Kids

The Challenges of Going Back to School in a Pandemic

It’s almost November. We’re already in the middle of term one. School for ADHD kids can be a little bit of a gamble. You never know which teachers you’ll end up with and whether they’ll be understanding and actually be helpful.

When I was in school, sometimes my classes would be all messed up. On top of that, some of the teachers that I used to get were not ADHD-friendly teachers. A lot of people reading this post are probably wondering: what is an ADHD-friendly teacher? Well, there are many tools and resources teachers can use to create a better classroom experience for kids with ADHD. This is now especially important because the stress surrounding COVID-19 and the changes we’ve had to make. Here are just a few things I think it’s important for teachers to remember:

First of all teachers, you just need to calm down and stay sane! Sometimes, a classroom can get pretty insane and a kid’s behaviour might not match what you expected. But shouting, scolding, and punishing them isn’t really going to help them get things done. Also, keeping kids from recess isn’t the best idea since we are now encouraged to be outdoors more.

Second, you need to to find other ways to teach kids, rather than just standing in front of the class going on and on about something that might not even interest ADHD kids. Like maybe add some more movement into the classroom so I don’t have to sit still the whole time. Find new ways to be engaging! This is really important, especially for schools that are having some classes virtually. There are so many distractions around the house!

Lastly, please be friendly and caring towards kids with ADHD. It’s easy to judge someone like me, especially if you haven’t had much experience before. I don’t blame you because it might be hard to adjust to. Give ADHD kids some time to get to know them and their goals!

For a lot of ADHD kids, summer is an opportunity become a lot more grounded. Summer is great because you get the super busy weeks which keep you stimulated and if you are lucky (or a loner) the weeks where you just get to veg.

To get more organized and focused, I recommend ADHD kids out there to set a few goals for the rest of the year. You can even use an agenda!

What has the school year been like for you?

~ Jeff

Get Updates from Jeff in Your Inbox

Don't miss out! Sign up to get the latest news and updates from ADHD Kids Rock.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Jeff Rasmussen

[content-block title="Meet Jeff Rasmussen" color="orange"] Age: 18 City: Langley, BC Diagnosed with ADHD in Grade 7 Biggest Dream: I want to change the world for younger kids like me who are punished daily for having ADHD. Fave Class: Mechanics "I've got the plans in my head for a motorized scooter with a gas-powered engine that I'm actually capable of building." ADHD Superpower: "If I'm determined to do something, literally nothing can stop me. Nothing. Not bribes, not bullets... nothing." Fave Food: Hashbrowns (the kind you buy frozen, in a bag) Career Goals: Telecommunications Guru Life-Changing Event: Winning the WDS Scholarship for Real Life School Achievement: Completing Math & Socials 10 in just 8 weeks this summer. "School's like 99% fluff. Summer school is that, minus the fluff." Biggest Struggle: Even though I take medication I still have trouble staying on task, doing boring homework, remembering not to swear when I am angry or staying still through assemblies. (That's where some of my strategies come in.) [/content-block] [content-block title="An Average Kid with ADHD" color="purple"] My ADHD has been really bad and given me every bad experience you can imagine for a kid. Before medication teachers took away my recess, my gym classes, they put me in the hall, I have been suspended from school, and I never did my work because even though my tests say I’m “gifted” I couldn’t do it. When I first learned I had ADHD I was so happy that I wasn’t bad or broken, it had a name and an explanation for what was going on. [/content-block]