ADHD and MONTESSORI GENERAL BEHAVIOR She came up twice during that time to chat

A CASE STUDY (or “What exactly IS ADHD?”) for a few moments. At 2:30 she came up
__________________ to tell me she had taken apart a California
Denise certainly exhibits many of the
DENISE'S VISIT TO CALIFORNIA puzzle map (of counties) and could not get
symptoms clustered these days under the
APRIL - JUNE, 1996 it put together. We looked for a geography
name ADHD (Attention-Deficit
book for pictures of the California
by Susan Stephenson ©2006 Hyperactivity disorder), such as having
counties, couldn’t find one, put it together,
difficulty in situations controlled by others
went outside and ate a snack.
—difficulty sitting still, waiting, not
INTRODUCTION: talking, listening, paying attention, not At 3:00 I came back to work, Denise
Denise Mayclin, age eight, came from focusing on work. Symptoms also include transplanted some small plants into her
Florida to the Stephenson family in nervously dropping things, and starting garden to see what they would grow into,
Arcata, California on April 30, 1996, and several projects and not completing them. then she watered all the potted plants on
returned home on June 5. She came the deck and she is now playing the piano
because it had been recommended, at three However all of her problems are
—Suzuki pieces and quite creative and
different schools, that she be put on exhibited only in the presence of others, so
thoughtful compositions of her own. At
Ritalin for suspected ADHD. I would call them “social” problems.
4:00, I asked her if she would hang the
Her parents were determined to find When she is alone Denise is able to towels out in the sun when she had a
out if there could be another way for her to choose work, concentrate and focus, moment. She responded “I would be
learn. complete cycles of activity—working to happy to.” She continued to work on her
the completion of one task before own until 5:30. This is a typical day now.
beginning another, and to take care of her
Since Denise can live so happily
GENERAL APPROACH: needs completely independently and
when given this kind of independence,
Since Denise fit the description of an joyfully.
respect, and a calm, respectful, and
ADHD person, to some extent traditional I have observed her doing this for supportive environment, she does not
therapy might include drugs, and behavior several days toward the end of her visit, 6- seem to me to need drugs!
modification by praise, reward, or 8 hours each day. Denise had, by this
punishment. All of these are antithetical to time, built up a repertoire of independent
the Montessori approach. activities to choose at will and on which to SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Over the almost six weeks that Denise concentrate. We had guided her gently to Denise was exposed to long hours in
has been with us the program which has the habit of putting away all of the front of television in necessary day care
evolved to help her, based on observing materials from one activity before from her early weeks. It is not surprising
her carefully has been threefold: beginning on another. This seemed to help that so many such children exhibit this
her mind to be more ordered, and her cluster of ADHD symptoms—children
(1) Observing the effect of TV, concentration abilities to flourish. who have been raised to bond with Barney
computer, sugar, and food additives on instead of parents, to think of “nature” as
Denise, and changing the environment as a These activities include: washing
something one sees on TV, and to learn to
result of her reactions to these influences. dishes, cooking, watering the garden,
read, for example, on physically-damaging
thinking, reading, exploring nature,
(2) Providing a situation where she machines which train the brain to think in
climbing in the tree house, caring for the
can concentrate on self-chosen activities 5-second intervals or at emergency speed
cats, writing (in her journal and on cursive
which help her to “ground”, to focus, to (TV’s and computers), instead of in the
practice pages), knitting, exploring a
process information at her own rate, and to arms of a loved one, with a beautiful book,
variety of games, puzzles and blocks,
heal creating picture in the mind at leisure and
several self-designed art projects, listening
stopping for important conversations at
(3) Identifying the “courtesy” lessons to music, playing percussion instruments
any time. How can a child raised by
which teach her the skills to show respect and playing the piano.
machines learn to function with humans?
for others, thereby improving her There have been no televisions,
interactions with adults and children to At the beginning of this visit we
computers, computer-type games available
help improve her very-low self-image. planned to get her together with other
in the environment, and no books except
children her own age as often as possible.
good nonfiction and great literature, at
We could see, however, that although
several reading levels. There is no plastic
OBSERVATIONS Denise is drawn to people of all kinds, the
(because the affects of handling plastic has
Here are some observations, a interactions usually deteriorate for various
not been tested enough for use by
compilation of comments from the reasons which Denise does not
children), only objects made of natural
following sources, besides myself, who understand. People think her
materials wood, shell, rocks, etc. This has
have spent time with Denise during this unpredictable and strange even though
been like a health store environment for
visit: Jim Stephenson, uncle and kind at heart and well-meaning. More of
her spirit.
Montessori father of 13 years; Michael such experiences did not seem to be what
Stephenson, cousin; others, both friends Today, as I have been writing, Denise she needed.
and professionals. began working downstairs in the living
room/bedroom/kitchen area at 9:00 am.
1
 Denise exhibits many relationship During this kind of communication OVERLY MATURE INTERESTS
problems when in the presence of other she will often ask for something, or hint Denise has acquired interests and a
people. She is constantly aware of others that she would like something the person vocabulary which are inappropriate to her
and how they are seeing her, trying to get has, or even make disparaging remarks age. She sings adult songs about romance
some kind of attention from them. She about the price of something (in a store). and adult subjects. She talks quite a bit
seems to be worried about what about boyfriends and having babies,
Sometimes a person Denise
impression is being made by her on others. getting a divorce, etc. For the first weeks
approaches is flattered by such attention
It was not until after several weeks that I she seemed obsessed about money,
by a young girl, and sometimes by a
saw any natural behavior on her part even shopping, winning the lottery, not using all
spontaneous hug, but soon tires of the
in my presence. She is constantly “on of her money, wanting to be a rich person,
constant, not very polite, chatter, and
stage”, trying to get a person to like her, etc. When Jim left for work, instead of our
becomes uncomfortable. Even if the
and if this doesn’t work, to get them angry usual "Have a nice day." Denise has said
conversation starts on a successful basis,
at her—pushing the limits to see just how "Make a lot of money." She talks about
Denise sometimes gets excited about her
mad the person will get. looking ‘cool’ and wants to wear makeup,
seeming success and starts acting silly,
high heels, and clothes that are not
She often will be “well-behaved” in talking in a high, silly voice, saying things
appropriate for an eight-year-old.
the presence of the authority figure, but that are not appropriate to the conversation
rude and annoying to a child in the next and laughing nervously. I have seen her avoided during her
moment—almost as a release of the strain visit here by adults who think this is sad,
I have seldom if ever seen a
of pretending to be perfect for the adult. I and by parents of children because they
successful, calm, reasonable, thoughtful
have seen a lot of lying, tattling, annoying don’t want this kind of an influence
conversation between Denise and another
on purpose, interrupting, and a void of around their children.
person, unless the person is a genius at
good manners.
dealing with all kinds of children, or the Denise is very sensitive to the
conversation is only a few minutes long. resulting subtle rejection and suffers
because of it, thinking that she has done
MONOLOGUE
something wrong and not knowing what.
Denise talks so constantly sometimes
CONVERSATION THERAPY She seems relieved not to be thinking
that I thought this was a case of needing to
Since this communication issue seems about clothing so much. We didn’t say
verbalize in order to process information.
to be at the base of her bad self image we anything about conversation topics—but,
However, when she is working along for
have tried many ways to help her with since no one was interested in talking to
hours she does not talk at all. She just
this. Once I asked her if she had heard the her about the above subjects, she has
occasionally sings happily.
saying "If you can't say anything nice dropped them.
The purpose of most of my don't say anything?" She asked me what I
observation has been to see what happens meant by "saying something nice", so we
in these initial meetings of other people made a list and tried for one hour to say ENTHUSIASM
which cause others to be annoyed by only nice things to each other. For Denise shows a wonderful natural
Denise. example: asking for something which you curiosity and excitement for any new
know the other person does not want to experience. Part of this enthusiasm is a
What I see is that she seems to have
give you is not nice, but offering to give natural need to move. (See the book about
no idea of being aware of what the other
something was nice. Insulting was not nice kinds of intelligences In Their Own Way)
person is doing before she starts speaking.
but complimenting was nice. It was quite Of course some of the most brilliant adults
For example I watched her, at a local
an enlightening conversation for me. we know have to move, walk, run, in order
outdoor fair, walk up to a man who was in
to think. She almost explodes into a happy,
conversation with another man, and blurt Also I find that if we have a moment
cheerful verbosity and movement at times,
out a comment on what he was saying, to prepare before she encounters someone,
usually from a natural healthy pleasure,
completely interrupting the two men. she can behave in an appropriate way. If I
which can be annoying to those around
Twice at that fair she went up to people say, "Let's see if the person we are
her, or can incite a matching hyperactivity
with dogs and started talking about how approaching is busy before we speak to
in other children who are not aware of
she wanted a dog like theirs. It did not her," Denise will have her attention on
what is happening. This gets her into
matter that they were already talking to observing the other person, and she can
trouble.
someone else. exhibit thoughtful and considerate
behavior. I think that the adults must be careful
Once we entered a store where the
not to stifle this wonderful enthusiasm.
owner was busy at work and Denise This advance preparation (Montessori
We have seen Denise explode in joy, for
carried on a 20 minute monologue in the philosophy: teaching by teaching instead
example on seeing a fox on our deck one
direction of the owner, demanding an of correcting) seemed to be the most
evening, only to follow her joy with self-
occasional response from the women so successful and I looked for many
criticism and depression, saying
that her work was interrupted for the entire situations like this for Denise to practice.
something like “I know I talk too much.”
time. I have seen this behavior over and
I think she needs constant preparation Or “I’m sorry I got wild.” She needs to
over.
for little situations like this so she can know that each child is unique and that
practice consideration for others.
2
she is wonderful just as she is. If she has a My suggestion is to give Denise as nonintervention of the adult that is crucial.
need to move and jump and get excited much time alone with a single family
I remember another story Margaret
and it bothers others she can learn to find a member or friend as possible. Also to
Stephenson (Montessori 6-12 teacher-
suitable outlet for her enthusiasm. After think as “loving” her as an action, not a
trainer from England) told us about a
seeing the fox and making her cousin mad feeling, and to shower her with loving
school inspector coming to visit her 6-12
at her for yelling and scaring it away I actions—not buying things, but spending
class in England. He asked "What is that
suggested that she channel her excitement time working, singing, cooking, reading,
child working in the corner doing?" to
into writing in her journal which she did etc. together—because loving feelings
which Miss Stephenson replied "I have no
quite happily. follow this behavior.
idea. Let's go see."
Making children sit still is deadly and
She was adamant that the teacher
has no place in a Montessori class of any
MEETINGS AND SEPARATIONS should not be in charge of what work
age grouping. We have "audience
(Another subjective interpretation of children do each day. A self-directed child
practice" so the child can learn appropriate
behavior that I am mentioning because I can sometime go for weeks at a time with
and respectful ways of honoring a play or
don’t understand it but it seems no direction by the teacher. This is our
music performance, but beyond that
important.) Over and over I have seen goal. I think Denise could function well in
children are always free to come and go
Denise excited and positive about meeting a class like this, given enough
from small group lessons in the
a new person, a stranger on the beach, a presentations on independent work, and
elementary class.
child at a concert, or one of our friends. specific guidance on interacting with
Of course children must know exactly others.
She seems to see each new meeting as
what they can do if they need to get some
a wonderful new chance to create an Imagine what an adult would feel like
extra exercise. In the children's class at the
unblemished communication and if her husband were constantly making
London Maria Montessori Institute (MMI)
relationship with a new person. She tries suggestions for how to dress, how to
a child was always able to put on boots
very hard to be ‘good’ and to make a good speak, how to wear her hair, how to
and coat and take a run or walk in the
impression. organize her day, etc. This is the exact
garden. In my school in Michigan we had
opposite of “unconditional love.” It is
three “outside” tickets which a child (this On the other hand I have seen her
“unconditional rejection!”
was age 2-7 class) could pin on them at ‘lose it’ and get wild at the parting—
anytime and get some exercise outside. almost as though each simple parting is a The result for a child (or an adult)
rejection. It seems that she is hoping for who has been constantly “helped” in this
Just because most children have been
something new and complete with each way is have a terrible self-image and to
trained to sit still for hours at a time to
new meeting, and it doesn’t happen. (See think too much about how she is doing in
watch TV or listen to teachers doesn’t
AMI/USA article on "Self image” - the eyes of others. I have had to make a
mean this is normal or healthful behavior.
available from AMI/USA, or The Michael great effort to leave Denise to herself—
Olaf Montessori Company.) with important work—so that I wouldn’t
fall into the habit of correcting her.
SELF IMAGE
Denise seems to feel very good about
CORRECTIONS AND THE
her self when she has had some time alone
RESULTING PROBLEMS SENSITIVITY
to work. She comes out of a period of time
It seems that being left alone to work Denise is sensitive to everything and
like this happy, smiling and helpful. Also
and start to feel proud of herself was the everyone. She doesn’t seem to be able to
whenever she is around an adult alone she
most valuable experience for Denise focus when a person walks through the
seems fine.
during her visit. One of the reasons why room when she is busy so we made sure
But when there is another person Montessori experience strengthens a that she had as many hours each day as
present, child or adult, her self image child’s self image is because a child is possible without being disturbed in this
plummets. She seems to get jealous, or get never corrected or asked to change or way.
into competition with one of the people in improve.
From the first day here she has been
a subtle way, or find herself lacking. Then
They become “better” because they without sugar or food additives of any
she revs up and starts talking.
are fulfilled by their work. No one is kind, eating only organic, healthful food.
I realize that this observation is standing over them telling them what to For the first few days she exhibited typical
subjective but since it seems important I say, or how to hold the pencil, they do not withdrawal symptoms - headache, and
am going to explain what I think is get grades and are not compared to others. runny nose. She craved sugar and asked
happening. She has had bad experiences in They are allowed to make mistakes and to for it constantly for the first two weeks.
school, being the “trouble child”, and she correct them, to try and try again. This fact confirmed in my mind that she is
has a delightful younger sister who most sugar-sensitive and addicted.
The ratio of student:teacher in the best
people prefer to spend time with instead
classrooms I have seen were 35 or 40:1 Since she has returned home Denise
Denise. With us she has been second to a
(with one nonteaching assistant) for 3-6 has become the “sugar policewoman” of
cousin who is calm and kind and whom
classes, and 50:1 (with one nonteaching the neighborhood!
everyone likes.
assistant) for 6-12. This provides the

3
 Denise is very sensitive—in the way Also she would be able to concentrate attended once—1 1/2 hours) sitting quietly
of a true musician—to music. One day she for long periods and observe, while she and processing, completely engrossed in
asked me to stop playing Chopin on the works, just how communication works or what she was thinking, and sitting
piano because the music made her cry. does not work between other children and absolutely still, though this was not at all
adults. required. I was encouraged to see her be
able to do this in a room full of active
SUGAR people and noise.
On the second to the last day of her INPUT AND PROCESSING
I phoned a Montessori friend of mine,
visit we had an experience that confirmed Because of her sensitivity to external
Dr. Jean Miller, about this distraction
our observations about sugar. After not stimuli, and her openness to learning (and
problem. She has had many children in her
having had any for almost six weeks we because of a backlog of TV/movie images,
Montessori elementary classes who
were at a picnic where Denise had three I think) Denise has a great need for private
needed quiet or privacy in order to
glasses of what we thought was natural time to process intake. We have been
concentrate. She told me that in this case
fruit juice but turned out to contain syrup, careful to let her sleep until whatever
she would have a discussion with the child
red dye, and artificial flavoring. All we processing goes on in the night is
to help them identify what kind of
knew was that she had "lost it." All of a complete. For the first four weeks she
environment they needed in order to
sudden, after a happy and calm afternoon slept almost eleven hours each night. This
concentrate. Then the class would help
she was being silly, rude, interrupting, need for so much sleep may also have
that child create such a space—perhaps a
complaining, and so forth. been due to the process of sugar
corner or desk facing a wall, or a bookcase
withdrawal.
We apologetically approached the behind her.
friend with whose children she had been So that she could get up near the same
In my own experience, because I have
playing before this wildness began, and time as we did, we started the bedtime
a very low tolerance for noise in the
explained that this was our niece who had ritual (nightgown, teeth, sometimes
classroom, I have always created two
been diagnosed ADHD and had been off bathing) at 8:00 and she was in bed being
spaces for the elementary class - one
sugar. She told us about the three glasses read to from 8:30 - 9:00 almost every
where talking was allowed, and one where
of "juice." Once we told Denise what she night.
it was not allowed—the silence area like
had drunk she herself felt much better, but
With a short time, since reading had in a library. It was always interesting to
still found it impossible to stop feeling
started to become a joy rather than a see the size of these spaces change from
unfocused, and confused, and to stop
requirement, she began to read (aloud) to year to year, sometimes from month to
running around and talking in a
herself for about another half of an hour month, depending on the concentration
hyperactive manner.
each night. environment needs of each particular
On days when she and I were home group of children.
ART AND MUSIC alone, I offered to work with her for
I think that Denise is truly gifted in awhile, then left her on her own
RESISTANCE TO BEING
music and art. She is an intense little spirit downstairs to choose activities while I did
MANIPULATED
and her feelings and beauty come out my work in the office upstairs. I could
Denise is very bright and savvy, and
through her artwork, singing, playing often hear her humming or singing as she
knows when she is being rewarded,
piano and dancing. worked. She concentrated for hours at a
threatened, or punished in any way. (See
time.
In five weeks she has learned what Punished By Rewards, a great book on the
most children take several months to learn subject). She has learned somewhere that
with Suzuki piano. As long as she is not schoolwork is not fun, but required.
CONCENTRATION IN THE
required to practice or play, and has
PRESENCE OF OTHERS I remember a wonderful lecture by
privacy in doing so, she plays over an hour
I began teaching Denise Suzuki Piano Margaret Stephenson at The Montessori
a day with great joy. Her mother is an
during her visit. Because she was unable Institute in Washington, DC on “taking a
artist and her father is a musician so she
to focus if anyone was walking past the public school child into a Montessori
must have had these influences in her life
piano, or in the room (she would elementary class.” She stressed that the
in the home for years.
immediately turn to them and start parents be warned that it is quite possible
If Denise were in my class I would talking), on her own she started getting up that the child may do no academic work
give her all of the music and art and craft early in the morning to play while we for up to six months, or for whatever
activities possible, then gradually connect were still in bed. period of time the child takes to learn that
this work to the other subjects through work is not required in Montessori and
I realize that this need to be alone to
geography-art, biology-art, projects, etc. never will be. Only then does academic
concentrate could be a great hindrance in
Then she would be working in areas in work begin to be chosen by and enjoyed
school. However, in the last week I
which she already has self confidence, by and internalized by the child who has
observed her developing the ability to
and, because she is very bright and curious been in a system where work is required.
concentrate in other environments. At an
would move easily into other studies.
aerobics class (she goes with me twice a
week) and an orchestra rehearsal (she

4
 I have seen this to be true in my When all of the activities—academic Also we play acted lessons, such as
classes over and over. The best impetus and other—are on the same level, when introductions and shaking hands, before
for work is seeing others happily at work, the dividing line between them becomes the opportunity presented itself in real life.
even in the home. (Another reason for dimmed, when nothing is required, Sometimes the morals of Aesop and other
parents not to watch TV in front of their everything begins to be enjoyed and great stories helped, as long as Denise
children) chosen. This is why Montessori schools didn’t think that she was being corrected
are famous for the high level of academic on purpose, or embarrassed. Of course she
During my first year of teaching a
work—because the impetus is the has not been asked to treat anyone with
class of 7-13 year-olds I picked the library
children’s interest, not the adult’s plan. respect in any way that she is not also
books and told the children they could
treated with the same respect.
read whenever they liked, for as long as
they liked. For three days they did nothing Denise absolutely loved this part of
REPORT ON SPECIFIC AREAS OF
else and I began to doubt that this would her experience here. She loved practicing
MONTESSORI CLASSROOM WORK
work. The next day, satiated with the manners and talking about raising and
freedom to do nothing but read, they teaching children.
PRACTICAL LIFE
began asking for other work. I have
Denise is thrilled to cook and garden. One day we were sitting on the lawn
continued to find that the child’s interest is
It seems that she has two kinds of previous at a friend’s house and she suddenly said
the most important reason for any work,
experience with working in this area, one “That mother did it wrong. She should
and that children set very challenging
positive, the other negative. First she talks have given the little girl a choice. She
goals for themselves, and remember what
with great happiness of cooking with her should have said ‘Do you want to put your
they learn, when they are taught to be in
mother. But, when she spilled milk all socks on or do you want me to.’” She was
charge of their own work.
over the kitchen one day she seemed very watching a mother yell at a little girl
After four weeks of freedom from frightened that we were going to punish or across the street to put her socks on and
requirements Denise began to choose yell at her. the little girl was resisting. I had
academic work over gardening, cooking, completely forgotten a discussion with
She is sometimes clumsy in moving
art and music at times. Denise and Michael about giving little
her body through space and doing this
children choices instead of ordering them
I have been careful to offer and never kind of work because she is afraid of what
about. Denise has a great hunger for
to demand that she read or write. If there will happen if she makes a mistake. It
learning about behavior and morals.
is the slightest frown or other sign of would be great if she could do more
disinterest in anything we are doing my practical life such as cooking, knitting, Some behaviors we practiced:
policy is always to say “Oh dear, this is and weaving, in the classroom during the
1. Respecting a person who is
too much work, let’s stop!” And I period of time that she is testing the
sleeping, because sleeping is important
constantly ask her, stopping at the end of a philosophy of “self-chosen over required
work of the mind and body. Never
page, “Do you want to read another page academic work”.
awakening them except in an emergency.
or is this enough?” Most importantly,
whenever she wants to stop I agree with a 2. Respecting a person who is
GRACE AND COURTESY
smile “Okay, let’s put this away until reading, working, thinking—by not calling
Everyone who has been in contact
later.” It is always better to stop the work to them from the other room. She has
with Denise has noticed “behavioral
before the child is tired of it instead of learned to come to them, to look, to stand
problems.” It is not my concern where
after. next to them until they acknowledge her.
these came from. I only want to identify
In emergency to say “Excuse me. I have
In the ideal Montessori classroom the them in order of the level of difficulty they
something to say when you have a
child is free to play music, paint, explore a cause in Denise’s life, and to figure out the
moment.”
piece of material on the shelf that she “Manners” lesson to help bring about
hasn’t seen, take a nap, garden, talk a walk behavior modification. I think that Denise’s habit of talking
outside, visit another classroom, do without being aware of the other person’s
Because in Montessori we teach by
bicycle repair, knit, make biscuits, have a interest is her most annoying habit. I have
teaching, not by correcting I had to come
snack, any number of things, but she is explained to her that it feels like she is
up with games like my mother's famous
NOT free to disturb anyone else who is “demanding that they be her audience” or
“appropriate and inappropriate game”
working, so the child almost always finds that “whatever they are doing is less
where we take turns coming up with an
something intelligent to do with the hands important than anything she would have to
example of moral-immoral, or polite-
and mind working together which is the say.” She understands this completely, but
impolite actions.
whole purpose of Montessori. it is hard to change a habit.
Examples: “It is appropriate to plant
Since uninterrupted concentration is 3. To look in a person’s eyes and give
trees, and inappropriate to cut down trees”
the basis of the development of the whole them your attention when they are
(one of Denise’s favorites that she made
personality, it is far more important that an speaking to you.
up), or “When someone compliments you
externally decided curriculum of academic 4. To say “How do you do.” and
it is appropriate to say ‘thank you’ and
work. shake hands firmly when being introduced
inappropriate to say ‘hmm.”
to someone.

5
 5. To admit that you have lied and to class, because she did not go to a Her cursive handwriting has improved
say you are sorry, immediately after telling Montessori school at that age. dramatically. The first day she was
a lie (Denise lies quite without thought - practically shaking with nervousness with
perhaps having learned that her lies are a few letters. Yesterday she practiced
more interesting than the truth, or CULTURAL LESSONS cursive capitals and lower case letters for
sometimes because of being afraid of She is hungry for this information (as an hour on her own.
telling the truth), or as soon as you have long as it is not required in any way). One
the courage to do so. night we had to get the globe and a
flashlight out because she could not figure MATH
6. To try to stop and think before
out how this night and day thing, in Math is so easy for her that I decided
automatically telling a lie—to try and tell
Florida and California, worked. She to leave it for school—because the
the truth.
figured it out immediately and asked concepts will be much more clear and
7. To say “Yes, I would be happy to” several intelligent questions. She has more fun with the materials, also because
when someone asks you to do something quoted her teacher a lot about early man, it is so easy to teach. I recommend that she
reasonable, or to explain politely why not the history of the earth, etc. work with the golden beads for a short
if you would rather not. while, and with the wooden hierarchy
One day when we were watching an
material, as she has missed the sensorial
8. To say “Thank you” and “Please” ant on the deck she gave me a lecture on
experience and abstraction of the
as often as possible the sociology of ants. When I asked her
relationships between the categories—
where she learned this she replied “I
9. To say “Just a moment please” units, tens, millions, etc.
learned it from that ant book you gave me
when answering the phone and it is for
to read, remember?” She had memorized
someone else.
it.
COMPUTER
10. To be able to tell a person, in a
We have visited the Marine Just as Denise is sensitive to TV she
polite voice, what they are doing that is
Laboratory several times and she has also seems to be affected by the radiation,
bothering you, instead of “tattling.”
learned enough about the tide pool to or hyper speed of the computer. I gave her
I suggested that these lessons be teach other children there on field trips. a lesson on our typing tutor and she
continued at home and at school. The most When she is not manipulated into learning immediately became nervous, rushed,
important thing though is that they not be she remembers everything. And she can be matching the energy of the “game like”
used in a corrective situation, only a game very good at teaching what she knows. part of the program (See Endangered
unrelated to the behavior of the moment. Minds on that subject—how it destroys
If Denise gets all of her language and
It would be wonderful if Denise were our children’s minds). That afternoon she
math in connection with the Montessori
to be surrounded by people being as polite sucked her thumb, which she had stopped.
elementary culture work (instead of
as possible, so that she change her habits isolated, repetitious, boring reading and I would recommend no more than an
of rudeness in the most natural way—by writing work, of which she has already hour a week of computer in the future, at
living them with family and friends. had negative experiences), she will make the very most, and only typing tutor
Any lessons, or books on manners, great strides in all directions. WITHOUT GAMES. And this only
etc. should be presented to her ONLY after because she has been prematurely exposed
she has done something well—so she can to the keyboard and has developed bad
LANGUAGE keyboarding habits.
feel good about what she has already
We worked with Muriel Dwyer’s
done. They should never be presented as a
MMI London Reading Scheme (taught
correction after she has done something
during the AMI Montessori training at SUGGESTIONS
wrong.
MMI in London, England) for the first I hope that over the summer Denise
For example any information (a week and Denise made progress with can continue to be read to every night
lesson, discussion, manners book reading, phonetics. She needs highly imaginative from great books. In order to keep her on
play acting) on saying “please” and “thank or interesting nonfiction and great top of her cursive and reading
you” for example—should come on a day literature. She has been turned off by accomplishments she should have a
when she has been using these words, not “readers” and “worksheets” and is relaxed and fun time practicing both each
omitting them. This is building success on suspicious of the quality of reading day, with a relaxed adult present to help
success— this is a way of teaching which material. her with great patience if she needs this.
works.
We have read to her every night, from This would be necessary only for 5-10
an animal encyclopedia or from great minutes a day but should be at a time
SENSORIAL WORK literature. She has noticed the difference in when the adult can sit and focus on her
Denise is fascinated with any grammar of the great literature and started and they enjoy the work together. Just a
sensorial-related toy in our house. It to incorporate it into her vocabulary few happy words and letters, read or
might be good if she could at least have a spontaneously. For example she asked me written, are worth hundreds which are
short period of time with each of the to clarify the use of the word “whom” required and not enjoyed, as far as making
pieces of sensorial material in the 3-6 instead of “who.” progress. This should be offered as a fun

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time to be with one of her parents, not as a a normal developmental stage—but for a FOLLOWUP:
requirement. younger child.
After Denise left I gave this report to
It would be especially helpful if the She is also like a four year old in the our neighbor, an international lecturer in
manners lessons (perhaps with an etiquette interest in classifying and sorting objects, psychology who writes psychology
book and the whole family learning new and in learning simple practical life and textbooks. He was very impressed with the
activities together), the private space, and grace and courtesy skills, especially results of this study. He was sorry that he
uninterrupted concentration could be a conversation skills. It would be interesting did not know what we were doing ahead
part of each day. to see what she would do in a situation of time so that he could have documented
where she was free to move back and forth it as an official study. Of course we did not
I hope that Denise's reaction to TV,
between a 3-6 and 6-12 class. know what we were doing either, or what
computers, sugar and food additives will
would happen, but we promised to include
continue to be monitored by her family I do not think that identifying a
him if we ever did it again.
and friends. cluster of symptoms as ADHD and
administering drugs is much of an answer Denise is now, 2006, 10 years older.
There could be experiments about
for the majority, if not all, of the children She often eats junk food and has
food, to see how she acts following
who are being treated this way. It is problems, but she knows that it is a
different meals. But I would certainly
common knowledge that both Einstein and physical perhaps genetic problem, that
keep sugar, food additives, TV, computer-
Mozart had all of these symptoms. Our there is nothing wrong with her, that she is
type games, and computers out of her life
world would be a very different place if not "bad." And that makes all the
if possible.
these two men had been put on drugs difference.
As far as the other above information because of their behavior.
is concerned, anything can be applied in
Nor do I believe in arguments for
the home or at school now that we have
training children to sit still for hours
some ideas of Denise’s needs and learning
listening to someone talk, or to always
style.
study what someone else says they should
be learning—as some preparation for the
CONCLUSION future. Our society has enough people like
In talking to Denise about her visit this.
she told me that her best times were the We need to help children learn to
long days when she could choose her own become people who can make intelligent
work and to work on her projects for as choices and plan their day, and their lives,
long as she wanted. She says she has who can be happy in their work and
never before had an opportunity to have so spread that happiness to their family and
much time to herself. Every day she is friends, and who can create and be
more creative with her ‘alone’ time, sings responsible for completing valuable
for a longer period of time during it, and is projects. We need people who are
happier and more polite as a result of not sincerely interested in how they are
being interrupted. I hope that she can have getting along with people, at home and at
this chance at home and at school in the work, and who want to make the effort to
future. learn how to show love and respect toward
Until her suspicions of academic other people.
work and resistance to being forced to Denise can do all of this.
work diminished, it would be good if, she
_____________________
could do mainly art, combining it in
creative ways with math, geography,
history, biology, and so forth. Note: A reprint of this article "ADHD:
A Case Study" (GB855) is available for
Denise is very bright and has a low
$4.50 from:
tolerance for being bored, but given the
correct piece of work she can concentrate The Michael Olaf Montessori Co.
for hours. I would love to have her in a Arcata, CA
Montessori 6-12 class if I were teaching. 707-826-1557
[email protected]
In many ways, however, she is very
www.michaelolaf.net
much like a four-year-old. Especially in
www.michaelolaf.com
the way she lies, which seems unrelated to
an attempt to deceive. She automatically
Feel free to share this with friends, or
answers direct questions with a lie just to
to use it in a newsletter, crediting the
get attention, to say something interesting,
source. Thank you.
or to change reality to suit herself. This is
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