Fake it till you make it!

One of the most significant things I’ve found when teaching students with ADHD is that they must perceive that you like them and enjoy having them in your class!

ADHD students are very perceptive and also extremely sensitive. They can easily determine who is for them and who is not. If they sense that a teacher does not like them or finds them annoying, this will motivate them to be exactly that.

I have witnessed this too many times to count over my 30 year teaching career. Students with ADHD seem to pick and choose who they will behave for; for some teachers they are engaged in their learning and behave appropriately, whilst for other teachers their behaviour is unruly and they go out of their way to make life difficult for the teacher. Why is this the case?

Put simply, students with ADHD respond or react to the way they are treated. Don’t we all! So, if you want your ADHDers to demonstrate positive behaviours in your class then ‘fake it till you make it!’

Essentially, as soon as you identify the students in your class who might be disruptive and distracted, go out of your way to make sure that you form a connection with them. Ask them what they do on the weekend, ask them about their hobbies and sports, and generally show a great deal of interest in them. This lets them know you like them and value them as a person. Take the time to get to know them and say g’day or have a chat to them when you see them in the schoolyard. Before long you won’t need to fake it because you will, in fact, really like them! No longer will you feel intimidated by their behaviour but you will feel like you have ‘flicked the switch’ and overcome the ‘problem’. To be honest, this is exactly why I’m so passionate about teaching ADHDers. I love the feeling I get when I know I made a difference for these kids and that I’ve been successful at helping them to behave more appropriately in my classroom. That feeling is actually the release of dopamine in my brain; more about that in a future post 😊

So, as you encounter your ADHDers in your classroom this week, can I encourage you to get to know them. Take the time to really understand what makes them tick. Ask and find out who they really are when they’re not being forced to sit still and quiet in a classroom.

I look forward to hearing your stories so please let me know how you go!

Blessings,

Fiona xx

By Fiona

Hi, I'm Fiona Kearnan. I am a passionate educator and have a particular interest in helping students with ADHD, and their teachers. I have been researching the impacts of ADHD on student behaviour and learning for over 30 years. I studied primary teaching at The University of Melbourne, obtained special education qualifications at Deakin University, and completed my Master of Education at Monash University. I have taught in primary, secondary and special education settings. I held the role of Head of Teaching and Learning in a P-12 College in Melbourne prior to becoming one of Australia's first Arrowsmith Program teachers. My passion, understanding and experience of ADHD enable me to empower teachers to 'flick the switch' and assist students with this neurological condition to reach their potential. I am the author of 'Flicking the Switch: Reaching and Teaching Students with ADHD' on Amazon, and also provide professional development for teachers, helping them to better understand their ADHD students and to equip them to support their students with ADHD to thrive at school and reach their potential. I am an avid reader and a professional photographer. I enjoy cooking and am a keen traveler. My husband, Matthew, and I have two adult children and we reside in Melbourne, Australia. You can follow me on Facebook or Instagram.