How to Support Your Students With ADHD

In a class of at least 15 students, you’ll always have that one child that likes to stare out the window, takes permission to go to the loo after every 5 minutes, substitute some Lizards chasing each other for their math lesson, and even answer your question of “What is a Noun?” with “Aunty is your hair natural?”.

Can you relate to these? Then you’re probably dealing with a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Students with ADHD show symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and recklessness. And yes, this can be very frustrating. You know the brainpower is there, but they just can’t seem to focus. Plus, their behaviors take time away from instruction and disrupt the whole class.

With a few practical tips, this blog will guide you towards the path to helping your students with ADHD succeed at school.

What Teachers Can do to Help Students With ADHD

Teacher helping a Girl in a Primary School Class

So how do you teach a kid who won’t settle down and listen? The answer: with a lot of patience, creativity, and consistency. Your role as a teacher is to evaluate each child’s individual needs and strengths. This will help you develop strategies that will enable your students with ADHD to focus, stay on task, and learn to their full capabilities.

Do you know what your most effective tool is in supporting students with ADHD? A positive attitude. Consider using phrases like:
– “Let’s figure out ways together to help you get your work done”.
– “I’m so proud of you John”.
Studies show that students with ADHD thrive on motivation. Remember to focus on their strengths, what they do well, and praise their accomplishments.

ADHD and the Virtual Classroom

You already know how challenging the effects of ADHD can be in the physical classroom, where the students need to sit still, listen to you the teacher, and complete their assignments on time. Do you know that a switch to online learning can solve some of these issues, like distractions from classmates, self-paced learning, etc? But, it does come with its own set of difficulties. Students with ADHD may need some extra help to stay on track.

Here are some tips to set your child up for success in a virtual classroom.

Set rules and agenda before an online class begins
Be aware of your movements. Your ADHD student can easily get distracted.
Your ADHD student might need a remedial class. Consider their learning disorder when scheduling a time for their lesson.
Ensure that your live classes are always recorded.

Our online learning system at Gradely has made it easy for students with ADHD to thrive like their peers through our user-friendly interface, live classroom discussion features, and of course personalised learning that allows our users to learn at their own pace and convenience without the feeling of being rushed or pressured by other classmates or even teachers.

We also involve parents in their child’s learning process, so they can fully understand their child’s strengths and weaknesses, and keep track of their learning progress in real-time.

Need more enlightening tips on how to support your struggling students? We are hosting the second edition of the Gradely Teachers’ Academy where we’re offering FREE training to teachers on how to identify and support learners with special needs in their classrooms. Click HERE to register.

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