Do anyone have ideas for improving virtual learning for ADD/oppositional teens?

[GardenGranny]

What if we have to do virtual learning next year? I am thinking we need to include that in my son’s IEP. My son is 14 and will be in High School, big transition! He manages with reading but it’s hard for him. He is very disorganized. Sports are a big motivator but we don’t know if there will be any. He needs personal contact but how do you do that virtually? Anybody else thinking about this?

[Taffnus]

Hi GardenGranny. I’m surprised no one has answered yet. It may be because this is a challenge for many ADHD kids and parents and the solutions are yet to be found. I can’t really give you much advice but I can commiserate. I have homeschooled my ADHD daughter off and on since kindergarten. She’s 16, almost 17 and we didn’t have an ADHD diagnosis til 15. She was finally diagnosed after a 2-year attempt to homeschool 9th grade 😏 which included two online classes. They were expensive, rigorous classes. It was horrible! She withdrew from one but I forced her to finish the other. I ended up participating for her and then taught the info to her. It was incredibly frustrating and stressful.

When her current private school went online in March, she carried with her the prior experience and decided she couldn’t do it because she “can’t learn online.” It has been a major struggle to overcome that mindset and it set her up for a battle in her most challenging class (math). Her grade went from a 93 in the 3rd quarter to a 45, now a 64 in the 4th quarter (due to late assignment penalties). It’s incredibly frustrating. Between the negative thoughts, lack of motivation, racing mind due to inactivity/ little peer interaction and resistance to any type of schedule, she is struggling.

If I could say anything, I would say absolutely to include this in his IEP. These kids have so much to juggle and work through and penalizing them for it certainly doesn’t help motivate them. In the long run though, it does give them an opportunity to tackle unwanted change and see that they can fight their way through and survive. My daughter has also participated in an online youth group at our church. That has been very helpful. She’s communicated with some friends via FaceTime but she does much better in person so that’s been limited. I hope schools can open as usual in August and this is a moot point but, it is wise to think about and plan for the possibility of schools going online again.

[anirush]

I haven't been on here much since I have 2 grandsons who is online learning is taking up most of my evening time. So glad school is almost over I am exhausted.

Never thought about modifications for online learning if it happens next year.