Comments on: Working with ADD Adult Learners http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2009/03/17/working-with-add-adult-learners/ The life and times of an English teacher in Mexico City Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:59:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Alex Case http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2009/03/17/working-with-add-adult-learners/#comment-669 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:42:30 +0100 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2009/03/17/working-with-add-adult-learners/#comment-669 No experience with this, I'm afraid. My question would be whether reproducing the messy style of his office in the teaching style (lots of post it notes instead of a notebook, very spidery mind maps etc) would suit him or just be more of a bad learning style he could do without??? No experience with this, I’m afraid. My question would be whether reproducing the messy style of his office in the teaching style (lots of post it notes instead of a notebook, very spidery mind maps etc) would suit him or just be more of a bad learning style he could do without???

]]> by: Aaron Nelson http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2009/03/17/working-with-add-adult-learners/#comment-663 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:11:48 +0000 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2009/03/17/working-with-add-adult-learners/#comment-663 Hi Andy, Thanks a million for your thoughts - I really appreciate that you took some time to share your experiences with me. The class will be 1:1 - so I think that would be to our advantage. I really enjoyed your idea of having a "menu" of work to do. I think that's a great place to start. (Allow freedom to find just the right flavor of work.) This idea of having a sort of buffet style class rings true for me with this guy. So thank you very much for your thoughts Andy- You helped confirm a direction I was thinking about moving in. Hi Andy,
Thanks a million for your thoughts - I really appreciate that you took some time to share your experiences with me. The class will be 1:1 - so I think that would be to our advantage. I really enjoyed your idea of having a “menu” of work to do. I think that’s a great place to start. (Allow freedom to find just the right flavor of work.) This idea of having a sort of buffet style class rings true for me with this guy.

So thank you very much for your thoughts Andy- You helped confirm a direction I was thinking about moving in.

]]> by: Andy Mallory http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2009/03/17/working-with-add-adult-learners/#comment-662 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:09:32 +0000 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2009/03/17/working-with-add-adult-learners/#comment-662 Hmmn. Are you teaching him 1:1? If not and his ADD is severe I think you are in for a struggle. If he is working 1:1 then it will be a hassle and quite an interesting experience. If you can find something that interests him he will likely be very focused for quite a while - then suddenly lose it. Don't have much of a fixed plan - more of a menu of ideas and don't be upset if he just won't do some stuff. Don't try to reason with him and explain why he has to do XYZ - just have a lot of useful exercises. I have taught a few mildly 'ADD' or 'Auspergers' people in classes, and known a few socially. The main issue with ADD is a total lack of social skills and empathy. This would make group work a real nuisance. One place I worked at had a long term Japanese student with ADD...if she didn't want to do the activity she was capable of just opening her (electronic) dictionary and looking up irrelevant words for 20 minutes at a time! You have obviously thought this over and have the main points covered - just put on your thickest skin and make sure he pays for all classes, regardless of whether he is late, leaves early or cancels. Hmmn. Are you teaching him 1:1? If not and his ADD is severe I think you are in for a struggle. If he is working 1:1 then it will be a hassle and quite an interesting experience. If you can find something that interests him he will likely be very focused for quite a while - then suddenly lose it. Don’t have much of a fixed plan - more of a menu of ideas and don’t be upset if he just won’t do some stuff. Don’t try to reason with him and explain why he has to do XYZ - just have a lot of useful exercises.

I have taught a few mildly ‘ADD’ or ‘Auspergers’ people in classes, and known a few socially.

The main issue with ADD is a total lack of social skills and empathy. This would make group work a real nuisance. One place I worked at had a long term Japanese student with ADD…if she didn’t want to do the activity she was capable of just opening her (electronic) dictionary and looking up irrelevant words for 20 minutes at a time!

You have obviously thought this over and have the main points covered - just put on your thickest skin and make sure he pays for all classes, regardless of whether he is late, leaves early or cancels.

]]>