I am tutoring this 2nd grade ADHD kid and all he wants to do is play with Legos. I have to tutor him in math and reading, but no matter how many cool, fun games that I come up with, I still feel like I can't grab his interest. Any ideas?? Thanks.
2007-02-05 12:58:14 · 12 answers · asked by Ashley 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I have two little brothers with autism and ADD, and the only way to really grab their attention is to use whatever the are currently focusing on to grab their attention. For Instance, when my little brother was focusing in on Teen Titans, I could grab his attention by showing him a picture or music video about one of the characters and then talk about whatever I wanted to for about 5 minutes after I showed it to him before he got back to what he was doing. You could probably give him a lego each time he solved a problem or read a sentence correctly, and then once you were done with about 15 questions you could let him play for 5 minutes and then do it again.
2007-02-05 14:12:37 · answer #1 · answered by hen_pow99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen, if the kid is interested in Legos, maybe you could do some games associated with Legos!
If you are doing math, for example, use the Lego pieces to add (by building).
If you are studying people traveling in the world, make objects, such as boats out of Legos. Then on a piece of paper, draw a map with him. Then he can show you, with the Legos, where they traveled.
All you have to do with kids is find what they are interested in.
I have a 1st grader who has ADHD.
He too likes to play with the larger blocks. We create many objects together so he will learn more.
Good luck, I know you will teach him well!
2007-02-05 13:07:27 · answer #2 · answered by VdogNcrck 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a tough one. I like the ideas already given. In addition, maybe you could use the legos as a reward -- work for x minutes and get y minutes time to play legos. I know it is hard to give up instructional time for rewards, but at least he would be doing some work. Or maybe if you get this many questions done correctly then you can have this many minutes with the legos.
2007-02-05 13:43:14 · answer #3 · answered by caring_funlovingteacher 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Incorporate Lego and other building-based activities into your instruction.
For example, have him create a scene out of Lego and write a story about what is happening in the scene. Look at the figurines and figure out what jobs they have (are they pirates or firemen?). Go the library and get picture books about people who have those jobs, then tie the story back to the Lego. Better yet, get his parents to invest in the DK Readers Lego series of books that you can read together. See the link below for info. Anything that you have to do with math at that age can be done with Lego. Go with it.
2007-02-05 16:22:11 · answer #4 · answered by Jetgirly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use legos for teaching? Maybe you could teach him addition and subtraction, if that's what 2nd graders are learning right now, using the legos. I'm sure you know how to do that.
Now for the reading...
Well, since he's so interested into lego, maybe you could convert those words to something that has to do with legos. Um, you could use the legos to construct it into the word you want him to learn, or something close to the word. Ask him to tell you what it was you just built. But when I was at this age, I had a short attention span...
Good luck with him!
=]
2007-02-06 13:13:22 · answer #5 · answered by xxxshiningxstarxxx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he likes legos so much,try to develop his knowledge with them. Like math games with legos,engeneering stuff. Try to catch his attention with science and arts.Science because its always intriguing.You can ask him if he knows why his eyes turn,why he has teeth,etc,and like this,he will end up being the one asking you stuff.Arts as a way to channel his feelings. You can ask him to draw the same sketch with diferent colours,so u can know a little bit about his emotional side. You can also make a game concerning history or just common knowledge with a world globe.He chooses a country and makes research on it,etc. Its like "travelling"!
Its difficult to get kids in such age interested about anything,its better to give them things to open their interest than to put interests in their heads, and also to focus on something he likes to do(playing legos) with something u can teach (maths!)
Good luck on that!!
2007-02-05 13:12:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make the legos a reward. He can play with them after x minutes of work or he can earn a new set after a certain number of productive lessons.
2007-02-08 15:49:17 · answer #7 · answered by kxf23us 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
observe his interest! communicate with his parents, or family members, ask questions in a parent meeting.
plus talk with other teachers they might give you a good advice.
I would also suggest that you extend on lego with block construction and make it aesthetic, nice looking, put pictures of buildings, aeroport, put cash register machine or office table, phone, and calculators, computer games also have mathematic and reading games that are attractive for the child, start gradually by using shapes software programs, increase his awarness and let him discover the rest of the games when he becomes used to use the mouse and the key board.
Use software program that talks or has sounds whenvever he clicks on the items shown on the screen.
2007-02-05 13:07:26 · answer #8 · answered by Summer O 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is he taking any medication for his ADHD? I know a lot of people freak out about that but there are medications that are non stimulant (like strattera for example) that may help this little boy. I think you should check out the web site below, there are some great techniques to try with a student like this. You are an angel for trying to make a difference in this little boys life, don't give up!!
2007-02-05 14:21:30 · answer #9 · answered by katiebug 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use the Legos as a reward for a job well done.
2007-02-05 14:46:09 · answer #10 · answered by salsera 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋