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Ask The Learning Expert:
Homeschooling the ADHD Child
Q:
"What is your opinion on home schooling children with ADD?" - Annette
A:
I work with many homeschoolers in my practice and am most supportive of the home schooling model. I have seen many ADHD children benefit from a hands-on educational curriculum where they enjoyed a flexible environment that seemed more suited to their active learning pattern.
I have especially seen it as a very successful alternative to middle school or junior high -- a time where many ADHD children seem lost and out of place with all the schedules and class changes. ADHD children have a slower maturation rate which effects them particularly at the ages of 12 to 14, when they feel so different at middle school because everyone else is trying to act older. I believe sometimes they develop such negative attitudes at this age because they just don't fit in socially.
In the home school situation, they can see their friends after school, or in home school special field trip functions and keep up their social acceptance.
It is certainly an alternative to an unhappy school situation.
 3 Comments:
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Posted by
dblycker
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Jan 2 2009 @ 4:40 PM
Hyperfocus
I have a 15 yr. old boy in 9th grade with ADD Hyperfocus. We live in Mexico and he has been attending a private English speaking school, but the teachers don't have a lot of teaching experience, and no experience working with an ADD student. School has been very frustrating this first semester, making him feel that he's dumb and that school is hopeless. So I have decided to homeschool him. Many times it's very difficult to get his attention, even by touching him. The only way many times we can get his attention is by poking him gently under his arm by his ribs, which he doesn't like. Do you have any suggestions for helping pull him out of his hyperfocus? If we can work on getting his attention, I think it will help us to not get so frustrated with each other and help us get a good head start on the new semester.
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Posted by
dblycker
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Jan 2 2009 @ 4:39 PM
Hyperfocus
I have a 15 yr. old boy in 9th grade with ADD Hyperfocus. We live in Mexico and he has been attending a private English speaking school, but the teachers don't have a lot of teaching experience, and no experience working with an ADD student. School has been very frustrating this first semester, making him feel that he's dumb and that school is hopeless. So I have decided to homeschool him. Many times it's very difficult to get his attention, even by touching him. The only way many times we can get his attention is by poking him gently under his arm by his ribs, which he doesn't like. Do you have any suggestions for helping pull him out of his hyperfocus? If we can work on getting his attention, I think it will help us to not get so frustrated with each other and help us get a good head start on the new semester.
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Posted by
Rebecca
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Sep 24 2007 @ 2:14 AM
I say go for it!
This year we decided to homeschool both our children. Our older daughter has ADD. Homeschooling is working wonderful for her (and me). Although it still has it's trails and tribulations, overall has been a successful decision.
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