How Teachers Can Accommodate Kids with ADHD
Teaching children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be a real challenge!
Children with ADHD often have trouble with attention and self-control. In a school setting, this can look like the child is disorganized, constantly getting distracted, impulsively blurting things out in class, and fidgeting in their seat.
Despite what people think, kids with ADHD have it in them to do well in school. All they need are some extra tools to help them learn!
Keep reading to learn how teachers can best accommodate children with ADHD in the classroom.
Set Up A Good Learning Environment
The best way to accommodate children with ADHD is to optimize the classroom!
Teachers are often frustrated with ADHD children because they tend to disrupt class more often than not. Preparation and planning can help you avoid these interruptions.
Here is a list of ways to adjust the classroom to help your kids focus on schoolwork!
Change Your Seating Arrangements
Location can make or break a student's success!
First, I recommend ADHD kids are positioned away from any doors and windows in the classroom. This seating arrangement will keep the child from getting distracted by people walking in the hallways or the birds flying outside!
You also want to make sure ADHD children are seated away from high-traffic areas, such as the pencil sharpener or the table where students hand in assignments!
One of the best seats for ADHD kids is right in front of the teacher!
If your ADHD student is talkative, I recommend increasing the space between desks and work tables!
Designate Space for Work and Play
One of the biggest mistakes I see in younger classes is teachers having work and playtime in the same area of the classroom.
Children with ADHD often need assistance with separating when they should focus on schoolwork and when they're allowed to run around and play!
I recommend separating your classroom as much as you can. Keep all of the toys and play items in one area, and all of the desks and work items in another.
Once these two areas are separated, your students can focus on the task at hand much easier!
Create a Schedule and Routine
Developing a routine for your students can help your children mentally prepare for the day ahead.
From what I've seen in the past, children with ADHD thrive on routines and schedules!
Create a daily schedule and write it up on the board before your students arrive at school.
Then your students will know what to expect, and they'll know exactly when they can get those wiggles out during playtime!
Instructions
Over the years, I'm sure you've had students who couldn't follow instructions.
Unfortunately, this is a common problem with ADHD kids.
You can set your students up for success by giving them instructions that are detailed, clear, and easy to understand. When applicable, try using images and graphs to help your visual learners understand the task at hand!
I highly recommend giving students directions out loud and in writing. Have your students repeat the instructions back to you to ensure they understood the assignment!
Help Your Student Get Organized
There are two types of students in the classroom. Type 1 is the student who has all their assignments categorized by subject in color-coded folders tucked away in a binder neatly.
And then there's type 2...
These kids often shove their papers in their backpacks with little to no care, and they have trouble finding finished homework because their backpack is a mess.
Children with ADHD are most likely to be type 2.
Disorganization can be an obstacle for children with ADHD.
Try helping your students get organized!
I recommend all students have a master binder with each subject color-coded separately.
Make sure there's a folder in their binder for paperwork that should be seen by their parents.
How to Accommodate Children with ADHD for Tests and Assignments
For most teachers, this is the hardest part of teaching ADHD kids. What accommodations do ADHD students need to succeed in school?
One of the best adjustments you can make is minimizing the number of questions and problems per worksheet. When children receive a large worksheet filled with problems, they get overwhelmed and avoid doing homework altogether. Instead, try creating more worksheets with fewer questions. This makes it easier for children to break up their homework into small sections, so they can take breaks between!
I also recommend scheduling short quizzes instead of a long test at the end of each unit. If this isn't possible, make sure to give your ADHD kids more time to complete tests!
In most cases, you can find a quieter space for your ADHD students to complete tests so they aren't distracted by other kids around them!
How To Manage Behavior
Last but not least, kids with ADHD often need assistance to stay focused on their schoolwork.
Children with ADHD often feel as though they can't be successful in school because of their disorder. Their behavior is just as frustrating for them as it is for their teachers.
Keep this in mind when you're helping your ADHD students stay on task. It's best to create a nonverbal signal, such as a sticky note, or a hand on their shoulder, to help get your student's attention without calling them out in front of the whole class.
I also recommend talking to your ADHD students and letting them know it's okay to take a brain break. Give them a few minutes to do a quiet activity before helping them focus on schoolwork again.
You can even create a behavior plan with a reward system to help give your ADHD students motivation to focus during the school day!
As a teacher, it can be frustrating dealing with ADHD children who can’t control their actions. Keep in mind that these children are often frustrated with themselves too. Instead of being upset with them, try to talk to them and help them navigate these big emotions.
You can make a huge difference in your students' lives by helping them find their love for learning once more!
Do you have any questions about how you can help your ADHD students?
Contact me at welcome@drkoffman.com and let’s chat!