I enjoy being an elementary special education teacher today.
Things are a mess at home. Papers piled all over the
place. Unpaid bills lurking somewhere on my desk. There appear to be 5 messages
on my answering machine but I'm not going to listen to them right now.
I have no idea what to fix the family for supper. Do we even have any milk?
The cat threw up on the carpet again -- even though I made a special trip to the pet store to by "fur ball resistant cat food". Of course there are oodles of emails to read, many of them from close friends and relatives but I don't have time to read them.
MY MOTHER, MOTHER-IN-LAW, BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW ARE ALL COMING TO SPEND THE WEEKEND. It is not much fun being a home-maker today.
This scenario is true for my life today (November 4th) as I begin writing this newsletter.
I have noticed that I can handle a little chaos at home as long as the situation at work is organized and "put together". If my home and work "lives" are BOTH a mess -- I loose it! I find myself getting fidgety, restless, scattered and unable to focus on what is important. It seems like my ability to "stay on task" evaporates..
Sound like any one you know? -- Those with ADD/ADHD probably feel like I do right now constantly. I'd be a "behavior problem" too if I had this level of stress and trepidation constantly.
I know exactly what I should be doing right now --- but I find myself drifting back to the computer instead of getting Mother's room ready. She'll be staying in our daughter's room which is a TOTAL DISASTER. Our daughter is "away" at college and claims she'll get her stuff organized "one of these days." Well, the day has arrived - ready or not. Her precious things will be stuffed, boxed up and thrown in the closet ASAP.
I realize my problems may seem totally unrelated to ADD/ADHD but they are not.
ADDers have to deal with hordes of thoughts at the same time and that's
exactly what I'm attempting to do today. I almost feel paralyzed. I am definitely
"stuck"!
The way to "cure" my agitation is to get organized. As an adult without ADD/ADHD, this is actually rather easy for me. I've planned the meals, bought the food, washed the linens, cleaned the living room and bathrooms. I'm even thinking about cleaning the refrigerator. <grin>
Also,
I have a support group to help me - my husband and son. As I
type, our son is attacking his room and my husband is
starting to shovel out our daughter's bedroom who is away at college.
Most ADDers are unable to develop a plan - let alone "do it".
That is why, the adults in an ADDers's life need to give support to help them develop plans to complete tasks.
In school, teacher's call it structure. Teachers say things on report cards like -- Doesn't do well in unstructured times. This "teacher-talk" means the child can't figure out what to do without support and assistance.
Teachers need to purposely teach what to do during unstructured
times and how to get organized. Just saying "Clean out your desk"
won't get the job done. The ADDer will undoubtedly become distracted by a
piece of fuzz or some other interesting tidbit buried in the desk. The
assigned task of getting the desk cleaned will "disappear". When
confronted with an irate teacher demanding to know "Why aren't you
done?", the ADDer will truly not know why the task still looms ahead of
him.
Students must know exactly what to do when (for example)>>>
The teacher is busy helping some one else.
It's time to switch from (say) Math to Social Studies.
Students are told to put their work away and get ready to go home.
Remember, just telling an ADD student "what to
do" isn't enough. They need to practice routines and procedures
many
times before it becomes even close to "automatic".
ADDers truly don't intend to have difficulty during unstructured times, messy rooms and cluttered school desks. They need the adults in their lives to explain and model WHAT TO DO !
My students have been taught specific tasks to do during unstructured times. They practice these tasks daily. Students enter my classroom, gather their assignment sheet, work folder, pencil and find a suitable place to sit. Students know to check their work folder for any unfinished work or "independent" activities to work on until I am available. This routine is followed every day. Finished work is always put in the same place, every day. At the end of the student's time with me, they know exactly what to do --- ask any of my students what "PACK IT UP" means and you'll find out what they do.
It's the same every day.
On the HOME FRONT, parents need to assist children to develop plans and structure. Children (ADD/ADHD or not) who have structure at school but very little at home tend to be tense, agitated, and probably pretty hyper. -- Just like I get when things fall apart at home.
Students dislike not turning in their homework because they -- lost it, didn't do it or couldn't find it. It's embarrassing! Parents need to give children assistance in developing a plan to get the homework and chores completed in a timely manner with a minimum of unpleasantness.
I know this newsletter is getting long and those of you with ADD tendencies are
getting restless -- but give me a few more minutes of your time.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Divide bigger tasks into smaller ones (don't clean out the garage until you've thrown out the trash in there first) <grin>
Have a family calendar -- keep it current and LOOK AT IT DAILY
Get in the habit of calling your own answering machine to give yourself reminders - this really works well for me. Many times, I'm at work and think of something I need to take care of at home. A 2 minute call, and I remind myself. ---- When at home, I tend to email myself at work to remind myself of "things to do at work".
You've heard this one -- Touch each piece of paper only once. Either act on it, file it or THROW IT AWAY!
-- THIS IS IMPORTANT -- If you are a teacher or parent ---- teach the children to organize their belongings, papers, books etc.
Then ..... GIVE THEM TIME IN CLASS TO BE ORGANIZED.
ADDers need more than 2-3 minutes at the end of a class period
(or just before the bus comes) to get organized, just
like YOU DO.
IT'S YOUR CHOICE
Give
the ADDer a plan to get organized! It won't "just happen". It is a
skill that needs to be taught at home and at school.
PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
DISCLAIMER
This information is for educational purposes only. Much of then information is from classes and workshops I've taken during my 25+ years of working with ADD & ADHD students - sprinkled with my own comments, thoughts and insights
Some information is acquired from the INTERNET. Be aware that not all information on the WWW is accurate. Use your own judgment. This information is not intended to replace information from your doctor, therapist, lawyer, psychologist, nutritionist or psychiatrist. Consult your child's (or your own) doctor for additional input.
Editor: BJ Madewell
Wichita, KS area
316-733-9532
FAX not available
Email ADDchoices@aol.com or ADDchoices@yahoo.com
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Please fwd to others who may benefit.
BJ
Madewell
