Jingle Bells, Homework Tales and Projects All the Way

Posted by Brock
adhd and the holidays

I love this time of year. The blinking lights on the front walk, the aroma of freshly baked cookies and spiced cider from the kitchen, and the sounds of our favorite Christmas music playing in the background create an exciting environment. As wonderful as they are, the holidays usher in huge distractions for children. She's trying to muddle through geometry homework while deciding what to wear as a "helping elf" for the special Christmas photos in the community. Or perhaps he's perfecting his Christmas list when you thought he was working on vocabulary words. And both your kids are trying to … [Read more...]

How to Organize an ADHD Child

Posted by Kayla

Books, homework, time, tasks, priorities, sports equipment, toys, clothes...Keeping organized is a hard task. It's a job our ADHD kids do not do well - and it's our job to teach them how. So - how do you organize an ADHD child? Share your hints in the comments below. Read Ten Steps to Organizing an ADHD Child … [Read more...]

How Do You Organize Your Time?

Posted by Kayla

I'm working on rewriting an article that was posted several years ago, and I sort of got stuck on #2, Order, Order which talks about getting organized. The original post talks about how my husband and I use Palms to organize our busy households. Funny how the Palm - which was the cutting edge back then - now seems so dated. And it's amazing how we went from being totally dependent on a PDA (when's the last time you heard that term?) to not needing it at all. Since our kids have started to drive, they basically keep their own schedules. And I work at home, so I've just been using the Outlook … [Read more...]

Getting Rid of Clutter

Posted by Kayla

So you've made a resolution, and this year you're getting rid of clutter! You're going to eliminate the clutter! ADHD kids crave order, even if they don't act like it. If your home is in disarray, your children can't focus. If you haven't already, make it your New Year's resolution to clear a path - and clear the clutter! There are several great online products to help you de-clutter and organize your stuff. One of my favorite resources is Fly Lady. She'll nag via email, and help you organize your life step by step - with no charge - including getting rid of clutter! Another unique … [Read more...]

Three Tips For Managing Homework Headaches

Posted by Kayla
School Supplies adhd

After the post about Ron and his college homework, you're probably ready for some positive hints on homework...and thanks to Alana Morales - here they are: Three Tips For Managing Homework Headaches! In my neck of the woods (or desert, as it is), we are gearing up for the second quarter of school. This semester, I have experienced teacher battles, homework nightmares and medication debacles. All in all, a pretty normal school year for an ADHD family, wouldn't you say? One of the things that I have found myself doing is reevaluating my homework processes and making changes based on the … [Read more...]

Organizing Kids for School Using Color

Posted by Kayla
color coding for adhd

Color is a great way to help keep your child organized for school. Choose one color for each subject - like green (money) for math - and use that color for the notebook, folder, and book jacket. In the folder, place a supply of paper for that class, and take a matching highlighter or marker and make a bold line on the edge of the paper. If your child neglects to put their paper back into the correct folder, the colored mark will make it easier for the paper to be found in the bookbag jumble. Many elementary school teachers require a certain format for paper 'headings': Kayla … [Read more...]

Gifts of Time

Posted by Kayla

Here's an organizing hint for mom or dad! Many stores are having major clearance sales at this time of year. Make it a habit to visit the clearance section each time you visit a store, and keep an eye out for items you will need for birthdays or (gasp!) even Christmas. Last week my husband came home with a shaving cream warmer he found for $5.00, and it is now stashed in our attic waiting for Father's Day. I found some great sweaters for next fall for almost nothing. The few extra minutes it takes us to see what's on clearance saves us lots of time - and … [Read more...]

Example of a Graphic Organizer

Posted by Kayla
ADHD Graphic Organizer

The graphic organizer below is a visual representation of a chapter on biodiversity. The Actual Notes: I. Biodiversity: the variety of life in an area. *the biodiversity of an area is dependent on many variables such as temp. and size *large, warm areas are the most diverse (ex. tropical rain forest, coral reefs) II. Importance of Biodiversity A. Imp. to nature *life depends on life: the more biodiverse an area is, the greater its chance of survival B. Imp. to people: 1. helps breeders make food crops grow better. 2. gives us a variety of foods to eat 3. can be used to improve … [Read more...]