Teaching Young Children with ADHD: Successful Strategies and Practical Interventions for PreK-3 » (New Edition)

Richard A. Lougy has been living and working for the last 30 years in Sacramento, California, where he began his career as a middle school teacher. During that time, he also served as an elementary school counselor and later as a school psychologist. Before retiring in 2007, he oversaw mental health services for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in a large metropolitan school district in Northern California. He currently runs a private practice specializing in ADHD and related disorders, as well as being a mental health consultant for Early Head Start programs and Before and After School Care Programs for a large school district.

Lougy has treated and worked with thousands of children with ADHD and their families throughout his career. In addition to coauthoring two books on ADHD, ADHD: A Survival Guide for Parents and Teachers (Hope Press/2002) and Teaching Young Children With ADHD: Successful Strategies and Practical Interventions for PreK-3 (Corwin Press/2007), Lougy has also written numerous articles on ADHD and regularly presents at state and national conferences.

Provides teachers with an understanding of ADHD and how it manifests in young children, clarifying the what, why, and how of inclusive strategies that work.

Foreword   Meredith Cathcart     ix
Preface     xi
Acknowledgments     xv
About the Authors     xvii
Yes, ADHD Is a Real Disorder!     1
Myth or Fact?     1
Diagnostic Criteria     1
Manifestations of ADHD     2
Prevalence of ADHD     3
Recognizing and Understanding ADHD in Young Children     4
What Causes ADHD?     5
Creating an Optimal Learning Environment     8
Summary     10
Recognizing ADHD: Primary Symptoms and Common Impairments     11
Inattention     12
Hyperactivity     18
Impulsivity     19
Other Behaviors Often Seen in Children With ADHD     20
Impairments in Executive Functioning     22
Temperament and ADHD     24
Summary     27
Developing and Reinforcing Appropriate Social Skills     29
Preschool and Elementary School as the Training Ground     30
What Are Social Skills and Why Are They So Important?     31
Social Skills Development     33
Strategies That Support Social Skills Development     34
Five Problem-Solving Areas That Challenge ChildrenWith ADHD     36
Suggestions for Reinforcing Appropriate Social Behaviors     39
Challenging Settings for Children With ADHD     44
Summary     49
Help, This Kid Is Driving Me Crazy! Proactive Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Supports     51
Developing a Personal Philosophy of Behavior Management     52
Analyzing Behavior     61
Putting the Strategies to Practice     63
Summary     67
How Do I Teach This Kid? Classroom Strategies to Support All Learners     69
Classroom Success Is Possible     69
Treating Children With ADHD Fairly     70
Defining the Objective of the Lesson     70
The Differentiated Classroom     71
Making Appropriate Accommodations     75
Beyond Accommodations and Interventions: The Special Education Referral     81
Learning Disabilities     82
Other Health Impaired     82
Summary     83
Why Is Writing So Hard? Specific Strategies to Develop Writing Skills     85
Why Writing Is So Hard     85
Teaching Early Writing     86
Analyzing Writing Tasks     90
Scaffolds for Writing Success     92
The Dreaded Book Report!     103
The Even More Dreaded Written Report     105
Summary     106
What Teachers Should Know About Medication     107
What Medications Are Most Commonly Used to Treat ADHD?     109
What Changes Can I Expect to See With My Students on Stimulants?     112
Do Stimulants Cure ADHD? How Do These Medicines Work?     112
How Long Does a Child With ADHD Need to Be on Medication Before It Works?     113
How Will I Know If My Student Is Overmedicated?     113
If the Medicine Works, Does That Confirm That the Diagnosis of ADHD Is Correct?     114
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Stimulants That My Student Might Experience?     114
What Information From Teachers Is Helpful to Doctors?     116
Are Stimulants Addictive?     116
Can Stimulants Lead to Problems With Abuse of Other Drugs?     117
Are There Particular Kids Who Would Be Expected to Do Poorly on Stimulants?     118
Are There Children Who Need to Be on Medication Only at School?     119
Are There Problems With Adverse Drug Interactions if a Child Is on a Stimulant?     119
I've Heard That Kids Can Become Psychotic on Stimulants. Is It True?     120
Can Stimulants Be Used by Children Younger Than Age 5?     120
My Student Used to Do Well on Ritalin, but Now It Doesn't Seem to Work. What Is Going On?     121
Are There Any Good Natural Remedies Available for Treating ADHD?     122
One of My Students Is on Prozac. Is This Commonly Used in Young Children With ADHD?     124
Do Medications Help Learning Disabilities?     124
One of My Students Is Very Defiant and Oppositional. Will Medications Help With This?     124
Summary     125
Communicating Effectively With Parents     127
Parents: The Most Important Resource     127
Respect and Acknowledge the Challenges Parents Face     129
Criticism Is the Least Effective Form for Change     133
ADHD as an "Excuse"     134
Helping Parents Separate Enabling From Supportive Decisions     136
When It Seems a Child Might Have ADHD     137
When Parents Don't Disclose That Their Child Is Taking Medication     139
Regular Communication Is Critical     141
Summary     143
Taking Care of Yourself     145
Recognizing the Signs of Stress     145
Suggested Ways to Lower Stress     146
Recognizing ADHD in Preschool and Primary Grades: Real Profiles     150
Other Disorders Sometimes Associated With ADHD      165
Childhood Disorders and Conditions That Can Mimic ADHD in Young Children     169
Recommended Books for Teachers     170
Useful Web Sites     172
References     175
Index     183