Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

June 9th, 2021

I was quite proud of myself, to be honest. Despite all of the training and experience, sometimes working with people can be quite challenging - especially teenage people. This time, finally, I had managed not to let him get under my skin at all. And he walked away satisfied. Allow me to explain: One of my capacities in the yeshiva in which I teach is that of shoel umaishiv - one who is available to answer questions that students have when studyin …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

February 8th, 2021

It was disconcerting, to be honest. Yechiel carefully turned over the pen he was holding, watching it intently, and occasionally putting it in his mouth. A little bit of strange, absent minded fidgeting never hurt anyone, especially coming from a kid only about fifteen years old, but this felt different. One of my jobs in the yeshiva in which I teach is to be available in the beis medrash (study hall) certain times of day. I answer questions of t …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

September 7th, 2020

The first half of this article was published as a Letter to the Editor in the October 10 2019 Edition of The Flatbush Jewish Journal A few months ago, I bumped into an old friend (ie: “one with whom one shares no common WhatsApp chats”). We then dutifully proceeded to inquire about one another’s lives, which at least from his end, was not completely disingenuous. I told him that in addition to teaching, which I have been doing f …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

August 17th, 2020

Shimmy gazed off into the distance. His dark brown eyes appeared lost in the woods that are visible from my office window. His dark, calloused hands fidgeted mindlessly on the lip of my desk. Was he still with me? I wasn’t sure, but waited patiently. He finally responded.  “Nothing,” he replied, “Basically nothing. They diagnosed it because I was acting out in school, and I think it has to do with why I was always the …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

May 27th, 2020

The following is adapted from a talk that I recently gave for the Bergen County Chapter of CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD,) on the subject of Creating Structure to Help Your Teens and Preteens with ADHD Get Schoolwork Done at Home. I am dividing it into three installments. The third installment became a bit longer than intended. I am therefore divided it into …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

May 26th, 2020

The following is adapted from a talk that I recently gave for the Bergen County Chapter of CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD) on the subject of Creating Structure to Help Your Teens and Preteens with ADHD Get Schoolwork Done at Home. I am dividing it into three installments. The third installment has become a bit longer than intended. I am therefore dividing it i …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

May 21st, 2020

The following is adapted from a talk that I recently gave for the Bergen County Chapter of CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD) on the subject of Creating Structure to Help Your Teens and Preteens with ADHD Get Schoolwork Done at Home. I am dividing it into three installments. The second is about: Laying the Groundwork - How to Be the Parent You Need to Be in Order …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

May 19th, 2020

The following is adapted from a talk that I recently gave for CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD) on the subject of Creating Structure to Help Your Teens and Preteens with ADHD Get Schoolwork Done at Home. I am dividing it into three installments. The first is about The Value of Structure. Here goes: As a classroom rebbi for teens - and often the jumpier ones - th …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

April 7th, 2020

Eliezer doesn’t call me often, but when he does it is usually important, time sensitive and - for good measure - quite to the point. So when I saw an incoming call from Eliezer last week, I was quick to pick up. “Shmuel!” “What’s up, Eliezer?” “Would it make sense that a kid with ADHD can spend hours building model airplanes uninterrupted, but behave very disruptively at dinner with the family?” &ld …
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