BLOG

Tips for Managing Students with ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects about three to five percent of the population. The condition is associated with inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It is a common childhood behavior among students.

Children with ADHD need extra care and attention in class. Handling them can be a real challenge for a teacher.  In this post, we will provide practical suggestions that can help in taking care of students with ADHD disorder.

1. Confirm about ADHD

You should, first of all, make sure that the child has ADHD. While it's not up to the teacher to diagnose the disorder, you should observe symptoms in class to find out whether the student really suffers from the disorder. Look at the symptoms mentioned in the site Parenting.com to decide whether the child really has ADHD.

2. Create Routines

Classroom routines will help the ADHD student to focus on the task. The routine should be for all students. It should be about playtime, homework, assignment, and other aspects. Children with ADHD are less likely to act up when there are no surprises in the classroom.

3. Know how to Deal with Disruptive Behavior

You need to work out how to deal with disruptive actions by the student with ADHD. Come up with warning signals to let the student know that the class is being disturbed. This can be in the form of a hand signal or a sticky note on the student's desk. In case you want to discuss disruptive behavior with the ADHD student, you should do it in private. However, you should ignore mildly disruptive actions if others are not being disturbed in the classroom.

4. Seating Arrangement

Seating arrangement can also help in minimizing disruptive behavior by the student with ADHD. Consider making the student sit in front of the class. Also, you should make the child sit away from the door and windows.

5. Allow Frequent Breaks

You should allow children with ADHD to take breaks during a student session. Allow them to fidget or move around. Let them do an errand such as cleaning the blackboard, or going out to get a drink. In case this is not practical, you can also let them play quietly with objects on the desk like a soft squeeze ball if it doesn't disturb others.

6. Give Immediate Feedback

Lastly, you should provide positive feedback to the student. The positive feedback should be given more frequently to a child with ADHD. Consider use words of praise such as, "You are behaving nicely in class" or "Good job with the work." Providing immediate feedback will reinforce the positive behavior in ADHD students. 

Lastly, you should consider using technology aids when teaching to kids. Consider letting them use tablets in class to access educational games. Also, you can give them a quiz related to a topic using an online quiz maker. This will make children with ADHD less likely to act out and remain focused in class.