Hi, Michelle, and all,
I am a middle school art teacher, and having casual discussions with my rowdy group of 6th graders this past week, nearly ALL the class revealed they have been diagnosed ADD or ADHD. I'm pretty certain the kids were not making this up about themselves, and many revealed being on medication or supposed to be on meds, though many are not, for whatever reason. Since my class is relaxed and fun, it's not much of a problem, but I see how this would be a serious problem with academic classes...and IS for these kids.
I'm always exhausted by the end of this class! and wondering how they all got grouped together! I usually have a couple in each group, but not the whole class!
At the same time, they are very sweet, not mean or disruptive in a bad way, just often inattentive to instructions, requiring that I repeat myself many times!
I have been wondering lately why there are so many children like this. Has it always been so...in the past? I think not, but wondering why so many now?
Patty