I worked with Learning Disabled and ADD/ADHD students grades K-5 from 1969
- 2005. (I took off 3 years to complete a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology with emphasis in Learning Disabilities at Wichita State
University)
November
15, 2005 I have now retired from elementary school special education
teaching. In June 2005, I accepted a position with
Butler County Community
College. I am the lead teacher for the Academic Achievement Center at the Rose
Hill, Kansas facility. Additionally, I teach a 3 hour undergraduate course
for prospective teachers - Introduction to Exceptional Children.
Through my years of teaching, I have adjusted and implemented numerous
strategies
and want to share them.. These strategies resulted in
impressive standard score gains of my elementary age students over a
school year in reading and spelling skills. Most students gained from 18 to 61 standard points. (I
didn't have many students receiving services for math so did not calculate their gains/losses over the year.)
I am convinced some of the approaches work -- for these students at least.
I would like other teachers and parents to consider using these strategies and hopefully see academic gains as I have.
While working in the elementary school setting, I supervised 2-4 para-professionals each year.
In response to their needs, I developed a training guide for them that might be helpful to others.
Choices For Paras
Additionally, I have two close family members who have been diagnosed ADD and ADHD. Neither are able to take the normally prescribed medicines such as Ritalin, Cylert, Adderall, Prozac, Wellbutrin, etc. The young man developed Tourettes tics. The adult is a pilot and cannot continue his profession if he takes these types of medicines. Consequently, I have found it personally necessary to explore alternatives to standard treatments. Both of these ADDers had positive and profound results with the mainstream medicines and were extremely upset when told they could no longer take Ritalin or Wellbutrin. (the two they tried). The young man is currently doing well on Straterra.
I suffer from Post-Polio Syndrome and am uncertain as to how many more years I will be able to continue in the teaching profession that I love. I am hopeful that
ADDchoices will generate a bit of income for me when I finally find the physical demands of teaching to be too taxing. I
was the volunteer editor of the Kansas Connection -- a newsletter for polio
survivors for a few years.
SMILE
THE FREE SPELLING AIDE IS POSTED AT http://www.egroups.com/files/ADDchoices/
GET YOURSELF A COPY
Due to inappropriate uploads to my data files, you must join my mailing list in order to download the spelling aide.
Click below.
DISCLAIMER
This information is for educational purposes only. Much of the information is from classes and workshops I’ve taken during my 30+ years of working with ADD & ADHD students – sprinkled with my own comments, thoughts and insights.
Some information has been 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
You may copy and print this
newsletter for your own use and freely distribute it to others. You cannot sell this information. It is FREE.
Please include my email address, web site address, & phone # on anything you give to others.
BJ Madewell
