Aibu to start a career in teaching even though I have adhd ?

[Careeraspirations789]

Posted in staff room but will get more traffic here. I really would like to get into secondary teacher however, I have adhd and feel like I may not be successful. Does anybody know any successful teachers with adhd and if their adhd sometimes makes them better than others? Any positive success stories out there ?

I’ve worked with a few teachers with adhd over the years, so don’t let your adhd put you off.

No exact experience of this but I work at a senior school and I think it’d be great for the students there that have Adhd to have a great example and someone that can understand exactly what it feels like.

I also think that if you are capable of doing your teacher training then go for it. I have a nearly 18 year old DD and she was considered gifted and talented at primary school and was very imaginative and creative etc. Her predicted grades at secondary were all 9's as her SATS had been high but she started to struggle and from about year 9 most teachers at parents eve were moaning about her. She was a day dreamer, a fidget, not concentrating, most annoying pupil ever taught, not fulfilling her potential etc etc. I knew she wasn't stupid and I pretty much revised with her every evening for GCSES and she passed everything with a9 in a language. Roll on sixth form and lock down, total disaster. No ability to self motivated, life ruined, why hadn't we got her help or diagnosed ( we had suggested assessment and she refused to be labelled and advised me off having Munchausens by proxy!!) She has now seen CAHMS and been referred on to a team who look at ASC Type conditions and I have been pretty sure for years she had ADHD. If only she had had one teacher who might have spotted the signs. A teacher who had managed to achieve their dream despite the difficulties. I think it would be great for more schools to have teachers who can relate to kids with these difficulties. Go for it.

I've awaiting ADHD diagnosis at 52 (possible asd too) and I've been teaching 10 years. Students like my energy; I've strategies for ensuring I meet deadlines; I can think outside the box for problem solving; I adapt quickly to new tech and approaches. All major plus points for teaching!

I know lots of non-NT teachers- ADD, adhd, ASD, dyspraxic and dyslexic. We all have different challenges and strengths- just like every other teacher.

Obviously everyone has strengths and weaknesses but I feel I doubt my abilities because of the adhd

I’d have thought teaching would be a great fit for someone with ADHD. Short bursts of being “on”, constantly different days, need ability to react quickly and be adaptive, long holidays, lots of feedback and structure and built-in deadlines...

I think ADHD would only be the kids if death for repetitive, dreary work in the same office every day, doing work that feels pointless or endless. Like accountancy!

Ds has ADHD, I know one of the teachers he really likes also does because she told us when I mentioned his diagnosis during a parents' evening.

I'd try to get some experience. You'll likely need experience for the degree anyway. That should give you a good idea of what YOU can manage. ADHD affects so many people differently it's impossible for us to know how you handle it.

I have ADHD and I'm pretty sure teaching is a career that pops up often as being potentially a good fit. No idea what it's like to teach but I imagine it's hard to procrastinate, and there is always the urgency that many ADHD ers need.

We have a current primary trainee with ADHD. It isn't at all obvious in the classroom where he is great.
It is more obvious in socially distanced training sessions where he struggles to focus and maintain concentration and is more obviously fidgety than others. However, he is very self aware and explained his difficulties with lectures and that kind of activity, as well as what helped - sitting near the front, physical breaks (trips to the loo or to get a coffee) etc. Normally, sessions would be much more participatory and active, but with Covid they are unfortunately less ideal for a person with their needs.

However he has been open and honest with us and we have bern open back and made what reasonable adjustments we can in the context of a pandemic.

I think he will be a fabulous teacher.

I’m interested to know why teaching??
I’ve been a secondary school teacher for a long time and am taking action to get out!! Mainly because it’s boring! I’m incredibly busy, different class every hour etc etc. but it’s same shit, different day over and over.

I taught for over 30 years and think I might have undiagnosed adhd, my mum thought I was hyperactive as a child. At 65 I don't suppose there's any advantage in getting a diagnosis but I am, at this moment, on mumsnet, listening to radio 4 and cooking dinner. I can only watch TV if I'm knitting. Teaching is never boring and always something happening, in Primary, which I was, anyway.

I left secondary school around 8/9 years ago however, I have always wanted to go back there and help children the way teachers helped me. I want to help kids learn and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I think I also enjoy the pastoral duties of the job too. I want to make my classroom a place where needs are all met no matter the disability or disadvantage. This has always been why I wanted to get into it. I want to be the teacher I had when I was that age for other kids

My cousin has ADHD he teaches in a PRU. He loves it, he’s great at what he does. He did find the training very stressful, the deadlines and appraisals.

I think it would be brilliant for you. You would be able to empathise with your children who have the same and even become a role model to them. Good luck 👍

If you think you can handle being a teacher then absolutely go for it. I'd have probably thrived with a teacher with ADHD or ASD and maybe would have been diagnosed sooner. You need a thick skin though with secondary school, teenagers can be brutal.