What Modifications For Learners Who Are Exceptional Do You See?

Aevri, one of the little girls in Mrs. L's class, is one of these exceptional students.  She has ADHD, and is on medication to regulate her brain, but she is a very busy girl.  She informed me of it a couple days after I started working with her class, and I've noticed many of the signs that I learned in Module 3.  She tends to fidget and wiggle her legs constantly.  Some of her classmates get frustrated with her sometimes, because she can't control her wiggly-ness, and she doesn't think about things before she says them.  Sometimes it's taken as her being unkind, but I truly believe that she doesn't mean things the way that they come out.  She really is a very sweet girl, and is very good at complimenting others; but when she is in a classroom setting with her peers, she has a hard time connecting with them or the material.

Another student, Kelton, seems to naturally be doing well in each subject.  He doesn't need extra time on assignments, he usually finishes early; nor does he have any problem focusing on the task at hand.  He helps other students in his group to come to the right answer, and I'm sure this is extremely helpful for the teachers!  I think some students will excel in school, simply because they are naturally good at it.  Other students need the extra time and encouragement to complete simple tasks.  The students in these 2 classes are always given praise for their work, in the form of treats, money to spend at the class store, as well as verbally.  They learn from each other, and constantly encourage each other.  This relationship between peers is so important for the development of students; it helps them feel confident in school, which will automatically make them try harder, and try to do their very best.

ADHD seems to be a lot more common in elementary schools now than it was when I was in school.  Many students struggle to keep their focus on a certain task, and it's not because the teacher isn't fun, or the parents aren't involved in their learning, its simply because some children are just different.  They need that extra time to complete assignments, because it's harder for them to focus.  I'm sure it's a challenge to keep the other students on task while some children are being distracted or disruptive, but I believe the teachers in the public schools have been given tools to help them prepare these students for life.