High-Incidence Disabilities

          In my classroom, the only high-incidence disability is one case of identified ADHD.  This child is on medication and takes it regularly.  I try not to make it known to him or to others if I don’t think he has it taken his medicine or how I think it affects him.  I make sure he’s seated at the front and is easily facing the area of instruction.  His medicine makes him stay focused and concentrate on assessments, but he does take longer due to making sure he understands the questions and gets all of the information down before moving on.  During assessments, if I look over his work, it makes him sometimes lose focus and get nervous.  So we have a deal that before I look over him and maybe he’s stuck or needs total concentration, he’ll hold up how many minutes he needs until he’s comfortable with me looking at his paper while he’s doing the assessment.  I give him time to finish even if it takes a couple extra days during Morning Work. At lunch, his medicine is still in full effect and makes him not have much of an appetite.  I’m consistent with reminding him of the energy he’ll need later and monitor closely that he’s eaten some of his lunch. 

          Sometimes I’ll let him work with his best friends during partner work or literacy/math stations, but this has mostly caused him to get distracted and off track.  I  want him to enjoy learning with his closest friends and have given him too many chances to get work done at the quality it needs to be and in timely manner, and he almost always becomes too playful and loses sight of the objective.

          From now on in partner and group work, I’ll make sure he’s working with those that will keep him fully engaged and working to his potential without disruptions.  I’ll pull him aside and let him know why I’m no longer letting him work with his best friends and why they need to have that time together just at lunch and recess during the school day.  I’ll get his thoughts on the matter and we’ll come to an understanding of why this is best for him and how it’ll help him accomplish his goals he’s working towards.