Teachers/parents of Children with ADHD/no concentration etc... please help me with strategies to help my dd in school

[Nixz]

My DD is going to be observed by the Ed. Psych in school.
There have always been concerns regarding ADHD and her ability to stay focused etc

Basically, whether she is diagnosed with something or not, the teacher has identified a need and I feel I need to make sure some strategies are put into place as im not keen on a 1:1 support or medication etc

She is quite a complex little girl (age 8) and her work and her ability to 'cope' with school is on a downward spiral and im worried about her.

I have a meeting with the school senco and her teacher next week and im looking for strategies that I may be able to suggest to them, ones that I know will work!
I dnt need her to go for little walks around the school etc as I know this wont help her. She is very eager to please and I know this is something she cant help. She tries to listen but her mind cant stay focused and then she doesnt know what to do and panics, she cant stay sat down to do her work, she fusses and becomes obsessive, she is very sensitive and emotional. Basically, she is really struggling to stay focused on a task, stay sat still and communicate what it is she actually needs to help her, eg: I forgot which number I need to add first or something similar.
Ive asked DD and she cant comment, she gets too frustrated and upset.

I would appreciate any help or advise, Im not sure what to suggest as DD is not able to communicate any of her needs to me (apart from negative ones)

BUMP!

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Can I ask why you are not keen on 1:1 support?

She sounds very like the little boy in year 1 that I support, and I take him out for most lessons as the classroom just makes him even less focussed.

We do short sharp bursts, have movement breaks (these really do help) and then start with something else.

Does she do any movement groups like Jump ahead? these can help with focus, listening and conentration.

having a diary that she (or teacher) notes down all the tasks at the beginning of the lesson, then she (or teacher ) ticks them off as completed.

She sits at the front of the class in front of the teacher

She has her work marked , looked at regularly through out the lesson.

Thanks for your replies
Im not keen on 1:1 support for a few reasons really, my dd has severe eczema and is quite sensitive about it, i think having 1:1 support would only make her feel more 'different'and self conscious. Also, I feel she really needs to develop her independance and through experience, I have noticed that the child becomes very heavily dependant on the support.

She doesnt do any groups, there isnt really anything like that where we are. She has had some sessions in a sensory studio but it is in such high demand, that there are only ever a few sessions available so normally run in 6 week slots.
She is sat in front of the teacher already, however, there ar 34 children in the class and only 1 part time TA and she already demands a lot of time from them both. As she hasnt been diagnosed, there has been no funding available for any extra support anyway.
My poor dd is not coping at all in school, she just cant remember what to do when it comes to her independant work, she finds it difficult keeping still and staying focused through the whole class teaching and she seems to becoming a bit depressed, which is just so distressing to think about!
The main problem is definately that she cant communicate why she sometimes cant do or remember the work she has to complete and she just shuts off.

Sounds like my ds,8. We have been through several lengthy assessments but no dx has been made (Aspergers was the schools leaning, mine was ADD). Recently his teacher has expressed concern that ds wont cope or be able to function in Yr 5 as he is so disorganised and in a world of his own. I dont have any magic answers, sorry. Our latest strategy is to make sure ds gets plenty of sleep as he is often tired in school. To do this I have taken away his beloved playstation on weekday evenings, banned tv after dinner and insist on bed by 8. I hope a better sleep will result in increased alertness in school. I will let you know.

The school have in the past tried visual timetables for ds, photos of him doing tasks to remind hiim what he is doing, star charts, egg timers etc to keep ds focussed. The EP should have plenty of ideas to try.

Last term the paed identified ds had a short term memory problem, we have some exercises (games) to play to help ds improve his memory in order to help him follow instructions (he gets muddled if more than one instruction is given at once).

We will find a way to help, I am sure of it, it is alot of trial and error though for us.

Nixz - I have read some interesting research between exzema, ADHD and dairy allergy.

You must read, -'digestive wellness for children' by elizabeth lipski

Thankyou Kalo, I will.
Is there a link?

IS she taking Omega 3s- fish oils- as in EyeQ?

They do have a very beneficial effect on 40% of children. She needs to take them for 3 months at the double dose, then normal dose after that.

If you google omega 3 /fish oils/ adhd / dr alex richardson/durham trials you will see all the research.

I really don't think you should project your feelings about her feeling "different" on to her; you should take all thehelp that is on offer. it doesn't follow that she/kids becoem dependent on support- it is ther to help them whilst they mature, as ADHD kids are often very immature in many ways.

when you say she can't stay focussed, what does she do when this happens? fidget? mess about? cause disruption? or panic and stress and cry?
different strategies for each issue really - what are her actual ADHD type symptoms? attention deficit only? or hyperactive? oppositional defiant?

some children find a fiddle box or just a piece of blu-tack handy - it keeps their fingers busy and zones out the physical so they can 'listen', there are also wobble cushion type things that are similar.

sometimes short periods of 1-1 support can be great, you know. it's unlikely that school will fund it tbh, very few ADHD children get a lot of support unless are truly oppositional defiant or causing a great deal of havoc in the classroom, but on occasions where it is necessary it often works like a dream - the aim being of course, to break the work down into single elements and help the child develop strategies for keeping to task and following a logical sequence.

in all honesty, take the support if it's offered. lots of parents see diet as key, and once you have found a diet that seems to help concentration things become a little easier.

does she have a planner at school yet? important for her to be learning coping strategies early, and for the teacher to be reminding her to write dates/ times/ equipment in her planner.

it's very common for this to be a problematic year btw - the first stage of juniors and an increase in workload, plus having to learn to think for yourself. lots of kids struggle, especially those who have sn of any kind.

Thankyou for your messages.
Cant stay focussed = Fidget, mess, constant hands up for teacher, wanders, stressed and if something has happened that has upset/angered/made her panic then she cant focus on ANYTHING else but that one thing.

She hasnt been seen the ED Psych. yet,so not sure what his comments will be with regard to her adhd symptoms (if thats what he confirms). Im going for meeting in school on Friday to discuss some strategies to help her in class as she is a very uptight, angry stressed little girl at the moment and for the first time in her school life, im actually agreeing with the teachers and getting her some help, even if its just to make her day less painful!
I dont think she causes havoc in the class but she demands so much time off the teacher that it could well turn into a very negative situation.
SHe has said that 1:1 would make her feel less like a pain but with 34 children in the class and 1 part time TA, i dont hold out much hope!

I thought about getting her a squishy but i think she would spin it round, drop it, talk about it etc so it may make things worse.
I also thought about visual steps written by teacher or TA on a whiteboard so her work can be broken down and she has something visual to look at.
Also, maybe give her a whiteboard for her to do her work on first (maybe just give her half the anount of questions as the other children) and then she can rub out/change/work out etc on the board and when its completed, copy it into her own book. Less pressure to do it neat and more focus on the actual work?
Maybe completeing some activites on the computer (she is very god on the pc)
Doing visual/interactive work instead of all written?
Would appreaciate some feedback on these ideas...

madwoman - What is a school planner?

Hi Nixz just wondered how things have been over last week for her at school? I have a 6yo ds dx ADHD .... some of your dd's traits sound familiar.