One way to improve student’s ability to learn is to play to their natural strengths Most people have one side of their brain that is more dominant than the other. This article will teach you how to help your children During Class Focus on the hemisphere to be used. Below we have listed each hemisphere’s functions:
Left Right
Details The Big Picture
Linear thinking Abstract thinking
Readingwords Comprehension
Math facts Math reasoning
Verbal Communication Non-verbal Communication
Small muscle control Large muscle control
Physical Activities
Awaken your students’ brains by movement:
- Activities that wake up the body-brain pathways: stand, walk, march, wiggle toes, stretch, hop, etc. Anything that promotes communication between the hemispheres:
- Cross-body movements like cross-crawl (elbow to opposite knee) and lazy 8s, tai chi-like movements, standing with eyes closed, walking on a straight line
- Start with students balancing on one leg on the foot opposite the needed hemisphere. Or have them do one-armed circles (again, opposite to hemisphere)—large circles for right, finger circles for left.
(The peripheral nerve pathways cross over to the opposite hemisphere)
Music
Unlike other activities that work either the right or left side of the brain, music exercises both sides at the same time, training your mind to multitask better. If your student is in a band, orchestra or a choir, they are learning to work as part of a team — a key skill for kids with ADHD.
Using background music during classroom activities as often as possible is great for both ADHD and non-ADHD students:
To stimulate the right hemisphere(creative) – low-frequency, harmonies, ‘new-age’
Classical Modern
Any Sousa march ‘Mars’ or ‘Jupiter’ from ‘The Planets’ by Gustav Houlst
‘March Militaire’ by Schubert ‘Winterfall Music’ by Paul Warner
‘Habanera’ from Carmen
To stimulate the left hemisphere(logical, group activities) – high-frequency, rhythm, lyrics, changes in volume and pitch
Classical Modern
Ave Maria by Schubert ‘Eventide’ by Stephen Halpern
Gregorian Chants ‘Venus’ or ‘Neptune’ from ‘The Planets’
Air on a G String by Bach Most Jazz music
Self Esteem
In school and at home, many ADHD children struggle with low self esteem. There are many activities they can be involved with which can help build social skills and build the child’s sense of accomplishment.
- Drama : The line memorization, the regular practices, the rush of being on stage – all this provides routine, sharpens concentration, and places the ADHD child in the center of a group effort.
- Debate : In classroom topical debates not only get children involved in group activity, but can provide a personal intellectual challenge. Communication skills are honed, while the battle of sits and the thrill of one-upmanship (in a controlled setting) keeps kids coming back for more.
- Old-Fashioned Games : Simple games are great for shorter attention spans, and small frequent wins can build self-esteem. Eventually, your students will want to play longer, and more strategic games like chess.
Scents
To stimulate the right hemisphere- To stimulate the left hemisphere Use spicy scents delivered to right nostril. Use floral scents delivered to left nostril.
Black pepper Apple
Burnt wood Banana
Coffee Cherry
Eucalyptus Chocolate
Lemon / Lime Grape
Mustard Lavender
Peppermint Orange
Onion Pineapple
Rose
Strawberry
Books / Resources
- Disconnected Kids by Robert Melillo
- Brain Gym by Gail and Paul Dennison
- The Dominance Factor: How Knowing Your Dominant Eye, Ear, Brain, Hand & Foot Can Improve Your Learning by Carla Hannaford, Ph.D.
- CHADD ( Children & Adults with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder) www.chadd.org
- CHADD Educator’s Manual http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Store
