Spending Recess Being Punished

When I was in grade 5, I spent a lot of my recess time inside because I was always getting in trouble for the most trivial things.

Missed Opportunities

Since I had less time playing outside at recess, it was really hard for me to be a kid, make friends and build on my soft skills. I think this is why I had a harder time fitting in than other kids did, which didn’t help in fully developing myself. It would have been way better both me and my teacher if I stayed back after school when I got in trouble rather than miss out on recess. I could have spent that time letting some of my energy out and spending time with other kids. It’s already hard to make friends when you’re a kid with ADHD.  Us ADHD kids need all the exercise we can get so really, the teacher is just making it harder on themselves if they force us to sit in one place all the time.

And during this time inside, my teacher punished me by making me write pages and pages of “r”s. Now how is this helping me in becoming a “better” student?  The truth is, I never absorbed what I was actually writing anyways because all I was really trying to do was finish writing my lines as fast as possible so that my teacher would just leave me alone.

Advice for Teachers

I know I’m not alone in this. I think this is the same way most kids feel when teachers try to discipline us by forcing us to write lines. It just doesn’t work. It’s the opposite of what we need. 

It would do us all more good if teachers could be just a little bit more patient and understanding. If we need to be dealt with, please don’t make a scene because it will further single us out from the other kids. If you are constantly punishing us we will not respect you. Don’t take my recess away. If I kept taking your things away would you respect me?

One of the best resources for teachers is my ABC’s of ADHD for Teachers!