Do you ever doodle when you’re on the phone or maybe at a lecture?
I used to do it all the time when I was in school, and I suspect a lot of ADD Students do too.
I know that parents and teachers often view doodling as a sign that the student is not listening, but that’s not always the case.
In many instances, doodling helps keep the right brain occupied so that the left brain can pay attention more effectively.
There have been numerous studies done that validate this. In one study, music was piped into the left ear of subjects with dyslexia. (The left side of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain.)
Scientists found that in most cases, the subjects dyslexia improved.
Anything simple and creatively oriented can do the same; drawing or doodling, even rhythmic tapping (although that can be distracting to others).
Minimally engaging the right brain (too much transfers focus away) can help students focus on what they need to learn.
So before you chastise your ADD Student for doodling in class, take a look at their grades and level of comprehension in that class.
