I have had many students cross my path over the 15 yrs I taught and I have met some students that were truly ADHD. The ones that needed medication were severe and with the integration of a good behavior modification plan and quality one to one instruction, those students would begin to thrive. I was also given students that were being labeled as such and I found them precocious, and sometimes in need of behavior modifications, but far from ADHD/ADD. I can honestly say that this is where things can get subjective. I am a parent and an early childhood specialist but more importantly I am ADHD and have been as long as I can remember. What I considered to be ADD/ADHD behavior compared to that of a teacher without the actual symptoms seems to be vastly different.

When early childhood students enter a classroom it could be a few years before they are properly diagnosed if at all, unfortunately by the time the diagnosis comes the student is already behind academically and more than likely frustrated and even angry. If in a public school, the student is really at the mercy of a poorly-run special education system.

Unfortunately even when students are serviced, the actual time they spend learning new strategies that will help them in the classroom is meager at best. The responsibility often falls squarely on the shoulders of over-worked and under-paid teachers. Most teachers are skilled at finding resources to handle almost any student with a disability, however with ADHD/ADD the symptoms often spill over into the behavior category which will get the student flagged as a having a problem or being an “at-risk” student.

What does this mean to students and parents? If the student is flagged at-risk this is supposed to be a way to provide the student with extra one-to-one instruction in order to help the student make progress in the areas they are lacking, however, with the classrooms bursting at the seams it is not likely a student that is diagnosed with ADHD/ADD will get more than the bare minimum!

When parents get ADHD/ADD inferences from teachers or caregivers, it’s important to consider the source, to ensure it’s not just a case of your child not being a cookie cutter kid. Is the behavior just part of their character or something more that requires medication? Often this is subjective from teacher to teacher, do you know what your options are?

The other thing that can happen that is very frustrating is if a student is not just as content to sit, focus or stay on task as long as the others, teachers will sometimes encourage parents to have them seen by a doctor. Parents already overloaded and unsure of why their child isn’t doing well may go ahead with having the student seen. In almost every case the doctor then gives the teacher a form to fill out asking for their professional opinion on the student’s behavior. If the student is more than a cookie-cutter kid and requires more re-direction and constant interventions; the teacher will cite examples of students having the symptoms of ADHD/ADD then they get diagnosed and medicated all because they may have a different learning style. I am not by any means saying to not get your child seen by the doctor, it’s just important to look at all the ingredients before adding the label.

So what can parents do to help their child be themselves, avoid misdiagnosis, and get the academic support that they need?

• Parents first have trust their gut instincts; if you know that your child is the happy-go-lucky type that is perhaps a bit more active than others their age or shy and likes to day-dream, communicate your concerns to the teacher. Don’t let the fear of your child failing or getting into trouble intimidate you into going along with what you know inside.
• If your child’s not doing well, is always getting notes in their folder and unhappy with school, ask for your child to be moved for a trial run to another classroom and see how they work with that teacher. In many cases it makes all the difference in the world.
• If the school is not supporting what you think is best for your child, go beyond the school. Don’t settle for an end of the year answer because by that time the damage will be done, and your child will already not want anything to do with school. Go to the district, to get the ball rolling!
• If things still don’t change think about moving to a charter school or private school. There are lots of private schools that take state funding and offer affordable payment plans.
• There is another option that you will start to see more and more of and that is home-schools run by other qualified parents or teachers. They offer one great value compared to that of any large school and that is the specialized attention your child will receive. Most take only a handful of students, and some specialize in students with special needs.
• Get your child a good tutor that is qualified to work with students with special needs. This will help set clearly defined goals for your child and tutors can customize the curriculum.
• The last option is online-classrooms. There are so many options now however this takes some work on the part of the parent, so consider your schedule before committing to this option.

The point is don’t give up! If your child is truly ADHD/ADD then most teachers will go above and beyond to meet the educational needs of your child, but there are teachers that are just way too over-loaded and find it easier not to deal with the behavior at all. Just get a second opinion and a third if the teachers are in the same school and be very clear about your expectations for your child’s education. Parents have the loudest voice in the schools; they often just don’t know it.

The Odyssey is a spectacular piece by Homer that recounts the trials and tribulations of Odysseus as he makes his way home to his wife, Penelope, after the Trojan War. It takes him twenty years to get home, and he encounters many monsters and vixens on his way, making it a delightful read for students of all ages. Whether they are reading it as a translation or in the original Greek as students of classical languages, or whether they have a toned-down version that is friendly for younger students, they will love the stories from the Cyclops, to Scylla and Charybdis, to Circe, to the suitors begging for Penelope’s hand in marriage. While the story is captivating in and of itself, having the right teaching tools makes all the difference.

Other Books Based on The Odyssey
Epic journeys have always been a popular theme in literature, and many of them have been based on The Odyssey without the audience even knowing about it. Using these as teaching tools can help spark interest in students. Perhaps the most popular adaptation of the famous Greek poem is Ulyssesby James Joyce. This novel follows Leopold Bloom on an epic, one day long journey through Dublin, Ireland on June 16, 1904. The chapter names are characters in The Odyssey, and each chapter contains a monster-like encounter similar to that of the epic poem. Another popular adaptation of Odysseus’ journey is Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. This is a Civil War novel, but the epic journey and hero’s quest is very similar to that of The Odyssey. In this novel, W.P. Inman is the Odysseus character, and he is a deserter from the Confederate Army. He is wounded and trying to return to his love, Ada Monroe. This novel has also been made into a film. Among many other adaptations of The Odyssey, there is The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. In true, feminist, Atwood fashion, this novel is told from the perspective of Penelope and her maids. It gives a very interesting perspective we do not get from the poem itself.

Possible Projects
With higher-level students, a great project would be to pair The Odyssey with one of these other novels and have the students compare the two in some way. They could create a presentation for the class. Each student could take on a different novel, which would give all the students in the class an idea of what these other novels were about. With lower-level classes, the teacher can have the students analyze the hero’s quest and compare it with quests of other heroes in literature. With very young students, an idea for a project would be to create a theme park based on The Odyssey. Divide the students into groups and have each group tackle a specific monster from the epic poem. Each group should come up with a ride that represents the monster, characters that will walk around the park, and menu items for the food court. Once all the groups put their ideas together, you will have a class theme park that represents the entire story.

Illustrations
There are many famous illustrations of The Odyssey out there, and a quick internet search will yield many results to study. However, teachers can also have students create their own graphic representations of the poem. This works especially well with students who are artistically talented. They can create these representations and then share them with the class to see if they have similar ideas about what the poem looks like when visualized.

The most you can usually leave your dog home alone is around eight hours, or a normal workday. Any longer than that, and you’ll need to figure out something to do so your dog can go outside and have some puppy play time. Dogs are social animals, after all, and leaving them alone for long periods of time can have devastating effects. Even though they sleep most of the day, they need some interaction with other living things, as well as potty breaks, throughout the day to keep them happy.

Ask A Friend

If you have a friend who is home during the day, and who likes spending time with dogs, this may be your best bet. Of course, you would want to compensate your friend in some way, but having someone you know come into your house to let your puppy out can be cheaper than hiring someone you don’t know. It can also be safer, as you will know and trust the person entering your house. If you have a friend who is home during the day but who can’t make it to your place, or if your friend cannot leave his or her home overnight to stay with your dog, there might be an option to drop the dog off at your friend’s house and leave it there for as long as you need. If your friend is available and willing to take your dog into his or her home for a period of time, you will absolutely want to compensate him or her in some way. However, this can be a great situation, as it allows your friend to stay in the comfort of his or her home, and it gives your dog a change of scenery. Dogs especially like to switch it up; they don’t like to stay in the same place for too long. By giving them a new place to go, you will give your dogs a way to channelize some more energy.

Doggy Daycare

Doggy daycare is a great option for those who do not have a friend or family member available. When you take your dog to a daycare, you pay a fee for the day, and you can sometimes add some services such as grooming, long walks, playtime, agility training, or special treats. Each of these add-ons generally costs more, but can be extremely fun for your pet. You set up a time with the daycare to drop the dog off and pick it up. After that, you can trust in the daycare to take care of your pet while you are away. Many daycare places will also keep your pet overnight if you need them to. It’s always a good idea to take a look through the daycare before dropping your dog off to be sure that everything is sanitary and that the people working there are good with dogs.

Dog Walker

If daycare isn’t an option, you can hire a dog walker. Hiring a dog walker is ideal for people who cannot get to a daycare facility, or for people who aren’t gone for that long during the day but who just want their pet to have some extra attention during the day. When hiring a dog walker, it’s best to go through an agency. Be sure to ask them if they do background checks on their employees, and make sure you know who has copies of your keys. You should also be able to ask them for a report on what your pet did while the dog walker was there.

Parenting was a process that one took up naturally, without any trace of self-doubt; those good old days are virtually passé. As humans, we are blessed with a lifelong sense of nurturing, and this is the very trait that sets us apart from the other species that constitute that animal kingdom. The progress in time brought about a definitive change in our lifestyle, which also called for a change in our outlook towards parenting.

Previously, parenting was always thought of as instinct that you were born with, and you simply had to hone it along the course of life. The adage that ‘parents know best’ was something we always took for granted. Preparing for parenthood was a completely alien concept, because we totally let nature decide the course of our behavior as parents-to-be. Not that it was wrong in any way, but the advent of prenatal classes changed all that.

Originally aimed at young or single mothers, prenatal classes spearheaded the change in the mindsets of many traditionalists who frowned upon the concept of training a mother to be a mother. For young parents, however, prenatal classes were a godsend. Parental classes today are no longer limited to new parents. You have classes that help you deal with a wide spectrum of parental issues like anger management, looking after children with special needs, dealing with bullying or abuse; there are sessions that deal specifically with raising teenagers, and frankly, there isn’t a parent who would refuse help when it comes to interacting with teenagers.

What do Parenting Classes Teach?

♦ The benefits of parenting classes are many, but the best thing about taking one is the amount of confidence it instills in you. You are better equipped to deal with different challenges that parenthood throws at you.

♦ There is a fine line between being authoritative and autocratic. As parents, it often appears blurred. This is one of the main reasons that cause differences. Professional advice in such cases often proves helpful.

♦ Besides emotional issues, you will meet counselors who will address your doubts regarding nutrition, exercise and creating a healthy environment for your children.

♦ Parental classes are a boon for families that include children who are victims of abuse. They have proven to be very useful with recuperation.

♦ Couples planning to adopt a child benefit greatly from parenting classes, since they provide practical advice about parenting, without getting too preachy. It is valuable for new parents, more so with the disappearance of the extended family structures.

♦ As a parent, it is a wonderful experience to be meeting other parents on a platform that works as an outlet for issues that commonly plague them all.

Why Take Parenting Classes?

To begin with, you may be skeptical about parenting class benefits, but just remember that parenting classes do not cast a shadow of doubt on your parenting skills. They simply do the job of honing them. But if you happen to be someone stuck in the age-old school of parenthood, you are sure to raise the following points. The answers include facts that you are already aware of, but tend to believe in them only when you hear them from someone else.

“Am I a Bad Parent?”
Certainly not. On the contrary, good parents are those who accept their mistakes, and reach out for help when they find themselves falling short. They are also in touch with reality, having dispelled all illusions of being the ‘perfect parent’.

“How Will Attending a Class Make It Better?”
These classes are conducted by thorough professionals, who know what they’re doing. With child rearing, you can never be sure of the rights and wrongs, although there is no doubt about the parenting skills that come naturally to you. If nothing else, professional advice will introduce you to a different perspective, won’t it? As a parent, you always want what’s best for your children.

“My Parents Never Took Any Class; I Think I Turned Out Just Fine.”
And thank heavens you did. You would perhaps, remember your parents as being too authoritative for your well-being. Your parenting skills have mostly been imbibed from those of your parents, and they are sure to be good. But with the change in the generation, it calls for a change in the line of thought as well.

“It’s Just a Fad.”
We all know it’s not, and the ones who do are shutting themselves to the obvious. Parenting classes are there to help, and what’s so bad about getting help? Prenatal classes were also a passing fancy once upon a time, but look at the scores of parents who have gained from it.

Keeping the benefits of taking a parenting class apart, as a human, you understand that parenting is not a cakewalk. You can also easily admit that any kind of help is always good. The presence of such interactive platforms is the sign of a healthy society. After all, we do know that life never gives us a second chance. Parental classes not only guide you on how to raise happy children, they also teach you to accept your limitations as a parent and celebrate your triumphs. If you have the means to change your life for better, wouldn’t you rather grab it than rue about having missed your chance?