22/06/2022
💬 We all know people who are blurters and just come right out and say things that most others probably might be thinking but can make a conscious decision not to say. I am one of those blurters... I always have been, and at times it got me in plenty of hot water when I was a child as I was so blunt speaking and had no filter. 💬 🗣️🤐
Whilst I am more able to think first and control my stream of consciousness as an adult, it does still sometimes catch me unawares.
I struggle with this, and so do many of my pupils, because I have poor Inhibitory Control, which is one of the Executive Functions. It affects people like me who have ADHD.
The other type of Inhibitory Control is the urge to do things rather than just say things. Many people find this a real struggle to stay in control when excited or scared.
Do any of these inhibition responses sound familiar? Well, if you or someone you teach has ADHD, they will almost certainly be struggling with these issues. You may well not understand the strength of difficulties they feel internally to try and gain a tighter control. Or the guilt they feel after getting themselves in bother having just promised their mum they would stay out of trouble; this is a daily battle for some children.
With all the Executive Function issues, it is like we have a faulty thermostat, and when we should react, we might not do, and when we shouldn’t, we might... It isn’t quite adjusted in the same way as the norm, which is stressful to live with.
Can we do anything about it?
🧠Yes, because the brain has what is called Neuroplasticity, which is the ability to change and grow and make new strong connections, it is possible to improve Executive Functions. That's not to say it is some miracle cure, but it can improve. 🧠
So what can you do to help your pupils?
❌What it isn’t about is punishing them when they speak or act out of turn; that will only make them feel worse about themselves than they already do. Trying to mould them into Neurotypical behaviour in that way doesn't help.
✅But what does help is using various strategies which will help strengthen their ability to control their inhibitions.
✅One way to help is that anything that helps them feel calmer and more relaxed and confident will probably help them control themselves happily and not out of fear.
✅Playing Maths games that involve each taking turns helps strengthen the pathways to normalising stopping, thinking, waiting and then answering.
🎲Board games combined with Maths on my BitPaper help use this strategy. I reward them with a turn on the game for each answer. We take turns and I am modelling how to wait my turn.🎲
These are just some of the tips and strategies that I share in my Tutor Training Courses.
🌟Tips you can use in your lessons are: 🌟
👉plenty of thinking time so they don't feel the need to jump in straight away
👉subtle rewarding for a delay in answering
👉turn-taking games
If you want to know more click the link https://www.jackpotmaths.com/
io