Teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Lessons for professional development of teachers

Background: Inclusion policies require that learners with ADHD be taught in mainstream schools. For inclusion to be effective, the school personnel who are most responsible for its success must be responsive to the demands of educating learners by practicing values, beliefs, pedagogical applications...

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Main Authors: Veronica Dwarika, Simone Braude
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2020-12-01
Series:South African Journal of Childhood Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/843
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author Veronica Dwarika
Simone Braude
author_facet Veronica Dwarika
Simone Braude
author_sort Veronica Dwarika
collection DOAJ
description Background: Inclusion policies require that learners with ADHD be taught in mainstream schools. For inclusion to be effective, the school personnel who are most responsible for its success must be responsive to the demands of educating learners by practicing values, beliefs, pedagogical applications, as well as assessment practices that support the needs of diverse learners within their classrooms. Such support necessitates a look at how teachers view learners with ADHD and how such views articulate into practices of support. Aim: The study aimed to provide a description of teachers understanding of ADHD, and their experiences of supporting learners with ADHD to provide a lens for lessons that can be drawn for teacher professional development. Setting: The study is set within an interpretivist paradigm and utilises a generic qualitative research design. Methods: Qualitative data were collected through individual interviews with seven teachers each representing a grade from 1-7. Results: Teachers’ understanding of ADHD appeared to be limited. The stigma of ADHD creates a reluctance from caregivers towards pharmacological treatment. Professional development in strategies to support learners with ADHD, are deemed useful if, they are relevant and appropriate within the systemic context of their mainstream classrooms. Conclusion: The professional development of teachers with the understanding, skills and knowledge to support learners with ADHD is advocated for. A collaborative consultation model for the growth of evidence-based school interventions for learners with ADHD is supported.
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spelling doaj.art-7308c6a2c288451eae2145eb3c0fd1362022-12-22T03:13:44ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Childhood Education2223-76742223-76822020-12-01101e1e1010.4102/sajce.v10i1.843405Teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Lessons for professional development of teachersVeronica Dwarika0Simone Braude1Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgDepartment of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgBackground: Inclusion policies require that learners with ADHD be taught in mainstream schools. For inclusion to be effective, the school personnel who are most responsible for its success must be responsive to the demands of educating learners by practicing values, beliefs, pedagogical applications, as well as assessment practices that support the needs of diverse learners within their classrooms. Such support necessitates a look at how teachers view learners with ADHD and how such views articulate into practices of support. Aim: The study aimed to provide a description of teachers understanding of ADHD, and their experiences of supporting learners with ADHD to provide a lens for lessons that can be drawn for teacher professional development. Setting: The study is set within an interpretivist paradigm and utilises a generic qualitative research design. Methods: Qualitative data were collected through individual interviews with seven teachers each representing a grade from 1-7. Results: Teachers’ understanding of ADHD appeared to be limited. The stigma of ADHD creates a reluctance from caregivers towards pharmacological treatment. Professional development in strategies to support learners with ADHD, are deemed useful if, they are relevant and appropriate within the systemic context of their mainstream classrooms. Conclusion: The professional development of teachers with the understanding, skills and knowledge to support learners with ADHD is advocated for. A collaborative consultation model for the growth of evidence-based school interventions for learners with ADHD is supported.https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/843attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd), inclusion professional development
spellingShingle Veronica Dwarika
Simone Braude
Teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Lessons for professional development of teachers
South African Journal of Childhood Education
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd), inclusion professional development
title Teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Lessons for professional development of teachers
title_full Teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Lessons for professional development of teachers
title_fullStr Teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Lessons for professional development of teachers
title_full_unstemmed Teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Lessons for professional development of teachers
title_short Teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Lessons for professional development of teachers
title_sort teachers experiences of supporting learners with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder lessons for professional development of teachers
topic attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd), inclusion professional development
url https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/843
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AT simonebraude teachersexperiencesofsupportinglearnerswithattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderlessonsforprofessionaldevelopmentofteachers