Lessons Learned: Kinesthetic Learning and Engaging Students with ADHD (in the Time of COVID)

<p>While many studies have examined the benefits of movement and kinesthetic learning on the engagement of all elementary school-aged children, especially those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or children with common characteristics or behaviors of ADHD (undiagnosed ADHD), less research exists on how the COVID-19 pandemic and hybrid learning affected and continues to impact the engagement of children, especially those with ADHD or undiagnosed ADHD. The purpose of this study was to investigate how teachers engage students, particularly those with ADHD or undiagnosed ADHD, in an elementary classroom using practices from movement, music, dance, and theater, especially during COVID-19. Additionally, my research explored how the pandemic and hybrid learning affected and continues to impact student engagement. This was a qualitative study in which data was collected through interviews with elementary teachers who taught before the COVID-19 pandemic, during the pandemic in a hybrid context, and are still currently teaching in a partially “post-pandemic” environment, to understand how the use of movement, dance, and theater impacted (and continues to impact) the engagement of their students, especially those with ADHD or undiagnosed ADHD. Findings indicated that before the pandemic, teachers had time and flexibility to incorporate movement, music, dance, and/or theater practices to engage all students. However, the pandemic drastically changed how teachers engaged all students. Now, in a partially “post-pandemic” environment, teachers are still dealing with the ramifications of the pandemic and are struggling to maintain the engagement of all students, especially those with ADHD or undiagnosed ADHD.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Year dc:date.available

2022

Author dc:creator

• Freedman, Claudia

Contributors dc:contributor

• Katherine Lewis, PhD
• Matthew E. Davis, PhD

• ADHD
• kinesthetic learning
• theater
• theatre
• music
• dance
• movement
• engagement
• COVID-19
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Accessibility
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Education
• Educational Methods
• Elementary Education
• Online and Distance Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.dominican.edu/education-masters-theses/46

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.dominican.edu:education-masters-theses-1046