How to Support High School Students with ADHD
How do you accommodate students with ADHD in the classroom? Here are some strategies that educators can use to support high school students—and some tips to share with students to take home. By creating a supportive, well-organized, and creative classroom environment, students with ADHD can flourish and thrive.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It is one of the most common types of learning disabilities in childhood. Characteristics of children with ADHD can include impulse control, being overly active, easily overstimulated, anxious, over-talkative, and having trouble paying attention.
Strategies for Educators
Understanding ADHD: Educators and caregivers should familiarize themselves with the characteristics of ADHD, including inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Understanding how ADHD impacts a student's academic performance and behavior is crucial for providing appropriate support.
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 Plans: Work with the student, their parents, and school support staff to develop individualized plans that outline specific accommodations and strategies to support the student's learning needs. This may include extended time on assignments or tests, preferential seating, or breaks during class.
Structured Environment: Establish a structured and predictable classroom environment with clear routines and expectations. Use visual schedules, checklists, and reminders to help students stay organized and on task.
Multisensory Instruction: Incorporate multisensory teaching methods that engage different modalities of learning, such as visual aids, hands-on activities, and auditory cues. Providing varied instruction can help maintain the student's attention and enhance learning.
Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps to prevent overwhelm and facilitate task completion. Provide clear instructions and check in regularly to ensure the student understands each step.
Provide Positive Reinforcement: Recognize and reinforce the student's efforts and accomplishments with praise, rewards, or positive feedback. Celebrate small victories and progress towards goals to boost motivation and self-esteem.
Encourage Movement Breaks: Allow opportunities for movement and physical activity throughout the day to help students regulate their energy levels and focus. Incorporate short breaks for stretching, exercise, or sensory activities to help them stay engaged and alert.
Teach Self-Regulation Strategies: Teach students strategies for self-regulation, such as mindfulness techniques, deep breathing exercises, or self-monitoring strategies. Encourage them to identify when they're feeling overwhelmed or distracted and use coping strategies to regain focus.
Foster a Supportive Environment: Create a supportive and inclusive classroom culture where students feel accepted and valued. Encourage peer understanding and empathy towards classmates with ADHD, promoting a sense of belonging and social connectedness.
Collaborate with Parents and Professionals: Maintain open communication with parents and collaborate with school support staff, such as special education teachers or counselors, to ensure a coordinated approach to supporting the student's needs both in and out of the classroom.
Study Tips
Be aware of your time.
Time management can be hard with ADHD. One great way to combat this is to make a schedule and mark out when you will study or better yet, study at the same time every day to help build the habit.
Take breaks when needed!
One great way to implement breaks in your studying sessions is to use the Pomodoro method. The Pomodoro method allows you to work for twenty-five minutes and then you get a short break. This can help with fatigue and lessen distractions.
Don’t take on too much at once.
While those with ADHD can be very good at multitasking, too much work for anyone can become overwhelming and lead to decision fatigue. When studying for many different subjects, set times devoted to each subject and try to not let it all bleed together.
Additional Resources
Our Smart Student Evening Routine can help parents work with their children to create a routine that supports them during the school year.
The Creating Effective Study Habits blog post can also help students with ADHD with how to study at home.
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We hope that these resources and tips help you to support your students and finish the year off strong!
