Re: Is Math success out of the question for students with ADD?

[Anonymous]

I always had trouble with math in school, and I think partly it’s because I was considered bright enough I should start school early – not exceptionally early, but I was 4 when I started Kindergarten and 5 in first grade. When I got my 1st report card in 1st grade, I was crushed! My parents told me I was bright, I felt bright, I figured my teachers couldn’t miss it, right? Then how come I had Ss (Satisfactory) and Ns (Needs Improvement) on my report card and my best friend, who was no smarter than I was, got Os (Outstanding.) The fact she was 11 months older than I was might have had something to do with it. I just wasn’t ready to learn some of that stuff. I hadn’t even put together that homework + tests = grades. Now there’s an equation for you. That’s the first time I remember my self esteem taking a major hit in school. When I showed my parents my report card, I was sure they’d be shocked. How could my teacher be so wrong? But no, they soft-pedaled it, thinking if they didn’t criticize me, it wouldn’t be a blow to my ego. I took it for agreement with my teacher that I wasn’t so bright after all. Just goes to show you the importance of developmental readiness and perception.

Some times you’re just not ready to learn a given subject. If you have time, hit the credits you need that you have an easier time with first, and save the math credits for last. Sometimes a little time will make a difference. Can’t hoit. I know, you don’t want to take all the hard credits just as you’re getting ready to be done with school. It’s just a suggestion, and it’s just one facet of the problem.

Both my daughters had summer birthdays, and I waited a year to put them in school. One had a pretty easy time with math, and the other couldn’t grasp math concepts with both hands.

One more thing. I mentioned on another forum, a book called Driven to Distraction by Edward M Hallowell, MD and John J Ratey, MD. It’s one of the first ones I read when I realized not only did my kids have ADD, but so did I. Both the authors have ADD and there are a lot of tips for high school and college.

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