Do I have AY..DEE.AITCH.DEEE? Composed by: Ms. Fitz! Part 1 As my students read aloud from Rick Riordan’s novel, ‘The Lightning Thief’, we discussed the main character, Percy Jackson, and how his impulsivity and struggles with reading make school, well, not the best experience for him. While my students and I bring the characters to life, and examine and analyze every character trait mentioned in the book, my students start to ask me questions… “Ms. Fitz, do I have AY..DEE.AITCH.DEEE?”... “Ms. Fitz, Miss Fihhhhhhhtz, do I have dis-leh-ksia?” I respond with, “Hmmm, what do you think about the way ADHD and Dyslexia affects Percy?” “Is this familiar to you?” “MS. FITZ, THIS IS ME!!!” “I have trouble with reading!” … “Ms. Fries (as they like to joke around), I think I have ADHD…” Just like Percy, almost all of my students struggle with either the hyperactivity that is caused by one type of ADHD, or the tendency to daydream and focus on anything and everything that is not right in front of them, which is caused by the other type of ADHD. BUT- Did you know that the most brilliant, creative, and innovative thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and creations come from those of us that are wired-differently, especially, if you are blessed with ADHD! Yes, I said it, blessed. I know we are not in Church here, but, I have to tell you that with ADHD comes the ability to hyperfocus in your area of great interest, which often becomes an area of expertise. Plus, students that think differently challenge teachers to bring out the best in their approach to teaching, by really paying attention to what truly motivates a student that is not motivated by boring teaching whatsoever. My students ask questions, pose different points of view, do research, think outside-of-the-box, and have lots of energy. When a young person comes to my classroom, and they’ve gotten themselves in trouble for the first 10 or 11 years of life, and feel as though there’s no hope for them in the classroom environment, it is then that I tell them that whatever they experienced before, well, this is going to be quite different. To help a child focus that thinks differently is to find out what works for them, not for you, but, what works - - -for them- and stick to it. Furthermore, when you have ADHD, you just don’t want to sit there all day in a chair, you want to move your body, create something with your mind and hands, and use the energy you have for good. If not for good, well, we know what usually happens…that child starts to act-out, usually, out of pure frustration, boredom, and the like, and the teachers can’t handle it. In my classroom, we teach our students how to self-regulate their energy, emotions, and how to know their brain-wiring, how it works, and how it affects us. My students can tell you themselves that they have ADHD, and it is indeed a Super-Power. Do I have AY..DEE.AITCH.DEEE? Composed by: Ms. Fitz! Part 2 I almost forgot that I was also writing about Dyslexia. This is a learning disorder that affects the way vowels and consonants, letters, blends, and digraphs, and all that Jazz, are seen and processed by someone with this unique wiring in the brain. Some students see a ‘b’ as a ‘d’ and vice-versa, but it's not that simple. Having Dyslexia is like knowing a first language, and then, when my students learn English, it’s like learning a second language. A person that has Dyslexia sees one way, and has to translate in their mind to see like someone that does not have Dyslexia. I cannot tell you how many students have come to me over the years that have gone through years of schooling, and no one could figure out how to reach these students! It’s heartbreaking and frustrating for the students, and families. Then, they come to me, and I have to break down that teenage wall of “I cannot do this!!!” to build the new foundation of “Yes, I want to read, I want to read!!!!!” As a teacher and role model, especially during this time in education, it is vital that we are open to discuss ADHD and Dyslexia, so that our students, our children, our kiddos do not carry on the ‘stigma’ of yesteryear. One thing I make sure to talk about is mental health and how our brains work, and how important it is to know how we learn best. I want my students to be empowered young people, to know themselves, and to be experts in how their brains work, and to be able to say to their next teacher, “I know how I learn best…let me show you.” Helene Fitzpatrick M.Ed. has been a Middle School Self-Contained Special Education Teacher at a private NYS approved 853 school in Manhattan for the last eight years. Ms. Fitzpatrick has 20+ years of experience. She is an inspiring educator, coach, and advocate who brings joy, fun, creativity, and excitement to learning. Her mission is to empower students, families, colleagues, and the next generation of educators. Ms. Fitzpatrick now, in addition, offers education consulting services to teachers, students and their families, and school communities at large. You can contact Ms. Fitz at coachingcounselingtutoring@gmail.com or at 914-806-9987.