Originally Posted by Platypus101
A small amount of physical distraction actually helped me stay mentally focused
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Auditory intake is not my strong suit
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the possibility that she is listening better for the doodling, not doodling instead of listening.
Agreed! I mentioned a similar thought in this post:
Originally Posted by indigo
Doodling can be an effective means of note-taking for some people. Doodling can also be a means of enhancing one's concentration to absorb auditory information.
While it pays to ask the child how they are experiencing this, and inquire about the teacher's observations as well, a parent handling this gently and tactfully helps pave the way for possible future advocacy... in a way that declaring "I had it... this is crazy!!" may not.

It may be worthwhile to learn the degree to which doodling may be a means of coping/compensating during auditory input... and/or the degree to which doodling may be a means of zoning out when faced with a lack of academic/intellectual challenge... and/or, as Platypus101 mentioned... doodling instead of completing classwork.

This book may be of interest: How Do You Doodle?, by Magination Press, of the American Psychological Association (APA).