Brain Research for Autism/ADHD

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According to this article http://www.apa.org/education/k12/brain-function.aspx the brain grows at different rates for different individuals.

"Just because you have a classroom full of students who are about the same age doesn't mean they are equally ready to learn a particular topic, concept, skill or idea. It is important for teachers and parents to understand that maturation of the brain influences learning readiness. For teachers, this is especially important when designing lessons and selecting which strategies to use."

It is important that teachers understand what goes on as a brain matures so that they are better equipped to help those children that need extra coaching, such as children with Autism or ADHD.

The recommendations below are supported by evidence. Links are provided to help you find additional and evidenced information about each recommendation.

Do:

Be aware of developmental differences among your students. These differences have implications for behaviors that students display in your classroom.

Understand that normal development varies widely within the same age and the same grade. Our educational system is set up for the convenience of teaching large numbers of children in a grade-level classroom. The age for entrance into a particular grade is not necessarily linked to brain maturity for all children. Although you do not determine which children are in your class, you should be sensitive to the variety of developmental levels presented in your classroom.

Be aware that children who are born prematurely may not be at the same developmental level as others of their chronological age. Children who are born more than 8 weeks early may not catch up to their peers until they are 3 or 4 years old. Although premature children over the age of 4 are often indistinguishable from children who were not premature, there may be prematurely born children who continue to show delays.

Be aware that childhood illnesses - ear infections, frequent hospitalizations, etc. - or family disruption caused by death or divorce may impact a child's development. A child with a history of these difficulties may benefit from specific accommodations, including: sitting at the front of the class; adjusting his/her pace of school work; or receiving a more overt display of understanding and encouragement by his/her teacher.

In addition, it is often helpful to ...