Increasing ADHD child's academic motivation?

[Anonymous]

Of all the PP's that shared their experience, which one of you has been successful in instilling intrinsic motivation?

My ADHD son has absolutely no motivation to do any work and that goes to doing homework to cleaning his room. Teachers are beyond frustrated with him. We've had all the chats, we've shown him the different directions his life can go, we've encouraged him, we put him on meds, we changed his diet, we reviewed his homework nightly, spent extra time on questions he got wrong, got him a planner, a dry erase board to list thing to do daily. Still, ask him to do his homework and he has no motivation to do it.

[Anonymous]

Lot's of good advice here. OP, I'm the early poster who said my DC was much like yours but we switched schools from a traditional to a SN school for kids with ADHD. Worked brilliantly and really did completely change our kid around into a self-motivated straight A kid (just in time, too!). They just "get" kids with ADHD. Do you want to hear from any of us about possible change in school? If so, where do you live, how far are you willing to commute and can you continue to afford private..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of all the PP's that shared their experience, which one of you has been successful in instilling intrinsic motivation?

My ADHD son has absolutely no motivation to do any work and that goes to doing homework to cleaning his room. Teachers are beyond frustrated with him. We've had all the chats, we've shown him the different directions his life can go, we've encouraged him, we put him on meds, we changed his diet, we reviewed his homework nightly, spent extra time on questions he got wrong, got him a planner, a dry erase board to list thing to do daily. Still, ask him to do his homework and he has no motivation to do it.

I would try positive reinforcement:
http://www.amazon.com/Kazdin-Method-Parenting-Defiant-Child/dp/0547085826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383223635&sr=8-1&keywords=kazdin+method+for+parenting+the+defiant+child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lot's of good advice here. OP, I'm the early poster who said my DC was much like yours but we switched schools from a traditional to a SN school for kids with ADHD. Worked brilliantly and really did completely change our kid around into a self-motivated straight A kid (just in time, too!). They just "get" kids with ADHD. Do you want to hear from any of us about possible change in school? If so, where do you live, how far are you willing to commute and can you continue to afford private..

PP, thanks, I would be interested in hearing thoughts from you and others on possible school,changes. We are in Alexandria, and in principle willing to move to be closer to a great school- we are sort of outgrowing our house anyway, so we have thought about moving.

I have heard great things about commonwealth but I worry that a DC would feel stigmatized.... She is doing okay at her current school, not great but not horribly, and I worry that she would interpret a SN school as a statement that she "can't make it" at a regular school. Also, though she lacks academic motivation, she loves her current school....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lot's of good advice here. OP, I'm the early poster who said my DC was much like yours but we switched schools from a traditional to a SN school for kids with ADHD. Worked brilliantly and really did completely change our kid around into a self-motivated straight A kid (just in time, too!). They just "get" kids with ADHD. Do you want to hear from any of us about possible change in school? If so, where do you live, how far are you willing to commute and can you continue to afford private..

No OP but I am very interested in hearing about private schools that work for kids with ADHD. I am in Falls Church and am interested in middle schools or high schools.

[Anonymous]

McLean School of Md is very good with kids with ADHD with no serious LDs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lot's of good advice here. OP, I'm the early poster who said my DC was much like yours but we switched schools from a traditional to a SN school for kids with ADHD. Worked brilliantly and really did completely change our kid around into a self-motivated straight A kid (just in time, too!). They just "get" kids with ADHD. Do you want to hear from any of us about possible change in school? If so, where do you live, how far are you willing to commute and can you continue to afford private..

PP, thanks, I would be interested in hearing thoughts from you and others on possible school,changes. We are in Alexandria, and in principle willing to move to be closer to a great school- we are sort of outgrowing our house anyway, so we have thought about moving.

I have heard great things about commonwealth but I worry that a DC would feel stigmatized.... She is doing okay at her current school, not great but not horribly, and I worry that she would interpret a SN school as a statement that she "can't make it" at a regular school. Also, though she lacks academic motivation, she loves her current school....

Well, Commonwealth Academy was exactly the school I was (PP) going to suggest. We took DC out of a punitive parochial which was going under and started him midyear at C/A and I have to say it's the best move we've (H & Wife) ever made. DC does not feel any stigma at all. DC has made a great friends and is consistently doing all own work, self-motivated, and getting straight As and is top kid in class. I am stunned. I don't know how they do it but our impression is that CA "gets" kids with ADHD and just know what to do. The fact that the school is very tech-oriented (laptops everywhere) was extremely attractive to DC, especially when compared to the rote memorization and lack of technology in the parochial. The school has been a Godsend for us. Small classrooms. Great faculty. All homework assignments are clear and posted on the internet. Handwriting is not an issue because all kids carry laptops. We've been there now three years and are thrilled. I can't address the "stigma" issue although DC never felt it. And I'm thrilled having a kid who now wants to go to school. Since DC has been there I have never once, ever, had a call saying DC needed to come home because DC was sick, had a problem or had an incident with another kid. DC is a new kid. And I no longer have to nag!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lot's of good advice here. OP, I'm the early poster who said my DC was much like yours but we switched schools from a traditional to a SN school for kids with ADHD. Worked brilliantly and really did completely change our kid around into a self-motivated straight A kid (just in time, too!). They just "get" kids with ADHD. Do you want to hear from any of us about possible change in school? If so, where do you live, how far are you willing to commute and can you continue to afford private..

PP, thanks, I would be interested in hearing thoughts from you and others on possible school,changes. We are in Alexandria, and in principle willing to move to be closer to a great school- we are sort of outgrowing our house anyway, so we have thought about moving.

I have heard great things about commonwealth but I worry that a DC would feel stigmatized.... She is doing okay at her current school, not great but not horribly, and I worry that she would interpret a SN school as a statement that she "can't make it" at a regular school. Also, though she lacks academic motivation, she loves her current school....

Well, Commonwealth Academy was exactly the school I was (PP) going to suggest. We took DC out of a punitive parochial which was going under and started him midyear at C/A and I have to say it's the best move we've (H & Wife) ever made. DC does not feel any stigma at all. DC has made a great friends and is consistently doing all own work, self-motivated, and getting straight As and is top kid in class. I am stunned. I don't know how they do it but our impression is that CA "gets" kids with ADHD and just know what to do. The fact that the school is very tech-oriented (laptops everywhere) was extremely attractive to DC, especially when compared to the rote memorization and lack of technology in the parochial. The school has been a Godsend for us. Small classrooms. Great faculty. All homework assignments are clear and posted on the internet. Handwriting is not an issue because all kids carry laptops. We've been there now three years and are thrilled. I can't address the "stigma" issue although DC never felt it. And I'm thrilled having a kid who now wants to go to school. Since DC has been there I have never once, ever, had a call saying DC needed to come home because DC was sick, had a problem or had an incident with another kid. DC is a new kid. And I no longer have to nag!

NP here. How far do you have to travel to get there?

[Anonymous]

15:36 The kids at C/A come from all over. There is a map across from the welcome desk that shows where every child in the shool lives (so you can work out carpool plans). There are kids from S. Alexandria, Reston, Great Falls, Mclean, D.C., near National Cathedral, Bethesda, etc. Some of the older teens drives; some take metro and then walk over from the Metro stop. Our drive is easy - we drive probably 20 minutes to and 20 min. back.