TEACHERS with ADD??? | ADHD Information
I am new and figured I'd throw you all a curveball. All the time we are talking about kids in the classroom that can't pay attention. But are there TEACHERS out there with ADD? Because I am training to be one.
In a year, I will have a Masters in Secondary English Education. Which means, I will be teaching high school kids and yes, I am pescribed adderal for "Adult ADD."
I started Adderal teatment in my freshman yeara of college after almost failing out of high school. What happened in college was amazing. Awards, Phi Beta, graduated summa, etc. Not only was I able to focus, but I was always at the head of the class.
Now, I am going to truly be "the head of the class." Accordingly, I would like to know if there are any teachers out there with ADD? What setbacks to you see? What are some things you really need to focus on to be successful?
Thanks
I"m also in the same boat, as a teacher with ADHD. I teach at a small private school, with at least one other ADHD teacher (officially diagnosed) and i suspect the principal is also.For me, I thank God I had an amazing lead teacher student teaching, who was able to show me her organizational system, which works for me, so I do not struggle too much with that. Life also got much easier as I just went back on meds when school started again this year.
Does anyone else find that having students with ADHD is almost harder, simply because of the added distractions? In the grade level (aka low level) math class I teach, there are 9 students, 2 diagnosed ADHD, 1 ADD with other learning disabilities, and 1 who all his teachers suspect is ADHD. I have been having to make many changes, for both their sanity as well as mine. Wow, I just saw this and thought it was funny. I have been a professor in college for the past 6 six years or so. For quite some time, the joke between my students and I (and I guess my colleagues, too, so everyone ) was my ADD/ADHD. Many of them have been diagnosed for years and recognized it in me. I just thought it was funny. But, a few months ago I was officially diagnosed and medicated. The doctor was actually amazed that I was teaching at that point. I guess he assumed I had a normal job, but we go all year, 11 week terms with two weeks off in between. I actually think that the fast pace finally caught up with me.
At any rate, I have always been, for the majority of students, a favorite. I am certainly full of energy, have a great sense of humor and I really do get along with the students well. One one hand, they found it amusing that I was so easily gotten off topic, and on the other sometimes dismayed to see that I could talk at them for four hours straight!
The biggest issues for me, even medicated, remain the same. I need to get on top of grading and continue throughout the term or it builds up and kills me at the last minute. I have a tendency to roll with things, which is good, but I also find that I need to plan, as definitively as I can, exactly what we are going to do. Incidentally, I teach computer networking, so lesson plans, like you will be using, aren't quite the same. I have my Masters to teach elementary English and just turned down an additional job of teaching computers in high school (this all came to a head and I wouldn't have managed all this, plus 2 kids and a house full of animals...not to mention a husband who's like a kid). I find that the classes that go easiest are the software ones where I know exactly what I want them to do with me, step by step. This keeps my attention and theirs. Any class with gray areas (like Succeeding in College, or even The Writing/Research Process, which I also do on occasion) I end up losing momentum with because of the subject matter (as well as the fact that many students hate to write). Things which require them to work individually, without my guidance, kill me because, well, I don't know what to do with myself
and can't just sit back. So, with that in mind, those are the things I see that need to be watched. A good plan of attack (though, and I know you've learned this, we need to be able to change on the fly to accommodate different learners and different situations) is key. Don't wait until the last minute (that's what the students are supposed to do). Most of all, though, use what you know and who you are to your advantage. I think I am as successful a teacher (or so they tell me) and well-liked (so they tell me, too) because of this condition in some respect. I am a gregarious person (or so they tell me ...ok I guess I'll concede that one) made even more animated by this ADHD thing. I understand what they're going through (did even before I was officially diagnosed) and so will you. I wish more teachers, especially in elementary school, had that understanding. And in addition to keeping them awake, I love what I teach and don't even consider it a job most of the time. Remember that and, again, you'll be the best out there!
Hi Grad,
Don't stress about it! You'll be a BETTER teacher due to all that you've been through. (You'll recognize that you have possible ADD kids in your room or just those who need a little more coaxing to pay attention in class.) I was diagnosed about 3 years ago, after 4 years of teaching. Since Adderall XR, I am much more composed, less frantic, more relaxed, and more myself. I know you'll do fine--I'm out of time right now, but I'll post more later about my experiences. Embrace your creative side, analyze your unique abilities and utilize those to the max! More later! Oh yeah... One more thing,, seems like a ran across a website with a message board for ADD teachers. I'll see if I can find that for you! 
I've done some teaching - I have my master's in child development, and I taught very young kids during that program. I also teach dance classes to both kids and adults. My biggest issue is just plain spacing out when I'm supposed to be, you know, teaching. My triggers seem to be anxiety and confusion - if I'm trying to explain something obscure (usually in an advanced dance class), and I feel like I'm not being clear, and especially if I feel like my students are disengaging, I sometimes get lost and feel like I have to drag my mind back into the room. But this is where my training as a therapist comes in: just ask a question, and then THEY have to do the talking for a while! Seriously, the best way for me to stay engaged is to get others to participate. Usually the students' questions will remind me of what I was trying to get at in the first place, and often they'll bring up good points that I was forgetting.
With younger kids, I can often bring myself back just by watching them more closely, and again, asking questions. I guess my biggest fear as a teacher has been of losing control of the group, or having someone notice that I'm having a real ADD moment.
I've never been in any sort of academic administrative position, nor have I had my own classroom. My dance classes always happen at a studio someone else owns, which means, thank god, I don't have to do much organizing. As long as I'm on time for class with the music and the choreography, everybody's happy. I imagine I would have trouble keeping up with the paperwork, etc.
Anyway - best of luck, I'd love to hear more about how it goes for you!
Hi
I am a primary teacher who has been teaching for over 20 years. Both my children are ADHD and everyone around me believes I am as well!!! I think so differently - very visual and think of the whole and not the details!!!! My classrooms have always been alive and kids love being in there with me. Primary teaching in Australia means you have the same class all day in the same room. So I was in control of when I taught what. In my early days, I'd create the most amazing learning centres and totally transform a classroom overnight. I hyper focus which can result in exhaustion. I always want everything just right and so go round and round in circles in my planning to find the best way, the best result, etc. Planning was always an interesting thing! I have been working in the area of learning support lately - I seem to connect really well with the strugglers and have the attitude that every child can be reached. In a classroom, I try hard to connect with each child's heart and then have their heads!! With my enthusiasm I'd have them eating out of my hands.
I'm sure meds would be great for me - at one stage when my son's issues where really awful, a doctor put me on effexor - I felt numb and not me. I'm sure that a stimulant would help with my procrastination and poor attention ...
All the best
I have a Master's in Elem. Ed. I never taught full time in a classroom. I
taught for several years in preschool settings (changing jobs usually every
year which I now know is typical of ADD'ers). Lesson plans were very
stressful for me. The thought of running a kindergarten or 1st grade
classroom was incredibly overwhelming and really made me doubt
myself. Yet I believe I was absolutely wonderful as far as being creative
and interacting with children.
Funny story.. just random...
I was interviewing for a Kindergarten position once. I didn't realize there
would be several people interviewing me at once, which really made me
nervous. The interviewers were throwing out certain education "buzz
words" and I was supposed to comment briefly on my knowledge of that
topic. I forget what the term was, but I replied, "Pass". Like I was on a
game show or something!!!
I didn't get the job.