Using the Ball of Whacks With ADHD Students

It's neat to create something, and then to have people use it in ways you never thought about.

Such is the case of the Ball of Whacks.

We recently received the following delightful letter from Monica Ciurej, MSW, who is a school social worker. She writes about using it with her ADHD students.

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Hi!

I am a school social worker and have used the Ball of Whacks to demonstrate the ability to re-organize, calm, increase self-esteem and cope with difficulties.

In teaching re-organization to students with ADHD, I've found the Ball of Whacks to be a good teaching tool. You break the ball down, and then you put it together one piece at a time, just as you would complete one problem at a time on a worksheet. And before you know it it's put together or done.

Secondly, I use the ball to distract kids from anger, crying, and agitation. Even if they "break" it they can put it back together. Applied to their emotions, they see how one blow-up can be fixed and life gets put back together and we keep on "rolling" on.

Students are encouraged to try making different objects and shapes with the Balls pieces. After they've successfully made a new shape, their self-esteem improves.

Lastly, the Ball of Whacks is great at teaching coping strategies for kids who might be anxious or nervous. This helps keep their hands busy and is quiet enough for the classroom environment and is not disruptive.

When the students feel like things are "broken," the Ball of Whacks is a great visual of how we can fix things with a little support (magnets) and keep making mistakes and start over.

It's also a great ice-breaker for kids I'm meeting for the first time.

Thanks Again,

Monica Ciurej, MSW

Thank you, Monica. Good luck to you and your students!

Comments

[Karl]

Inspiring in both directions. The usage, stories, and metaphors are great - I am very glad you shared this.

I don't think this is a new use, but I gave my Dad a BoW after a stroke both because I thought he would enjoy it and working with it would help him recover control of his hand a bit quicker. I can't say how much it helped but he does enjoy it and he is doing better.

[Gavin Heaton]

Awesome story, Roger. I know some kids who may benefit in this way -- just never thought of it before.

[Roger von Oech]

Karl: Thanks. I think you are one of the BOW's biggest supporters. Hope your dad is doing better!

Gavin: Thanks for stopping by. I wonder what "unexpected" uses AOC2 will find.

[Brett]

I like the inventive strategies in using the ball. I enjoy how they are used in helpful ways that are uncommon. This gave me the idea to look at many things from different angels to see what possible uses may come.
Thank you

Brett
www.thegrowingroom.net

[Mike Wagner]

Roger,

I find it fascinating that the BOW can be "hired" to do so many things.

This post raises a question I am puzzling over.

How do we create products/services that fit into multiple narratives?

It's clear BOW is this kind of product!

Also, as I read this post I thought of how wonderfully self-forgiving the BOW is. You can break it but breaking the BOW is never fatal.

Keep creating...your wildest dreams,
Mike

[Lissa]

This is an amazing discovery. I've done presentations in classes (Masters in Educational Technology) on how (mostly video or computer-based) commerical games can be beneficial educationally - but why not manipulatives as well! I'll definitely be exploring this as my academic career flourishes!

You continue to help my inspirational process with all your publications - thanks for the insight!