Do your ADHD girls benefit from breaks in lessons?

[ChristmasElf345]

Do your adhd teens benefit from having a 2 minute break from the classroom every 10-15 minutes to re focus. My child seems to be using the toilet a lot to just breath and walk around a bit as sometimes she feels overwhelmed with the standards expected such as no talking or staying still . Also helps her focus back in rather than daydreaming. Was wondering what other parents think of this ? Good idea or bad as I’m thinking whether to discuss with SENCO as to get her a card or something so she is able to do this

I tend to chunk lessons and tasks for students with ADHD. It's best they are in lessons than not. In my opinion, support and chunking in the lesson would be the starting point, not going for a walk. Having a wander doesn't help equip the student with strategies they need to succeed.

I've known some students have time out cards. They can be used well. Equally they can be something easily abused by students who think that it's a get out of jail free card so use it to have a wander when they feel like it. No mainstrean school I've worked in would be happy with a student leaving class 4 or 5 times a lesson. Not only does it disrupt their learning but it disrupts their class and means the teacher ends of having to spend more time on the student who has been out repeatedly at the expense of everyone else.

It's worth asking for a card on a trial basis and then be really clear with DC that it doesn't mean leaving class 4 or 5 times a lesson.

As she is rather clever and in a set 1 class due to being good at maths and English (awful at science) there is not really any support , teachers are aware but aren’t equipped with strategies to help her and another lad with adhd in her class so I just thought it might possibly help to get her head in the game without needing prompting ect

I try to use students with ADHD to hand out books, worksheets, glue and so on, so that they have a chance to be up and moving. Could she ask the teacher to be the go-to for stuff like that?

That’s a good idea , thank you !

There should be differentiation in all classes. Even a top set has different students with different strengths and weaknesses.
I've got a highly able student who requires a step by step set of instructions glued in the back cover of their book for exam technique for when they get anxious. Another has a laminated key ring with steps. Another a few years ago had a doodle pad. Others had time out cards. Some need me to give instructions to the class and then walk past them and give them step 1 simplified and then on my next round step 2. There are many ways to support.

Being in set 1 doesn't mean there should be no support. A discussion about keeping DC in class and school giving her strategies to use is (in my opinion) much better than going out of class 4 or 5 times a lesson which is what's currently happening.

Thanks x