| When I sit down and think of ways to make | | | | notice of the connection it brings home. Much like a |
| connections between two things, I'm flooded with ideas. | | | | dog that takes off and then returns with a gift for its |
| In fact, I don't even have to think of them. They just | | | | owner. |
| come. | | | | That gift is how the mind wants to remember that |
| Maybe it's a sound or something I see that suddenly | | | | piece of information. Be thankful. You now have a |
| takes my mind somewhere. It's automatic and has | | | | direct line to remember it later on. |
| been going on my whole life. | | | | When it comes to memorizing, it's all about the direct |
| I'm sure it has a lot to do with my ADD and it was a | | | | lines your mind constructs to the information it has |
| pretty big problem until someone showed me how to | | | | stored. It makes associations between the new |
| take advantage of it. | | | | information that needs to be learned and old |
| You see, us "ADDers" have our minds in 5th gear | | | | information already in long term memory. Some of the |
| from the moment we wake up. We get distracted | | | | most powerful memory strategies rely entirely |
| easily because we see or hear something that | | | | onassociating new information with old. |
| reminds us of something else. And then, in a flash, we | | | | Some kids have to be taught to make these |
| take off (mentally that is) until we find our way back. | | | | associations. ADDers have been doing it their whole |
| Of course, that's not a good thing when you are trying | | | | life. |
| to sit still for a test or have a conversation with | | | | No one told me this when I was in school. So, I made |
| another person. | | | | associations alright. Probably, a million a minute. I just |
| Yet, this amazing ability to connect what we see or | | | | never understood that I could channel this force into |
| hear with something else can be harnessed and | | | | something constructive. |
| usedto our advantage. Especially, when we memorize. | | | | Now, as a parent and teacher, I offer advice to my |
| Naturally, someone has to point this out to us in order | | | | kids and students on how to grab hold of information |
| for it to make sense. | | | | and store it for another time. |
| So, here's what I suggest you do with your ADD child, | | | | Have a little chat with your ADD child and let them |
| or your ADD self. | | | | know they are ahead of the pack. If they can |
| When it's time to remember something (i.e. memorize | | | | harnessthat amazing power they have inside their |
| it), let your mind go as it normally does and then take | | | | brains, they will be just fine. |