4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a terrific resource guide for parents and teachers, June 13, 2009
This review is from: School Success for Kids With ADHD (Paperback)
School Success for Kids with ADHD is a guidebook for parents, educators, and other adults who work with children. Attention issues may be found among children of every culture and every level of ability. Gifted children with attention deficit are often misdiagnosed or marked as underachievers.
The authors of this book are two psychologists and a veteran classroom teacher. They present up to date research on ADHD along with realistic methods for accommodation. I found myself nodding my head in agreement at many of the most salient points. Kids with attention problems need the support and guidance of the adults in their lives. Even the brightest should not be left to fend for themselves. Left untreated, many ADHD kids grow up to self medicate with alcohol and drugs.
The book opens with an inspirational quote from record-breaking Olympic gold medalist, Michael Phelps. Phelps has ADHD and his mother notes that , "He never sat still, never stopped talking, never stopped asking questions, and had difficulty staying on task." But Michael did have the ability to "hyperfocus" on swimming, and so she encouraged him to stick with it. Gifted kids with ADHD often seem to be able to hyperfocus this way. I believe that this contributes to the frequent perception that they are merely lazy, as parents and teachers can point out examples of intense attention to detail that seem to belie an ADHD diagnosis.
The first few chapters of "School Success" discuss the history of ADHD, the importance of attention , and the medical perspective. Chapter four is directed at parents and includes information on how to request assessment for attention deficit, tips for managing behavior at home, strategies for homework issues, and support group facts. Chapter five is the practical heart of the book. It contains a 12 point Multimodal Action Plan. This comprehensive plan addresses assessment, medical monitoring, educational support, and more. The plan calls for a network of people and tools to treat the individual.
It makes sense that a single option or course of treatment will be less effective over time than one which treats the child holistically. School accommodations are the topic of chapter six. Small changes such as preferential seating (in the front row or away from distractions) may add up to a big change in school performance. As kids grow older, they have more complex responsibilities and must deal with extensive homework, project planning and implementation, etc. These topics are also addressed. Chapter eight is titled, "College and Beyond." It emphasizes the need for careful planning and a treatment plan for college. Chapter ten reviews alternative treatments for ADHD, including the Feingold Diet, EFA supplementation, ginkgo biloba, and homeopathy, to name a few. Some of these treatments appear to yield positive results, while others produce little or no effect in controlled studies.
The book wraps up with a nice resource list, a who's who of eminent people with ADHD or learning disabilities, a few reproducible worksheets, and extended research data.
All in all, this is a very useful, accessible, and well written guide.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Thorough Guide to ADHD, March 22, 2009
This review is from: School Success for Kids With ADHD (Paperback)
Not since Russell Barkley's 'Taking Charge of ADHD' has there been a more thorough guide to understanding and supporting children with attention problems. This book serves as an outstanding resource for parents and teachers as they work to understand and manage students with attention deficit disorder. The historic treatment of this diagnosis is clear, highly readable, and extremely complete. Particularly useful is the up to date chapter speaking to the use and efficacy of medicinal treatment. Additional chapters that focus on best practice interventions and educational treatment are outstanding. This title will be mandatory reading in my training of school psychology students. This book has already made it into the hands of parents asking questions and seeking additional information regarding their children with attention difficulties.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST-READ for parents of kids with ADHD, March 16, 2009
This review is from: School Success for Kids With ADHD (Paperback)
As a child psychologist, I have read and reviewed tons of books on ADHD, and this is by far, the top in its category! School Success for Kids with ADHD offers parents, teachers, and mental health professionals a truly comprehensive plan for helping kids with ADHD. It is extremely informative, easy-to-read, and a most valuable contribution to the world of books on ADHD.
Read this book and you will have a clear and thorough understanding of what ADHD is, what's going on in the brain and how it impacts the child, what "executive functions" are, how to best parent a child with ADHD, including how to help them academically, socially, and emotionally. From up-to-date information on medication to the value of meditation, the book provides clear and concise descriptions of strategies and solutions from the middle school years through college and beyond, research findings that support treatment choices, motivational strategis, and a 12-point multimodal treatment plan that brings it all together.
In addition, the book offers excellent and detailed advice for teaching and coaching kids with ADHD. Finally, this book brings clarity to the types of (often confusing)technological supports available for kids with ADHD, and summarizes the various alternative approaches that are available to this population. I highly recommend this book!!
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