This summer my son Andy has been taking some college classes. As he has been learning from his teachers, I have been learning from him.
One of his classes was Micro Economics. Doesn’t that just make you wish you were back in school?
The teacher teaching this class was someone that Andy had a hard time relating to. Her style of teaching frustrated him and he found her methods ineffective in helping him to understand the material.
Some ADHD kids in his situation would blame the teacher and their ADHD; the resulting poor grade would therefore not be their fault.
Hey, my kids have tried to use that excuse in the past too.
We know that different people have different learning styles and that the best teachers utilize a variety of methods to teach so that all of their students may learn.
The truth is that it’s not easy to do that. I know. I’ve taught classes in the past and tried to make sure that everyone got the message in a way that was easy for them to understand. It is very difficult to do.
So what is an ADD student supposed to do if they find themselves in a classroom with a teacher they don’t get?
Well you can learn from my son Anfy too. (Can you tell I’m a proud mom?)
Andy did a number of things to get through the class:
1. He printed out all of the notes and accompanying materials for the class.
2. He utilized the textbook extensively, including the glossary.
3. He used the Internet to search for more information on things he didn’t understand.
4. He asked for my help at times. I know nothing about Micro Economics, but I could read the text, offer my opinion, and just listen as he talked things through.
5. He talked to other students in the class and made use of the class chatvroom to clarify ideas.
I’m proud to say that his hard work paid off; he passed the class with a B.
