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The ADD / ADHD Gazette
The FREE online ezine all about ADD and ADHD.
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*** ISSUE #20***
November 6th 1999 (now going to 2,190 subscribers worldwide!)

IN THIS ISSUE:
ARTICLE: House Rules About Homework
BITS AND BOBS
RESOURCES


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House Rules About Homework by George W. Dorry, Ph.D.

It's the child's homework to do, but your job as a parent to be sure
that it is done. The ideas below will minimize your part of the job
and help to teach the child about their responsibility as a student.

AT SCHOOL :
Each assignment is written down in a notepad as soon as the
teacher says it. If the teacher(s) are willing, pre-printed lists of
the day's or week's homework make the job more productive for
any student. Review the pad at the end of the day to know
what books and materials to bring home.

AT HOME:
Have all the materials (pencil, paper, books, ruler, dictionary, etc. )
in one place. Use the same place every day. It should be well lit,
comfortable, quiet (use earplugs), with no visual distractions
(face a blank wall, not the window), and no one else around.
Minimize distractions!

No phone calls, no TV or stereo at the same time, no friends
allowed unless the homework is done consistently well every day.
Start without any extras and allow one for each acceptable report
card. When the grades drop or the teacher reports that the
homework is not acceptable, cut out the extras.

When the child comes home from school, the bookbag goes
to the desk right away, as opposed to being piled at the entrance
door. After school, play or TV time can come before homework, but
only if the homework is consistently done on time. AD/HD children
need some time to settle down before starting homework. Do not allow
active play just before starting homework. It will be harder to get the
child to stop playing and the homework will seem like punishment
because it interrupts playtime. Homework following a less desirable
task, such as a chore, will seem a relief from the other task.

The "Clean Desk Rule" states: Start and finish with a clean desktop!.
That means nothing to see or fiddle with except the few materials
necessary for the one task at hand. When it is time to start homework,
have a parent or adult there to structure the moment. Without the
parent to help model how to get started, or the Clean Desk Rule,
distractions abound.

Take out the assignment pad and plan the order in which the
homework will be done (for example, spelling first, then math, etc.).
Select harder tasks early on, so that the easier tasks come as the
patience wears out. Take the necessary items from the bookbag and
put them on the desk. Lay out only what you need for that part of the
homework. Put everything else away, including the parent, who can
be a source of distraction if they stay.

Decide how long that part of the homework should take. Set
reachable short-term goals for each part of the assignment. Clearly
show the child how much you expect to be done before the child
comes to you to check the work (for example, when one-half of the
math problems are done) before the break or snack.

Limit break times and trips away from the desk. Trips to the toilet,
to get a glass of water, or any other break only happens AFTER the
parent has approved part of the homework. When you have reviewed
that part and it is acceptable, praise the work done, define a SHORT
break by using a timer-alarm to measure the minutes, and then have
the child back at the desk and working. If you let the child extent the
break time, the message is "you can push the limits and get away with
it". Repeat the process by choosing what part of the homework will
be done next.

Have a general idea from the teacher how much homework is
assigned each day in each subject. Give the teacher stamped, self-
addressed envelopes, and have the teacher mail you a description
of any long-term projects, such as book reports.

As soon as is assigned a Long-term project, sit down with the
child and help them to organize the plan for getting each step of the
project done. "Backwards planning", where you set the schedule
from the due-date and plan backwards in time to the present moment,
works best for the long-term projects. Read "The Procrastinator's
Paradox" for more on Backwards Planning".

One last thought: students can accomplish their homework better
when there is a co-operative effort with the teacher. Find out what
her favorite flowers are, know what flavour cookies tickle his tonsils
best. A proactive plan before the beginning of the school-year will
help to avoid the crisis that might otherwise arrive soon after
school starts.

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Copyright George W. Dorry, Ph. D.
Dr Dorry is a psychologist in private practise who specialises in the
assessment and treatment of childhood and adult ADD. He is the
Executive Director, Attention and Behavior Institute, Colorado and
member of the ADDAG Board of Directors and served as their first
Chairman of the Board from the organisation’s inception in
March 1988 until January of 1995.

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Bits and Bobs

I read this tongue in cheek posting to ADDvocate by one of our British
parents this week and would love to share it with you all. It highlights
the problems we have here with the notion which many of our professionals
still hold of bad parenting being to blame for our children's problems:-

"Now come on, come on! If a child is behaving badly in any way, shape
or form, then that means the parental boundaries are not firm enough.
That is the only possible reason. So if parents say boundaries are firm,
then parents must be lying/self-deceived/weak as water. Because if they
had got firm boundaries the child would not behave like that. This circular
argument can be kept up ad infinitum. Heads I win, tails you lose.

Couldn't help but laugh. We have al been there unfortunately ....

-----

The ADHD Website http://home.freeuk.net/theadhdgazette has a
new (brand new) message board, which can be reached via the site
or at http://server5.ezboard.com/btheadhdgazettemessageboard
Why not drop by and leave a message. You are welcome to ask and
offer advice, and should there be any messages which require
information, I am happy to put the question out in this newsletter too.

------

ADHD Day Conference ( A multi-disciplinary Approach)
Friday 3rd March 2000 at the University College Worcester,
Henwich Road, St Johns Worcester. UK
9am registration 9.30am- 4pm ( buffet Lunch and refreshments included )

Speakers
Dr Colin Tineline & chaired by him Consultant child and Adolescent
psychiatrist Worcestershire NHS
Dr Geoff Kewley consultant Paediatrician learning assessment Centre
Barry Bourne Educational Psychologist
Dianne Zacceo Social Worker family Therapist
For more information email adhd.worc@...
or ring 01905 745556 or 359700

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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
Items herein are published for education/information purposes
only. Any therapy, product, service, or featured web site mentioned
does NOT imply endorsement by The Gazette. Accuracy and
content of any web sites featured cannot be guaranteed. Views
and statements written by contributors are not necessarily the
views of The ADD / ADHD Gazette.

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LINKS
If you have a website and are looking for links. I am happy to add
a reciprocal link to The ADHD (UK) Website. Take a look at my
site http://home.freeuk.net/theadhdgazette and email me to swap links

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SEE YA NEXT TIME ~ Gail Miller 1999
theadhdgazette@...

And remember ..........
"If your not making waves than you ain't kicking hard enough"