What are the best practical strategies to support our children with ADHD and help them flourish in the classroom?

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Jamie Gilbert, Assistant Head Teacher of a school for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.  Jamie (aka Mr G) has been teaching SEMH children for over 10 years and works with amazing children with a range of neurodivergent conditions, such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia. During lockdown, Jamie created social media channels @mrgteacher on Tiktok and Instagram, which showcase and raise awareness of teaching neurodivergent children, and has now amassed a huge following of almost 1.3 million and counting. 

In this episode Claire and Jamie discuss the different ways we can build trust and foster positive relationships with ADHD children - and the amazing benefits of doing so for children and adults alike. 

Jamie speaks about his surprising route into teaching and his rapid career progression, due to his unique ability to relate to children with severe social, emotional, and mental health challenges. He goes on to share what inspired him to begin sharing his teaching techniques on TikTok and how his first viral video led to a huge social media following. 

Along with some fantastic practical examples, Jamie shares his approach to creating a safe, secure learning environment that successfully ‘unlocks’ hyperfocus for his students with ADHD. For example, using strategies like breathing exercises to support emotional regulation, shuffle dancing to channel hyperactivity, moving breaks for self-regulation, and tailoring lessons to his students' interests. He also highlights the importance of teaching children about their ADHD so they can understand themselves and their needs. Jamie also shares the highly effective PACE approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) which adults can use to better understand the underlying reasons for ADHD kids’ behaviour, plus the importance of having a safe space in the classroom for students to self-regulate.

As he is currently on his own ADHD diagnosis journey, Jamie also shares some insights into the challenges of waiting for an NHS assessment and the benefits of the ‘Right to choose’ pathway to speed up a diagnosis. This episode is a must-listen for parents looking for practical - and fun - strategies to better understand and support their children with ADHD.

To find out more about Jamie and his work, head to: 

https://www.instagram.com/mrgteacher/?hl=en

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrgteacher