Of all of the issues that a teacher can face, one of the most difficult is having a student with ADHD. I will not attempt to define ADHD but, will rather discuss possible ways of handling a child, who can't focus, is constantly distracted or who can't sit still. A local ADHD support group calls these children "Tigger Children" because "their tops are made out of rubber their bottoms made out of spring." Over my career I have taught a number of such children and by applying the points below, I know that I am achieving much better results than previously.

Firstly, you must ascertain if the problem is within the child's control. Ask yourself is the problem due to naughtiness, lack of parameters at home, unfamiliarity with rules or, heaven forbid, a boring class? Once you are satisfied that the child can't control his or her actions, you must look for solutions. It is up to you to come up with a way to educate him or her. The child has as much right to education as any other students. You need to look for ways to incorporate the child into the class and provide this education, the director and other staff at the school may help, but it is up to YOU.

Secondly, don't blame the child for who they are. Try, by all means, to modify behavior (especially dangero us behavior), b ut don't attach blame. If you blame the child, you will become increasing frustrated and angry. A few years ago I heard something struck me as very pertinent. A young teacher was battling with a hyperactive child. She said that he was constantly distracting the other children and asked for advice. An experienced teacher suggested changing the layout of the classroom and moving the child behind the other children. In this way, the student could follow the lesson, but that the rest of the class couldn't see him and wouldn't be distracted. At the next meeting the young teacher told us that the child was “still irritating her.” The older teacher then replied: "Think about what you have just said, the problem isn 't he's distracting the class; it is with him distracting you." I think that is a very important point. These children can be infuriating, but don't consciously or unconscious blame your frustration on them distracting others. It may be that your own feelings are more of a problem than the child's actions!

Thirdly, be realistic about what you expect from the student. Don't frustrate yourself by trying to force the child to obey rules that he or she finds impossible to follow. Perhaps the child just can't walk in a bus-line, so allow him or her to walk alone and rather focus on safety. If the child can't sit still, move him or her out of sight of the other children. They can then follow the lesson, but won't distract the rest of the class. Prepare other activities such as writing , maths , or puzzles for the student to do if they become disruptive. In this way the child is still learning in the classroom, but is not being forced to do something that he or she can't do. Importantly, try and focus that excess energy, if a child can't stop running after a ball, make that student the re-bounder. Remember sending the child to the office may give you a break, but is not a solution.

Finally, involve the parents. Be honest and diplomatic, but along with your director, tell the parents about the situation and encourage them to seek outside support. There are m any programs for these children and along with parental support can be of great help. Keeping quiet will only damage your reputation because when the parents become aware of the problem, they will blame you if they have been kept in the dark.

The fact that these children are different from their peers is what makes them stand out, so don't try and force them to behave in exactly the same way as all the others. Think about the parameters and goals for such a child and try to implement them in a caring way. If you do, then having a special child like this does not need to be a frustrating experience, but can become a truly rewarding one.