Wood Jeanne on thu 4 apr 02
Hi Everyone,
I teach art in a school for behaviorally & emotionally
disturbed kids, K-12. They are often in my school
because they are Court or County ordered, not a
choice.
I cannot adequately explain to you how fascinating
these kids are, in turns frightening, infuriating,
heartbreaking, challenging, inspiring, and
exhilarating.
I don't work on the IEP's teams but I estimate 95% of
them have ADHD, sometimes along with other behavioral
problems. I've also found the percentage of kids with
talent is higher than the typical population, skill
level is considerably below their age, and most don't
TRUST their own creativity. They are often from
backgrounds that don't value art or nutty ideas.
With a few exceptions they love working with clay more
than any other medium. Still, you can watch a kid
working hard on a piece of art s/he thoroughly enjoys,
but still practically set your watch by the kid
popping up after a time and being disruptive. Then the
challenge... whether the student will go back to work
after that disruption or go ape shit and have to leave
the room, often (but not always) depends on the adult
reaction to the kids disruption.
I don't know where I'm going with this post other than
I think the most important thing for a kid with ADHD
is a supportive family who celebrates their talent,
appreciates their uniqueness, and encourages their
creativity.
Regards,
Jeanne W.
On a much needed Spring Break, WooHoo!
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