How do I support students with ADHD?

Are learners in your classroom experiencing the following behaviors at school?

• Difficulty concentrating while engaging in quiet classroom activities

• Constantly interrupting their classmates' conversations

• Engages in risky activities without being mindful of potential risks

• Unable to complete tasks and makes careless mistakes in assignments

They might have ADHD. Early signs of ADHD begin to develop before age 12.

Learn helpful skills to help you manage ADHD learners with these tips!

As a teacher, once you suspect that a child has ADHD, speak with the special educational needs teacher or coordinator atthe school.

If the school lacks one, the administration can outsource a special needs teacher to address the need.

Special needs teachers are highly skilled to evaluate and give classroom support to individuals with neurodevelopment disorders such as ADHD.

ADHD looks different for every child. A special needs teacher is trained to create individualized intervention plans for each child who needs one.

In case there is a need for additional support, the parent can be advised to visit a healthcare provider for further assessment and medication.

As a teacher, you can accommodate your ADHD learner by creating a learning environment that helps them manage their behaviors.

• Ensure the ADHD learner sits away from windows or any other distractions. Preferably, they can sit at the front of the classroom.

• Provide alerts to help them prepare for transitions between tasks. ADHD learners can sometimes hyper-focus on one task, making transitions difficult.

• Use positive reinforcement to celebrate even small wins. This helps keep them motivated.

• Provide the learner with short breaks in between long tasks. This can help them recharge.

• Use organizational materials such as folders and Google calendars to help them stay organized.

With these strategies, students with ADHD will be able to regulate themselves better in the classroom.

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

Next, it's time to implement teaching techniques to help them academically. To do this, always make sure that:

• Lesson objectives and instructions are clear, simple, and well structured.

• Provide one instruction at a time and repeat when necessary.

• Use visual aids and technology where possible to improve instruction delivery.

• Always summarize the key points of the lesson.

Photo by Swastik Arora on Unsplash

Ms. Layla, a first grade teacher, noticed that one of her students was:

• Always restless and playing with items on their desk.

• Finding it difficult to wait for their turn while answering questions and often blurted out answers.

• Regularly forgot to turn in their homework despite being reminded.

Concerned, Ms. Layla spoke to the Special needs teacher in her school, After assessment, the learner was diagnosed with ADHD.

Helping ADHD learners requires patience and deliberate effort.It's time to get some work done!