Attention+Deficit+Hyperactivity+Disorder

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is another one of those infamous "invisible disabilities". Many times, you would not be able to walk into a classroom and guess who the student with ADHD is. ADHD is a very common behavior disorder that effects boys more frequently than it does girls. Behaviors manifested typically include: trouble staying focused, paying attention, over-activity, and difficulty controlling their impulse (NIMH.nih.gov). Because many students with ADHD also have problems with memory, I have found that using strategies to enhance memory has been incredible helpful for some students. I have included some suggestions under the articles section. A way to extend this to home is by having families practice memory games (such as the popular game where you flip a card over, try to find its partner, and remember where its place was; or practice putting together a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the cover).

The following suggestions were stated by the US Department of Education to help students with their mathematics:

**Math Computation**
Numerous individualized instructional practices can help children with ADHD improve their basic computation skills. The following are just a few: > Teach the student to recognize patterns when adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing whole numbers. (e.g., the digits of numbers which are multiples of 9 [18, 27, 36 . . . ] add up to 9). > Pair a child with ADHD with another student and provide opportunities for the partners to quiz each other about basic computation skills. > If children do not understand the symbols used in math, they will not be able to do the work. For instance, do they understand that the "plus" in 1 + 3 means to add and that the "minus" in 5 - 3 means to take away? > Teach the child mnemonics that describe basic steps in computing whole numbers. For example, "Don't Miss Susie's Boat" can be used to help the student recall the basic steps in long division (i.e., divide, multiply, subtract, and bring down). > Provide the child with real-life opportunities to practice target money skills. For example, ask the child to calculate his or her change when paying for lunch in the school cafeteria, or set up a class store where children can practice calculating change. > Color code basic arithmetic symbols, such as +, -, and =, to provide visual cues for children when they are computing whole numbers. > Ask the child to use a calculator to check addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. > Ask the child to play board games to practice adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers. > Schedule computer time for the child to drill and practice basic computations, using appropriate games. > Have students perform a quick (60-second) drill every day to practice basic computation of math facts, and have children track their own performance.
 * **Patterns in math.**
 * **Partnering for math activities.**
 * **Mastery of math symbols.**
 * **Mnemonics for basic computation.**
 * **Real-life examples of money skills.**
 * **Color coding arithmetic symbols.**
 * **Calculators to check basic computation.**
 * **Board games for basic computation.**
 * **Computer games for basic computation.**
 * **"Magic minute" drills.**

**Solving Math Word Problems**
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">To help children with ADHD improve their skill in solving word problems in mathematics, try the following: > Teach the child to read a word problem //two times// before beginning to compute the answer. > Teach the child clue words that identify which operation to use when solving word problems. For example, words such as "sum," "total," or "all together" may indicate an addition operation. > Teach students to ask guiding questions in solving word problems. For example: What is the question asked in the problem? What information do you need to figure out the answer? What operation should you use to compute the answer? > Ask the student to create and solve word problems that provide practice with specific target operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. These problems can be based on recent, real-life events in the child's life. > Ask the student to use a calculator to check computations made in answering assigned word problems.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Reread the problem.**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Clue words.**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Guiding questions for word problems.**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Real-life examples of word problems.**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Calculators to check word problems.**

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Use of Special Materials in Math**
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Some children with ADHD benefit from using special materials to help them complete their math assignments, including: > Provide number lines for the child to use when computing whole numbers. > Use manipulatives to help students gain basic computation skills, such as counting poker chips when adding single-digit numbers. > Ask the child to use graph paper to help organize columns when adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing whole numbers. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">(http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/adhd/adhd-teaching_pg3.html)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Number lines.**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Manipulatives.**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Graph paper.**

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">A great overview of ADHD: [|adhd_booklet.pdf] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|MathADHD.pdf] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|ADHDMemory.pdf] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|articleSept30.pdf]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Articles: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Strategies for teaching students with AD/HD[|: Ad/Hd]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Powerpoint: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Fidgets]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Website: **