Everymind Education - compelling educators to empower their ADHD students

Delivered training today to some military members about communication and the importance of it.

If we cannot communicate in an effective way, we cannot possibly grow or learn. One of the MOST important aspects of communication is listening.

Toastmasters has helped me so much! I can’t wait to improve my skills even more and change the world ❤️

ADHD Awareness in the CLASSROOM

AND - Inktober. The prompt is Nomadic.

I’ve been awol recently and I apologize. I am a few days behind on Inktober. However, I am not stopping! So carrying on where I left off we have NOMADIC.

Let your ADHD kid be a nomad in the classroom!

WHAT?! Let them just wander around without purpose?!!… No

However, giving ADHD students different options for sitting (or standing) can help them fulfill sensory needs while learning. They can pay attention and focus better when their sensory needs are met.

It could also mean that they have preferential seating. Perhaps it’s sitting closer to the teacher so that the teacher can easily redirect them and there are less distractions between the student and teacher.

Maybe it’s pairing them with a student who is better at following direction and will be a good influence and encourage the ADHD to focus better.

And sometimes a single desk can help them focus on their work without being distracted. This is not to be used as a punishment, but as a tool to help them focus.

These classroom accessories or NOT toys. I repeat NOT toys. Of course their may be an element of novelty when they first use them, but once the novelty wears off you will find that those that benefit from them will continue to use them.

☀️ ADHD Awareness Month ☀️
How ADHD students make your classrooms brighter ✨

And

Inktober2024 - catching up, I missed the last couple of days but I’m still doing the prompts and still going strong 💪

There’s a lot of negative around ADHD, but if you get to know an ADHD kid you will see more than just their behavior.

Creative - not just in the arts and crafts sense (although some are great at those too), but finding ways to work things out that others won’t think of. Thinking outside the box is one of their specialties and they will AMAZE you with their unique problem solving skills

Sense of Humor - they are often very very witty, they love to make others laugh too. Be careful that this isn’t a way of trying to make themselves look good in front of peers at their own expense. They can exhibit self deprecating humor, in order to cope with being “different”. Something to watch out for, but all in all they are a barrel of laughs.

Empathy and compassion - they seem to want to make people happy, they want to cheer others up when they feel upset and can often sense when others are feeling down. They will often be there first to help their friends and their teachers. Their compassion for others may make them susceptible to being taken advantage of. If we can teach them to continue to show compassion for others while protecting their own boundaries then they are set up to shine for their whole life. We need more ADHD compassion in the world ❤️

☀️What ways do your ADHD kiddos make your classroom shine?☀️

ADHD Awareness Month and INKTOBER

Todays prompt is HIKE.

I wanted to highlight some of the obstacles ADHD children face in the classrooms.

These obstacles are often invisible.
Some of these obstacles are seen as moral failings.
What others see as bad behavior or obstanance can be them trying to hide their symptoms because they’re deemed “not acceptable”, and subsequently may not take in all relevant information required.
While others are doing what society expects out of “normal” behavior, ADHD kids have to overcome obstacles before they can start doing what is expected of them.

And then they have to do it all over again tomorrow.

I’m not suggesting that it’s always plain sailing for neurotypical students. Everyone has an obstacle to overcome. But hopefully this sketch note highlights the stark contrast between the two.

ADHD Awareness month
Inktober day 7 - Passport

Did you know that approximately 80% of those diagnosed with ADHD also have at least one comorbidity? (ADDitude Magazine)

Comorbidity means the presence of 2 of more diagnosable conditions. And, as ADHD likes company, it’s no surprise that a vast majority have another diagnosed condition.

The passport stamps is a little jab at those who feel we are collecting diagnoses like baseball cards (or in this case stamps 😉). This is not an exhaustive list, just some common ones.

While I cannot speak for everyone with ADHD or, who has an ADHD child, having the additional diagnoses alongside ADHD gives schools more ways in which to help a child.

It allows the chance for empathy to take control instead of frustration when that child is struggling in the classroom.

It allows a more comprehensive education plan (504 or IEP etc) to be constructed based upon their needs.

My child was refused help until we had updated paperwork AND an additional diagnosis of Autism.

My son was diagnosed with combined type ADHD at 5. When I was taken into a behavioral meeting I was told it had been 2 years since his initial diagnosis and things may have changed. MAY HAVE CHANGED?

A child presenting with problems relating to ADHD which he already had a diagnosis for, was REFUSED help, and subsequently suspended.

So yes. As a parent I will get the necessary, relevant, diagnoses to get help for my child, and I am not alone in this situation.

Many parents face the same dilemma.
Some parents don’t have the privilege of the same level of insurance we do to get necessary help and a relevant diagnosis.
If my child’s diagnosis list looks like a bunch of passport stamps then so be it.

Elementary schools, please take ADHD more seriously ❤️ our children are counting on you.

Day 6 of Celebrating ADHD Awareness month AND Inktober

Today we look at an ADHD diagnosis and a trek to self acceptance. While this is more relevant to late diagnosed adults as opposed to children, just remember that many ADHD children have ADHD parents too.

Really this is a journey that never ends. The initial part is the hard part, from wondering why you can’t function like everyone to finally a reason you are the way you are to clambering to self acceptance.

Once you’re there, it’s still a journey. Some days you feel like you can conquer the world, and others you feel like you can’t get out of bed. You will still have those days, but with the understanding of the why behind it, you may just be a little more accepting of the awesome person you are and accept you for you.

ADHD Awareness month..
And
Inktober day 5.

This is such a simplification of a very complex topic.

Executive function consists of different functions for our brain.

I’ve listed some common examples of what it looks like to have poor executive function in the classroom, but honestly there’s so much more.

Just because you have ADHD doesn’t mean all of the executive functions will suffer, but they might. It’s so broad, each individual will have different areas they struggle in, and with different degrees.

Tell me, is there a specific executive function you’d like me to go through in further detail?

ADHD Awareness Month
AND
Day 4 Inktober

I used todays prompt “Exotic” to highlight the inattentive ADHD symptoms.

We’re the daydreamers. The ones who mentally wander off somewhere else while you’re explaining something.

Sometimes I do dream of faraway shores, somewhere exotic where I can watch the sunset as I listen to the waves lap the shore.

But that’s not where it stops. I’ve come to realize that this image, and one of being unfocused and hopping from thought to thought (aka squirrel brain), is what people associate with inattentive ADHD - even if they don’t know that there is a difference between hyperactive and inattentive types.

I want to prefice this by saying, I know some are not fond of the squirrel analogy. I am not poking fun it, and I am not trying to make light of the problems that the inattentive ADHDers have. I am simply sharing in a way that others may find relatable and understandable.

But there is MORE to inattentive ADHD that thought jumping and day dreaming.

⬇️ We have trouble following directions that are multifaceted
⏰ We have poor time management. Which means we either overestimate or underestimate how long it takes us to do things. Resulting in persistent lateness of both ourselves and homework.
🤷🏼‍♀️ We will lose things. We will assure you we won’t. But we will. Pens. Pencils. Important papers.
🙇🏼‍♀️ We will tell you we can multitask, but we’re really not great at it. We will start things and not finish them. We will say yes to things knowing that we already have things we need to complete - and now we have let down someone else.

These different signs and symptoms are more common in girls. They may not be bouncing off the walls in the classroom. They may not have the impulse control issue that boys with ADHD often exhibit. Their clues to inattentive ADHD are subtle. So subtle in face that they are often dismissed as character flaws.

Please recognize the inattentive signs so we can help young girls with the diagnoses that are often missed.

ay 3 - ADHD Awareness Month AND Inktober.

Todays prompt is Boots.

What better way show a concept of hyperactivity than boots with springs!

It can feel like they NEVER stop.
Constantly moving.
Constantly talking.

This is likely the most obvious sign of ADHD that you will see in the elementary classroom, and what the general population associate with ADHD.

Where I’ve said more common in boys, I’m referring to the obvious signs of ADHD hyperactivity. Of course girls can exhibit the external signs too, but their hyperactivity often comes in the form of internal hyperactivity:

* racing thoughts
* internal chatter
* anxiety

Just because you don’t SEE the hyperactivity - doesn’t mean they don’t suffer with it.

By adopting a neuro inclusive classroom we can help to remove the springs from their boots (and minds) and help them thrive.

Day 2 - ADHD Awareness Month…

AND Inktober!

Being able to combine my 2 passions is not only fun, I feel privileged to do so.

Todays prompt is

So let’s discover adhd in the elementary school classroom.
💡 = helpful hints you can utilize for your classroom.

School principles, school teachers and staff, what techniques have you found to be helpful with your adhd students?

💡 October is ADHD Awareness Month 💡 and I’m celebrating, a little different than “normal”

To honor this month and to spread information that will help the children you serve, I will be sharing sketches and notes to take you on a journey.

You will notice that I have in every post. I decided what better way to amalgamate my 2 passions than to follow the prompts for in a way that highlights different aspects and concepts surrounding ADHD.

So todays prompt was backpack. This was a tough one because it highlights the beginning of personal journey with ADHD and the pitfalls we encounted during my sons 1st year at a new school.

It was the 1st year back for everyone post Covid and hybrid learning. My son was in 1st grade. What started out amazing ended with my son saying the following:

“I don’t deserve love”
“I deserve to be hated”
“Mom shouldn’t like me”
“I’m a bad kid”
“They want to kick me out”

My son was 7. 7! No child should be made to feel like this because of a schools failure to understand basic ADHD traits and helpful situations.

Now, I will say that ADHD does not give kids a free pass to behave as they wish. They need help and guidance. Not shame inflicted upon them by people who refused to take the time to learn some basic techniques and classroom strategies.

👦🏼 No child deserves to be made to feel like this.
👩🏼 No parent should hear that their child hates themselves.

🎒 The backpack is just the beginning of my journey to make a difference in elementary classrooms. Our children deserve better.

For the LOVE OF ALL THINGS...

Don't. Take. Away. Recess.