[Ailist] ADD

[Lynn D. Johnson]

Mike,

I thought I had mentioned this to the list. When my second son was in 
fourth grade, we became aware of his slippage. He was distracted, 
daydreaming, and disconnected. His teacher claimed to be skilled at 
helping ADD children. I visited the classroom. It was an open school (a 
horrible education boondoggle) and kids wandered from class to class. 
She had seated him in the back. She was worse than no help at all.

We home schooled him for the rest of the year to help him catch up, and 
he did wonderfully. As a project, he wrote a 30 page mystery story. But 
the next year he and his mother agreed he'd go back to public school. 
More disconnection, daydreaming, and distraction. So I started a 
Discovery question process with him.

Most nights I would ask, "Jeff, was there a time today when you seemed 
to really pay attention?" He'd say, "No, I don't know, shut up." I would 
ruffle his hair affectionately or hug him and say, "OK, buddy." He'd say 
"Don't touch me." (ADD kids are often irritable.)

One day we were driving up to the mountain in the truck. I asked him 
about discovering moments of concentration, and he said, "Yeah, I 
noticed something. When I hold my pencil, I pay more attention than when 
I set it down." I congratulated him and wondered what other techniques 
he'd discover. His school performance began to improve.

He tried Ritalin, he was helped but didn't want to take it and 
discontinued after a two weeks. He never took it again.

He is now a senior at a Division 1 university, majoring in mechanical 
engineering, holding a >3.6 GPA. Because of his achievements he was 
admitted to a one-year master's program, so this year and next he takes 
grad classes and will graduate in five years with an M.S. in mech eng. 
He speaks three languages and is happily married to a brilliant woman. 
He volunteers in the community.

A great success story. You never know what people are capable of unless 
you investigate the possibilities.

Lynn Johnson
Salt Lake City

Mike Sands wrote:
> Appreciative Inqury and Attention Deficit Disorder - have you ever thought about these two ideas  - and had any ideas you care to share  onlist or off.
>
> Mike
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